Sicily 11: Mt. Etna [Sky Watch Friday]

Taking our leave of Catania, we drove up winding roads to Mt. Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. The mountain dominates the whole of eastern Sicily. Stopping at ca. 6,000 ft., we opted not to go higher by jeep to ca. 10,000 ft. As it was, the temperature had dropped into the high 30s-low forties. In addition to the black lava landscape, there were wild flowers growing all around.





One could hike up to the ridge of one of the craters, but we were not in warm enough attire. Here, my wife is wind blown....

You can imagine that it was good to finally get back on our warm bus. We then drove on to Taormina, where we would remain for several days.