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Sicily 2010 – The Travel Blog |
Monte Etna, Trapani and more ......
- Hat & gloves
- Waterproofs
- Hiking boots
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Gas masks...
...the usual packing list for the Winster Cavers.
So having been all quiet for the best part of 14 months, on Wednesday 25th August Etna awoke with a BANG! - just three days before our flights to Trapani.
A large singular explosion took out part of the top of the Bocca Nuova crater rim, and ejected ash 1km into the sky above.
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Ash eruption on Mount Etna on 25th August 2010 - image from one of the INGV Etna webcams
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There are some that think we have something of a knack for timing our visits, but volcanoes are unpredictable beasts, and as we sit here on the
train, winging our way down to Luton airport, it really is a little too early to say what - if anything - will be happening when we arrive.
We have a couple of nights in Trapani, before visiting Mount Etna again and a few days' stay at Hotel Corsaro.
From there we return to Trapani, possibly head out to the Egadi islands, and perhaps explore some of the salt/sulphur mines in the South West.
This, then, is the Sicily Blog - 2010
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29th August 2010 - Castles in the Sky
Contrary to what many guide books still say, the Erice cable car is most definitely up and running. From the East side of
Trapani, it takes you on an amazing 3km journey to the ancient hill-top
city of Erice a bargain at only €6 for a return ticket. Here, narrow cobbled streets are festooned with an array of shops selling typical Sicilian "ceramiche",
Marsala wines, almond liqueur - plus a host of far-too-inviting places to gorge oneself.
We wandered around marvelling at mediaeval buildings, ate too much, wandered some more, had a granita apiece, wandered in circles
for a while and over-indulged in high-calorie Sicilian pastries.
Our day was punctuated by a brief text from our friend Steve (HRH), a fellow Etnaphile, alerting us to today's ash emission
from Mount Etna. Tomorrow we may get to see what's happening, but for today we just had to make do with pizza, chips and red
wine under the olive trees at Andrea and Chica's place. Oh well.
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Erice's ancient "Castle of Venus"
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
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30th August 2010 - Home from Home
A long day's drive, traversing the entire width of Sicily, partly via the Southern coastal road. We paused briefly at the
Valle dei Templi at Agrigento, before heading cross-country towards Enna, and on to our favourite volcano. As we left
Nicolosi and started to climb upwards, the roadside was plastered with red & white hazard tape, and signs reading "Zona Perricolosa - Vietata al Pubblico".
Was this indicative of something? Was something big going off? We proceeded with excitement, and a little caution.
Yet just as suddenly as they appeared, the signs stopped, and we arrived at Hotel Corsaro without incident. A brief exchange
of warm greetings with Marco, and we were installed in the best room in the house - the newly refitted bathrooms, and free
wireless Internet making it even better than usual! The wireless internet soon revealed
that Davide has already caught on to this year's Sicily blog.
We listened carefully (you can often hear any explosions at the top craters from the hotel) but all was quiet. Clearly
Etna is being thoughtful, and a nice "Eruzione Turistico" is going to start tomorrow when we've got a bit more energy
to climb to the top! We won't however, be going to the summit craters themselves, as the Prefecture of Catania has forbidden access
to the summit craters for a period of 15 days since August 26th/27th.
Rounded off the day with a splendid meal at the "Antico Orto dei Limoni" in Nicolosi - highly recommended.
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The "Zona Pericolosa" (danger zone) - We later discovered that
the signs were for the 2010 Catania - Etna rally. Exciting in it's own right, but
it's nice to think it's something even more exciting!
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
The night-time view from room 204 down to Catania - a favourite of many Etna lovers around the world.
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
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Something old, something new - a long day's walk on Mount Etna
A bright and early start plus the promise of decent weather saw us up at the cable car station trying to blag a
one-way ticket for the cable car AND jeep, but that didn't
work, so we resigned ourselves to parting with €15 each for the cable car only.
We'd really hoped to find a (not too expensive) way to avoid doing the extra 400m of ascent to the Torre del Filosofo on foot! Still, we were able to re-acquaint ourselves with Rosario and Marco at the guides' hut to get some useful
up-to-date information on the goings-on "up top". Anywhere over 2920m high (the altitude of the Torre del Filosofo) was off-limits -
so strictly speaking, this meant not only the top craters, but also the jeep track round to "Etna Nord".
It wasn't long though before we'd done the slog up the jeep track to the Torre del Filosofo and were tucking in to a deli feast of smoked Ricotta
and mixed olives in the lee of what shelter remains there.
