We spent 2-weeks in Sicily, and visiting Mandy, Mike and the kids
in Geneva on our way home. Below is a selection of photos from the trip.
We spent some time in Cefalu. The photo
above is taken from Rocca di Cefalu
Rocca di Cefalu is a Norman
fortification overlooking the town.
It was very hot (high 30’s) and granita
was most welcome!
We did a walk in Piano Sempria,
limestone hills to the south of Cefalu…
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We were surrounded by fabulous butterflies
Our second week was spent in the Mt Etna national park:
We explored the cinder-cones of the Sartorius area of the Etna
national park
Sartorius: named after the scientist that researched the craters
The main target for the trip was to climb Mt Etna on Lance’s
birthday.
Etna has currently elevated activity, with the last eruption only
2-months ago! The summit is out of bounds to unguided walkers, therefore Julie
arranged for us to join a guided trip.
Looking at the eruption of two months ago you would not believe
that ‘ordinary folk’ would be allowed anywhere near the summit! But no, it was
open to guided parties, and it was awesome – in the truest use of the word!
At nearly 11000ft Mt Etna summit was going to be colder than the
28degC around our hotel. We were kitted out for a typical summers walk in
Scotland as this photos shows: the steaming summit of
Etna ~2km behind Julie
The height of Mt Etna is not fixed, it’s a volcano, but the summit
currently is 10900ft.
Recently crusted-over lava from the May eruption still steams and
smokes, and
everywhere the stench of sulphur
This is the most alien environment I have ever experienced. And
it’s well seen why the ‘casual’ walker is not allowed at the summit: the air
stings the eyes and lungs to quite an unnerving extent – breathing by shallow
breaths!
Our guide describing the location and events of May’s eruption:
the new lava filling the active crater to a depth of 300mtrs!
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Descending the black ash from numerous eruptions
We pass the site of an observatory that was completely buried
during an eruption in 2002
The eruption crater that caused the burial of the observatory
Looking back to the summit of Etna behind the 2002 crater
It was a fabulous birthday:)
We did some eating and drinking as well:
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