Mediterranean

Day 7 - Fri 19 Oct 07

Up at 08:00 for breakfast and a quick look around the town, weirdly it looks better at night, but it still has a bit of charm in the daylight. Time to hit the road and head for Etna, I got off the A19 well before Catania and headed through Calenavnova and into Centurpe which is built on a hill.

I've been following another tourist car and as we headed through the centre of town (which I don't think we were supposed to) they got pulled by a policeman, I wound down my window and asked a local the way to the next town, he pointed down a side street and I headed off!

I didn't realise how big Etna was, and managed to get some good photo even when I was miles away!

I took an unmarked road out of Aarano (and by pure luck) it wound it's way high into the mountain before just stopped in a dead end. I re-traced my steps and took the other road at the first junction I came to and finally found the cable car station. I dumped the car and paid for the full experience. Cable car trip, trek and guide.

The cable car goes quite high, and I had a tiny car all to myself. At the top climb aboard a converted truck to get to the highest part of the volvano that they allow you to go. At 2,900m it's quite cold, and it puts you above the clouds. I got to see a couple of steaming vent, but in the end it was so cold I left the group and headed back to the truck.

Buses on Etna

By the time I got to the bottom of the cable car it was 15:00, so much for my quick trip! Headed back down the flanks of the volcano and eventually found the A19. Headed directly to Enna and found a hotel in the centre and managed to park right outside!

Enna is set on a hill (again) and I went out and did a tour of the sights. There's a castle at the top end of the town with great views over the valley to the next town. Watched the sun set from the comfort of my room. Had a bit of a snooze and when I awoke the views from my window had vanished to be replaced with rolling clouds, and the it's a lot cooler now. Out to grab a pizza at a local resturant and then back to bed!