This week, I'd like to take you to Mount Etna, a volcanic mountain in Sicily. During my 2006 journey through Italy, this was one of the last amazing sights I experienced. In fact, as soon as we got settled in at the San Domenico Palace Hotel (check out these photos to see this amazing place!) in Taormina, we headed up to the town piazza for a coffee and gelatto. From there, just at twilight, we saw poofs of smoke and little fingers of fire rising from the volcano's depth. It was very exciting as all the tourists "oohed" and "aahed." Of course, it wasn't as terrifying as it was last month when the mountain erupted and lava poured down its sides, frightening even the most hardened locals. Actually, it does erupt every few years, but this last time was a bit too much! I'm not going to write much about the mountain here because you're all smart enough to look up facts online if you're interested. Below is my photo of Etna from the Teatro Greco in Taormina. And below that is one from the web and one fro youtube of Etna erupting Jan. 12/13, 2011 - quite spectacular!
very hot, thus very cool - if you're far enough away!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
Wow, Leslie! The first volcano I ever heard about, when I was a very young schoolgirl.
ReplyDelete-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
That would of been fab too see, but must be terrifying if you live below it. Reminds me of our trip in 2006... we had an amazing time.
ReplyDeleteReally a rumbling, grumbling Etna!!
ReplyDeleteEtna's eruption! Exhilarating!
ReplyDeleteWe have Kilauea in Hawaii...
Beautiful, exciting, dangerous and awesome.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures and video Leslie, - I guess every school child is introduced to the volcano via Etna - it is certainly long lived, - keeps coming back forever.
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling better!
I have always wanted to see molten lava....but not up close.
ReplyDeleteJane x
That would be very interesting to see, and just a bit unnerving.
ReplyDeleteAn Arkies Musings
Frightening and spectacular - excellent post - the photos and vids are terrific.
ReplyDeleteWhat great shots! Can't imagine being that close to a volcano!
ReplyDeleteRemember seeing this ever smoldering volcano from a ship in 1964. I was on a boat from Bombay to Genoa.
ReplyDeleteIt just reminds me of my teenager daughters feisty temper.
ReplyDeleteCool video!
wow my husband is the one with interest in weather here but I must say the pictures are great
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating is this, Leslie! Even if we know that an eruption is destructive. In Indonesia eruptions were normal. We never saw them, but they caused a lot of dust in the house and my mum kept dusting.
ReplyDeleteFascinating to see a volcano so close. I hope you are now feeling much better.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness....that is hot!
ReplyDeleteWe did visit a volcano in Hawaii, but it was not erupting... Thank goodness.
Wow, that's pretty dramatic stuff, Leslie. I did make it to the top of there once, but thankfully that was back in it's quieter days - many, many moons ago!
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