Laid Back and Black Lava

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Geo: 37.6905, 15.1051

Our final stop, in the foothills of Mt Etna. Luckily for us, no sign of any volcanic activity since the last eruption in March 2017.

Our accommodation was just beautiful, completely designed, built and operated by the Petralia family. The delightful and helpful Sara on front of house, her mum and sister cooking and her father organising the garden and further extensions. I certainly could have stayed longer here, so very relaxing.

Checked out Mt Etna, 12kms of wonderful switchbacks up to the carpark. Pretty desolate and black... lots of old lava flows and on the cable car that takes you up to 2,500m you can see the craters from previous eruptions.

We had planned to do a day trip to the well known coastal town of Taormina.... but the impending G7 summit put a stop to that. Apparently, the whole town was in lock down as of the day before, with a huge police and military presence, all armed, blocking every street and alleyway...and the POTUS and other leaders not due in for another 5 days.

It seemed we were dogged by the long reach of 'The Don' as the following day we even encountered his official motorcade, flanked by multiple armoured vehicles, screaming through the centre of Rome presumably en route to see the Pope.

And then all to soon, my trip was at its end... and Sydney and home beckoned.

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Comments

[Amanda]

Fabulous entertaining travel blog & great photographs. Well done Nikki