MT Etna

While in Taormina we took an excursion to Mount Etna.  Mount Etna.  It is the tallest active volcano in Europe rising to 11,00 feet.  We drove there; it took us about an hour or so.

Strike 2 with mountains....first it was Switzerland....now Italy.  By the time we got to the top of MT Etna the clouds have come in.  It was so thick you could not see 15 feet in front of you.  Of course that does not stop Denise and I....nope we take the vernacular up a 1,000 feet and than take this really industrial looking 4 wheel moon bus up another 2 or 3 thousand until we get to about 9,000 feet.  We than hiked up the 1,000 feet with the guide......OK if you have done the math and have been paying attention.....we only got to 10,000 feet.  They were not taking anybody up to the peak....could be a safety issue, not being able to see and 10,000 degree lava...

Anyway, great information and it one thing made it worthwhile.

In 2002 Mt Etna had the largest eruption for the past 50 years.  The guide told us that it takes over 20 years for the lave to fully cool....sure sure......Than he scrapes the ground....I don't mean digs a hole....just scrapes 2-3 inches of the surface.  I pick up the dirt....which looked like moon rocks....and it was really warm.  This felt really good on account it was about 30 degrees there.  We walked on the edge of the craters caused by the eruptions.  Crazy it was only 10-15 feet wide and went straight down ...I am assuming because we could not see a thing.

It was a desolute place that looked like pictures of the moon.  Miles and miles of waste land.

Cool place....worth the trip!