Sicily - Mt Etna

Mt Etna

Today we docked in Sicily, a smallish island just off the coast of Italy which was an independent nation 150 yrs ago.  We boarded the bus for a 2 hr drive to Mt Etna.

Our guide is a trained naturalist and volcanoist and a very proud Sicilian.  His enthusiasm was boundless and for the 2 hr drive he did not draw breath!   Nevertheless he was very informative and entertaining.

In a short distance we traveled thru many different landscapes with micro climates, different flora including some very confusing ones with lemon trees growing next to a banana tree and a chestnut tree and grapevines – this caused Mauritizo to go into exteme handwaving and spluttering excitement.  Nevertheless the steep climb with the villages clinging to the cliffs and up and down the valleys with the ever changing landscape was beautiful.  The bus drivers do a fabulous job navigating the hairpin turns and the very narrow streets.  I’m sure the residents of the villages know not to open their front doors when a bus passes otherwise they would be knocked over.

We glimpsed the northside snowcapped Mt Etna through the clouds a couple of times and eventually got through the clouds on the southside to see it in all its glory.  The temperature had dropped to 10degrees and even though we had our light coats we stepped off the bus and froze.  We had a ½ hr toilet/coffee stop and it was pretty spectacular, just what you imagine a lunar landscape to be only black. The restaurant/lodge that we stopped at was destroyed in the 1992 eruption and also in one back in the 1800s.  It is strange to see this stark landscape with chairlifts but apparently it’s a major skiing resort in the winter.   All back on board and traveled 100mtrs down the road to go look at a crater and by that time the weather had closed in.

We walked to the fault line of the 1992 eruption and the several craters from then.  You couldn’t see your hand infront of your face so it appeared very mystical – just black lava and swirling mist.  Took a few snaps, listened to Mauritizo wax enthusiastic about the different rocks etc and beat a hasty retreat back to the warm bus.

Mauritizo seemed to have talked himself out on the trip home so we have a peaceful 2 hrs dozing and admiring the beautiful scenery.

Back on the boat and decided we really didn’t want to walk to town of Messina as I’m  quite weary from the hectic days, the runs and now a runny nose, so a relaxing afternoon in the library/crows nest bar seemed a good idea.

As usual the internet is not working.