Seeing that nobody appeared to be heading around the jeep track below the Bocca Nuova towards the North East crater, we decided to re-visit a route we had done twice previously, round to the site of the
2008 Bottoniera eruption, but managed to get all the way to the now-dormant craters this time - a very interesting route to do,
and with a real feeling of remoteness.
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Exploring the craters on the fractures of the 2008 Bottoniera eruption - Mount Etna.
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
Looking down the lower part of the Schiena Dell Asino ridge.
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
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After a good furtle around the craters, we cut back to the seismic monitoring station for more food and to watch the enigmatic South-East crater steaming gently for a while before heading out to La Montagnola. The clouds cleared just enough for us to be be certain of our chosen descent route via
the Schiena dell' Asino, one we had done a large proportion of from the other direction but never "closed the loop" so as to
speak. It proved to be a fabulous route down, though we did trudge into Hotel Corsaro at nearly 7:30pm, meaning we'd had a fairly full
ten-hour day on the volcano. We certainly needed - nay, deserved - a beer after that!
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1st September - A day of dilemmas...
OK - so here are the facts:
- On 25th August, Etna awoke with a singular, but impressive ash explosion
- On 28th August, Enta produced a similar, but less ashy emission
- The seismics are showing a strong trend of increasing activity
- The indicators are, that an eruption in the near future is entirely possible.
- We spent most of yesterday "up top", there was no activity to be seen, and it was a long, tiring day.
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Graph showing overall rising trend seismic activity - taken from INGV website.
The spike is Wednesday's ash emission.
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So given the above - what would you do? Would you wait around, watching, wondering if she's going to put on a show?
Or would you spend a day doing something else, and see what's ocurring on your return? Tough decision, hey?
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We decided to take a trip out to the Nebrodi - a forested, mountainous area some way North of Etna, with a good reputation for some
excellent walking. After some definite route-finding dilemmas of the "does the path go through the farm" variety,
we opted for route-plan number two and, having convinced ourselves we knew exactly which wrong track we were on, managed a
reasonable 10km circular walk with some good views back to Etna - the only real downside being the local insect life, which seemed
hell-bent on having Winster Caver for its supper. DEET, it would
appear, makes a good "salad" dressing.
Back at Hotel Corsaro, a quick check on the INGV web site shows that the seismics are still rising, but there is no sign of activity at the top. The right call for the day, we thinks.
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Mount Etna from above Porticelle Soprana in the Nebrodi mountains
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
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2nd September - Have we had a nice adventure today?
Well, we didn't quite get the early start we'd half hoped for, but the plus side
we managed to catch up with Davide before setting out on our (rather optimistically)
chosen route. Our plan was to head up onto the Serra del Salifizio
and into the Valle del Bove, returning via the Schiena Dell' Asino. We fully expected to (a) get lost, and (b) have
to change our plan. Without doubt, today's plans had all the hallmarks of
a potential epic.
It was therefore with some astonishment that we realised we had soon managed to
faultlessly navigate our way up past the Acqua Rocca and onto the ridge. The view
from the ridge was, to put it mildly, awesome. We couldn't spot the routes
down into the Valle - it would appear as if two significant lava flows that had
ocurred in the Valle since the map we had was published meant our chosen route had
fallen into disuse. A foray out along a feisty path to the top of a fine peak to
the right of where we met the ridge revealed only impossible-looking descents where
you were definitely going to have something go more wrong than you'd want.
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So - (b) the change of plan.
It couldn't be that difficult to tackle the ridge up to the Schiena webcam, could
it...?
Well, it wasn't difficult - but it sure as hell wasn't a stroll in the park either!
Definitely not one for those lacking a head for heights, this was a scramble of
five-star proportions - just "out there" enough to make it thoroughly entertaining
from start to finish. What a route - over 1km of airy ridge and loose scrambing,
best tackled on the very top of the ridge wherever possible. And with only the vaguest
trace of a path and not a soul in sight, it had a great feel of remoteness to it.
Rather than take the main tourist route down from the Schiena, we opted for a more
"off-piste" route on a track that was marked on the map, but most definitely not
visible on the ground. It proved equally entertaining but again, amazingly, we managed to negotiate the entire route without incident. We even found a path at one point, so we
must have been in the right place :-)
We most certainly had a nice adventure today.
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"Non Abbandonare I Sentieri" - as if we would!
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
(And the "Tremore Vulcanico" are still increasing, but no eruption yet.)
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3rd September - Mad dogs and English cavers
With the weather being none-too-clement, and Etna still stubbornly refusing to put on the display we're awaiting, we
decided the best plan was to hide underground - so armed with a bunch of GPS coordinates & cave info (kindly supplied
by fellow Etnaphiles, Mr & Mrs Krabusch) we set off towards Zafferana - our first stop being Grotte dei Tre Livelli.
