Sicilian Adventure - Day 3!

Mount Etna at 3,000m - crater eruption from 2011

Well I made it! It took a long steep car journey, a cable car and then a jumbo sized 4x4, but I made it to the top of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. I didn’t realise quite how active Etna was. Only last December there was quite a significant earthquake and eruption that damaged a nearby town. In fact there was even an earthquake last night, and as we walked around the summit craters, steam was rising from the craters and ground.

After our journey to the top, our wonderful guide Francesco took us to a lava tube cave then on to a nearby farm to taste honey, olive oils and wines grown on the fertile slopes of Etna.

Back in Taormina, we went for an evening stroll through the town. From the botanical gardens, we had a wonderful view of the sun setting over Etna, and even saw some activity from the topmost active craters! A day to remember...

(Sorry, even more extras, a day to remember and treasure.  And after all, it’s not every day you get to stand on top of an active volcano! Thank you for your kind comments, stars and hearts for yesterday’s journal. Sorry for my blip absence...)

Extra no 1 - Central craters, Mount Etna, still active
Extra no 2 - Just to prove I made it!
Extra no 3 - central crater, still active
Extra no 4 - 2011 crater
Extra no 5 - Looking down into the central vent of the 2011 eruption
Extra no 6 - feeling the heat coming from an opening in the ground
Extra no 7 - 2011 crater
Extra no 8 - central craters, still active
Extra no 9 - central craters, still active
Extra no 10 - central craters, still active
Extra no 11 - lava tube cave, Mount Etna
Extra no 12 - back streets of Taormina
Extra no 13 - sunset over Mount Etna from Taormina
Extra no 14 - back streets of Taormina
Extra no 15 - Taormina Cathedral

Ciao!