Etna

My friend Beethoven met up with me in Taormina and we hired a private guide to explore Mount Etna and a couple nearby towns. Our guide Eddy is a vulcanologist, an environmental activist, and an expert on the history, culture, and earth science of Etna. The route up the mountain was unpaved and uneven, making the ascent itself an exciting off-road adventure.

Our first stop was at a 1,000 year old Chestnut tree (confirmed through carbon 14 dating).



We then stopped at a nice neighborhood butcher shop in Sant'Alfio for some provisions to sustain us through the long day ahead. There were entire sides of meat hanging about. Of course the sandwiches were good.






The main church in Sant'Alfio was constructed of volcanic stone from Etna, giving it a distinctive look.



There were flowers in the streets of Sant'Alfio.



Part way up Etna, we stopped, donned helmets, and rappelled down a hole into the Earth to explore a large Etna lava cave. This is Eddy along side the cave entrance.



The landscape of Etna was otherworldly and beautiful. Every so often Etna would rumble and spew forth some smoke. Lava was not currently flowing.


















The turtle of Mount Etna.



After Etna, we drove to the Alcantara region, which was pretty and had very interesting and geologically rare rock formations.






We passed through the small town of Castiglione di Sicilia.

Location:Sicilia