We spotted the cave entrance as we drove down the mountainside - parked up, and started to walk the few yards back to
the entrance, as a goat-herd and his dogs approached the roadside also. The dogs picked up where the Nebrodi insect-life
left off, with the intention of having Winster Caver for breakfast. OUCH!
A few minutes later we were back at the hotel. A quick phonecall later (thank you Davide) and we were at the Guardia Medica, with
wounds sustained being carefully tended to.
Not ones to be beaten by such events, we popped down to Nicolosi to pick up the prescribed antibiotics, dropped in at
a bar for a quick coffee and a snack, before heading back up the mountain to resume plan 'A'. In the process we also discovered what
all the "pericoloso" signs were all about - The Catania to Etna motor race / rally occuring this weekend.
After all that, Grotta dei Tre Livelli, we discovered, requires a ladder & line to descend. We moved on to more
cave hunting - this time with a little more success. First Grotta di Cassone, then a look at the entrance to Grotta di
Case del Vescovo (ladder & line required), and finally Davide's "new" cave.
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Grotta di Cassone - a lava cave on Mount Etna
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
Davide's "new" lava cave on Mount Etna, near Hotel Corsaro.
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
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4th September - Rambles and raspberries - but no rumbles!
Not entirely true - she's still rumbling away and the tremore are still rising, but WHERE'S OUR ERUPTION?
With blue skies beckoning and silence on the tops, it would have been a shame not to drive round to Piano Provenzana
to get the views of Etna Nord - Nord Est and Pizzi Deneri being crystal-clear for once, whilst down towards the coast
the sunlight glittered on the beautiful hilltop town of Taormina and the ridges of the Pelitorani mountains.
A one way ticket on the STAR jeep at Etna Nord is also impossible to buy, and we couldn't bring ourselves to pay
€48 each for a bumpy, dusty tourist drive up and down the dirt track. It seems that one-way tickets are simply "vietato".
Probably a good policy to cut down the risk of numpty incidents on the volcano, but a shame for those of us serious walkers who
would appreciate the chance to make more of our precious time here. So we chose the "speleo" option again - a long walk
with a lava cave as the prize for finding the right paths.
We knew, of course, that there would be only us at the "Grotta dei Lamponi"....... wrong!!! Downslope in the lava tube, at a skylight,
we were amazed to find a full lighting rig, cameras, and camera crew - making a film, as we shortly discovered, about the
"Dance of Etna". Brief friendly chat ensued, and we were soon exploring the upslope end of the cave - remarkable for its skylights.
You never can guess what's just under your feet!
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Mount Etna as viewed from Piano Provenzana - a lady in waiting?
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
Inside the entrance to Grotta Dei Lamponi, Etna Nord.
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
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Stopping for a while at the Rifugio Timpa Rossa on the way back, we met two more Etnaphiles who were camping there overnight -
like us, eagerly awaiting the imminent eruption. But t'was all quiet on the drive back up the mountain. Will she do something
in the morning and have us agonising over having to return to Trapani? Who knows?...................
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5th September - Where's our eruption?
A reclining sickle moon over Etna sparkling in the dawn light beckoned us to stay longer, but we had to leave today. Saying goodbye to
friends old and new took some time - as these things do - but eventually we were on our way back to Trapani, stopping off for
lunch at the Lago di Pergusa - a lake and nature reserve that we thought would have been greatly improved by the removal of the
race track around it!
Another hour and a half's drive brought us back to the Ostellino, where Andrea was waiting to greet us. After a long drive,
the only sensible thing to do was crack a couple of beers and lounge around under the olive trees... so we did just that.
Plans for tomorrow are already hatching as we write.
The question is, of course, if Etna starts erupting in the next few days - what
to do? Stay here and accept we've missed it, or dash back across the island?
What we do know, is that we can't help but keep looking - just in case!
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From this view ............. Monte Montagnola from the roof of Hotel Corsaro
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
............. to this. The "Ostellino" just outside Trapani
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
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6th September - Mothia & the salt pans
A somewhat more relaxed day found us on the small ferry to Mothia (also spelt Motya, Mozia...). This tiny little island,
located in the middle of a salt-water lagoon, is a treasure-trove of archaeological remains, and ongoing exploration seems
destined to fill the museum there to bursting point.
We looked at about as many pieces of broken pottery as you can cope with in one day, and then took a gentle stroll around
the island's perimeter, which seemed to be abundant in both archaeology, and an astonishing number of budding archaeologists.
