Year 2006 » Sicilian Volcano Hike 7th October - 15th October
Steve took a short trip for a walking holiday with Explore. The trip was organised by Etna Trekking.
Please leave comments on my blog at Sicily holiday with Etna Trekking and Explore World Wide
Saturday
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Very early morning flight from Heathrow, to Rome, and then onto Catania using Alitalia.
The first day of the holiday, picture of the hotel extension at Sant Alfio, where when we arrived a wedding was in full progress. Short walk over a Lava flow nearby. Masses of people were out collecting mushrooms.
Sunday Etna
| Total images: 98
Today was our walk on Etna. Coach to near the top, and transfer into a Mercedes 4x4 bus, and then drive off road up the mountain. Final ascent on foot to the crater rims.
Masses of pictures from the walk on Etna, alas very few of Etna. There was cloud, strong winds, blizzards.
Excellant walk down the mountain on the ash slope.
Monday Another Etna walk
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Today we walked on Lava flows from a recent eruption. This eruption destroyed the ski slope, and the hotel Explore used to use. After the walk we visited Linguaglossa, and met the Etna Trekking team, followed by a wine tasting at a local vineyard.
Tuesday Stromboli
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Early morning rise, drove to Milazzo to catch the hydrofoil to Stromboli. Here pizza lunch followed by a mid afternoon walk up Stromboli. This was 900 meters in height, and took us 2 hours 40 minutes to climb. At the top we were able to look down on the active craters, only 100 meters distant. We stayed and watched till after sunset, and then walked back down an ash slope in the dark. At the bottom stayed in a bar for a few beers and G&Ts. Excellent portion of Gin, though at past midnight the bar ran out of ice and was unable to server an more G&Ts. Luca the leader was persuaded to stay for a few drinks. His tipple was CubraLibra. (Crushed lime with ice and rum) I was fascinated by the waitress, I could not fathom how she kept her jeans on, or if it was at all possible they could be any lower. Back to our rooms by 1.30. Great day.
Wednesday - Panarea and Lipari
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Late start, an Espresso and then the hydrofoil from Stromboli to Panarea. Panarea was a short stop, where those who wanted a walk, did a very fast round the island walk, climbing 450 meters. The only thing to spoil Panarea, was to hear that Tony Blair had stayed there. Back onto the next hydrofoil to stop, and then on to Lipari where we stayed for two nights.
Thursday - Volcano
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We took a boat from Lipari to visit the nearby island of Volcano. We climbed this, smelt the sulphur fumes, bathed in the mud batchs (3 of us, not me), swam in the sea, both from the beach and from the boat.
Friday and Sicily again
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Left Lipari by hydrofoil and went for our filal walk on Sicily. Again the clouds came to meet us. Her we had a scramble up Rocca Novara. You are supposed to be able to see Etna and Stromboli from here. A final stop at a gorge, Gola Alcantara.
