I've been up Mount Etna!

At long last another wish crossed off the list. I've been up a volcano. No, not climbing it but in a coach. The cruise ship anchored offshore at Messina and I was out on deck to take photos of Mount Etna.

The view is magnificent. The town hugs the shoreline, the hills and lower slopes are clothed in bottle green trees and above towers Etna with patches of snow and black lava fields.

Taken from the coach. 

As the coach ascended we drove through small colourful towns and farmland, past home and gardens. Not sure I would like to live there but the guide assured us that Mount Etna is 'kind' inasmuch as it gives fair warning of an eruption. Must be worrying to leave your home and wonder whether - when the eruption has finished - you still have a home.

We also drove through woods of oak, beech, birch, eucalyptus and chestnut trees. And the vineyards. I am told they produce great wine.

Eventually we reached as far as the motor road goes and parked. Time to do our own 'thing'. I don't know if anyone in our group climbed up to one of the two cones that they could look down into the crater. Not for me. I was content to wander, take photos and sit until it was time to return to the coach.

The sticks at the top are the brave checking out a crater!

I did make one purchase - a jar of eucalyptus honey. And very nice it is too - a bit more 'bite' than the over-sweet honey we buy in the supermarket.

Some of the cars from a French Porsche Club.