Volcano fun

 Volcano Fun

Here's what's been going-on at our local volcano. It's 60 miles from where we live. Years ago we were driving at night and Heather saw it erupting with glowing red spews of lava, from a place south of Siracusa! We booked a week up there to get out of the summer heat though that was relative as it was hot even at 6000 feet!

You can see Rifugio Sapienza indicated on the ETNA model here. That's where we stayed. More accurately at a hotel nearby named CORSARO.

A bike-friendly place, wouldn't you say? This is the hotel lobby. Pro cyclist Michele Scarponi used to stay here for altitude training, they say he called to reserve a room just before he was tragically killed in 2017. This place has one of the world's best breakfast buffets and an amazingly friendly and caring staff.

We wanted to see the volcano up-close and since the eruptions had died down we rode the cable car up the side one day. From there they drive you further in a 4-wheel drive bus.

Then you get to walk around with a guide to see some craters that were active a few years ago. This is close to 9000 feet so the air is thin.

And the wind BLOWS! You kind-of get sandblasted so Zio Lorenzo wore pants despite the heat.

That's all that was happening when we were there, kind-of an "after eruption cigarette" for the volcano maybe?

Back at the hotel, life is tough!

Though we DID do some cycling! Most rides were the "15 minutes going down with an hour plus coming back up" type. Thank gawd for the e-bikes!!!