So, here we are!
We are in la Réunion since two days now, but a lot happened already.
It is truly amazing to discover every day something more about the island, its culture and its population. Sincerly I expected a completely different place; somehow I always thought that it would be a tiny island, really far away, but anyways very similar to France and Europe… but actually it is completely different! As soon as you leave the airport, you realize that you are on a real tropical island.
It’s very impressive to see how many different people and cultures are coexisting in such a “small” place: you can really feel and understand the history of this island just walking around the streets.
The main part of the population is living on the cost, and as soon as you leave the villages, everything gets extremely wild; we haven’t been so far inside for the moment, but I’m really curious to see the wildest side of the island in the next day: I’m sure it’s going to be an amazing experience!
On the climbing side, as Yuji and Sam were supposed to arrive later, we spent the first two days trad climbing around the main villages. I climbed just a few times only on trad gear before, so for me it has been a great experience to explore more this aspect of climbing: it is such an amazing feeling to climb your way up to the top without letting anything behind you on the rock after. It is very rewarding and it feels somehow respectful.
For me it’s very interesting to watch James trad climbing and to try to learn from his big experiences; he is teaching me a lot with tons of patience and passion and I’m really glad to have this opportunity. Maybe I’m a slow student … but I’m very motivated to do my best to improve and to discover better this aspect of climbing.
Now all the team is on the island and we are leaving today for the main goal of the expedition; we will go in the wildest part of the island for 8 days to try to open some new routes from ground up on trad. I’m sure it is going to be an amazing experience and everybody is very happy and motivated to start.
We will try to post another blog soon (depending from the internet connection), so stay tuned for the next part of our adventures!
