Blogs from Stromboli, Sicily, Italy, Europe
August 13th 2010
A visit to the Aeolian island Stromboli. Stromboli is a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the north coast of Sicily, containing one of the three active volcanoes in Italy. Stromboli is remarkable because of the length of time in which it has been in almost continuous eruption. For at least the last 20,000 years the same pattern of eruption has been maintained, in which explosions occur at the summit craters with mild to moderate eruptions of incandescent volcanic bombs at intervals ranging from minutes to hours. Getting to Stromboli wasn't all that easy. From mainland Sicily it was first by hydrofoil to the Island of Lipari. And from Lipari it is another 2 hours to Stromboli. On the island there are amazing views to the other aeolian islands. And of course, a great view ... read more
Sicily; filthy city's, phenominal icecream,spectaular eruptions!
Published: September 16th 2009Europe » Italy » Sicily » Stromboli
September 15th 2009
Day 500 !!!!(24/8/09) After a hearty Italian breaky (concious of the potential for addiction to Italian coffee) we set off on foot to the Caputchin Catacombs. Home to 8000 Palmerians bodies. The catacomb was initially filled with Caputchin Monks in 1599 and soon became burial choice for professionals, priests, men, woman and children. The body's were preserved by one of three methods, 1) Injection (which is believed to be the technique used for the best preserved and most famous 'Sofia" little girl), 2) Dipping in Arsnic or Lime or 3) most commonly straining for eight months in a cell and then washed in vinegar before being exposed to the air. Dressed in their Sunday best it is an amazing and unforgetable sight! From here we got the bus to Monreale, home to the 12th century Duome ... read more
December 2nd 2006
Gabriel was pissed off that morning. Indeed. The boss was in a rotten mood, and the morning messages at the office did not raise the latter’s spirits. That damn favourite planet of his, the same he spent so much energies and hopes for the future on, even one of his own kids, was a fatiguing and not at all rewarding effort. Just an endless cry of complaints and little common sense. He ended up summoning His own private rainman, Count Negroni, who prescribed a biblical treat of the deadly concoction bearing the same name, and now God was hangover and prone to disaster. ‘Gabriel!!!’ the supreme had called ‘The measure is full. Which is another way to say that I am fucking tired of these humans. Go and announce: I’ll be back, with a vengeance’. ... read more
August 26th 2006
We arrived in Stromboli early afternoon after a six hour journey from Palermo by hydrofoil (which included a gelati stop in Salina - well, we did have to change boats and it seemed a perfect opportunity to sample the local ice cream)! I was already feeling a bit apprehensive about the climb that evening after seeing the sheer size of the volcano in front of me. Our first stop was a well earned lunch - ferry travel does make you very hungry! We had a delicious meal at a great local restaurant overlooking the sea. Specialities included arancini (deep fried rice balls with all sorts of delicious fillings - spinach, meat etc), tomato and mozzarella filled paninis (with very hard crusty bread - you had to work for your food), Sicilian style salads with Mediterranean vegetables, ... read more