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The salt pans by the ferry to Mothia
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
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7th September - when the wind blows...
A warm, dry, and blustery wind shook the windows and the shutters at the Ostellino - the Scirocco was upon us.
Yet as we breakfasted on the veranda, the sun shone brightly, and the day still had a pleasant outlook - so we made
plans to walk around the nature reserve at Monte Cofano.
We ambled along the clearly marked, yet almost empty paths that circumnavigate the 659m high peak, which rises up spectacularly
from the azure blue sea below. The sun beat down just a little harder than your average Winster Caver is really used to,
and as the scirocco gained momentum and whipped up the dusty tracks in an eye-watering fashion, we opted against the
exposed-looking route to the summit of Monte Cofano, satisfying ourselves with the excellent 10km circular route and views
down to the clear blue sea that had accompanied us for almost the entire walk.
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Monte Cofano, as viewed from Cornino, the start point for the walk."
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
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8th September - the tremendous temples of Selinunte
What, rain?! The weather had turned - for the better in some respects, cooler and wetter - so it seemed like a good
opportunity to do some sightseeing without burning to a frazzle. The temples and ancient (6th century BC)
city of Selinunte, on the south coast, were today's destination.
We arrived a little nervous of what such a tourist hot-spot might bring, but our fears were soon allayed - inside the archaeological site,
visitors simply vanished into the vastness of this extraordinary setting. There must be few sites of such archaeological
significance as this.
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One of the temples at Selinunte
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
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One cannot fail to be awestruck by the sheer size of the temples, and a thorough investigation
of the whole site rewards you with unexpected fantastic views of golden beaches and turquoise coves - and of course,
more temples and ruins. A truly spectacular and unforgettable day out.
Whether
we find time to visit the archaeological site at Segesta, included in the €9 ticket price, remains to be seen.
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9th September - Tempest at Segesta
We awoke to the tremendous roar of a thunderstorm. As we breakfasted on the veranda, rain hammered down on the roof, and
lightning lit up the sky. Erice, high above, was nowhere to be seen, shrouded by a blackened sky. Maybe today was not the day to go
island-hopping after all!
So we opted for using the other part of yesterday's ticket to Selinunte, and drove the short hop over to Segesta, famed
for another Greek temple and other remains. We were suitably impressed. The temple, which sadly never got finished,
stands in a prominent position high on a hillside, almost completely intact apart from the roof. Shame really - a roof
would have been dead handy today.
Just managing to dodge the downpours, we walked up to the adjoining ampitheatre - upon which we were told in no uncertain
terms that filming with a tripod was not
allowed! "Per che?" we inquired. The answer, it would appear, is that
we're just too professional. Deciding to view this as a compliment, we returned to Trapani for a stroll around the town (beautiful),
and to check out parking/hydrofoil departures for tomorrow.
Tonight we dine with Andrea and Chica, which will no doubt be a great evening.
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The Greek temple at Segesta
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
A view in central Trapani - an ecclectic mix of architecture.
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
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p.s. The "Tremore Vulcanico" seems to be settling out some - albeit at a somewhat elevated level, and
were something to kick off now, it's probably too late go dashing back across the island. We can only assume that
Etna is saving herself for the forthcoming Krabusch visit?
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10th September - Lovely Levanzo and Monte Monaco
Last night's epic electric storm seemed to have cleared the air, and having breakfasted under a clear blue sky,
we made our way to the harbour at Trapani, and were soon on the "Aliscafi" (hydrofoil) to Levanzo - our
plan being to do a walk in the Cicerone Guide to Walking in Sicily, and to visit the Grotta della Genovese, famed
for its prehistoric cave art.
Now Winster Cavers are not normally known for being tight-fisted, but having had two full days out at Salinunte &
Segesta for a bargain €9, we did feel that €10 a head for a 1/2 hour visit to some old grafitti was pushing
it a bit - and it may be that the (seriously overweight) lady at the ticket shop didn't advise taking the hiking trail
to the cave (wouldn't have made it) - but actually, Winster Cavers quite enjoy doing that sort of thing!!
So we spent our hard earned on well-earned "granite" instead, before starting off on the coast walk - and a
superb walk it was indeed.
A full day out with super views to the other Egadi islands, and back to the Sicilian mainland, gentle pine woods, and
exposed, rugged coastline. And all the way the sun shone, but not too brightly, and a cool breeze kept the air fresh
and invigorating. A great way to spend our last full day in Sicily.
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The coastline of Levanzo near I Faraglioni
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
A view of the harbour in Trapani, Sicily.
Photo copyright © 2010 Mat & Niki Adlam-Stiles
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