EXPEDITIONS
SAW VOLCANO. HAD A BLAST. S tanding 3,000m above the Mediterranean Sea, amongst the clouds, it is easy to forget that you are perched, somewhat dangerously, on top of Europe’s largest active volcano. Located amid a sea of Sicilian lemon trees (as our tour guide, Sandro, was eager to point out), Mount Etna emits a constant stream of volcanic gases over the island below. We had readied ourselves for an arduous day of hiking up the basalt slopes and numerous solidified lava flows of 1971, 1983 and 1992, and we left the hotel looking as prepared as a group of Dulwich boys can look. To our surprise (and glee to some), the coach did most of the climbing for us, taking us up two thirds of the way. From here, the views were already brilliant, despite the cloudy conditions. A further cable car took us to the highest point that can be reached on the mountain (about 400 metres off the actual peak), where we admired our first sight of a volcanic crater. At that altitude, the temperature was nearing 0 °C; coupled with unanticipated wind speeds, this made the walk around the crater quite hazardous, but we placed our trust in our very talkative tour guide Sandro, who delivered when we needed him most. After climbing Etna, we drove down past the lava flows to our next place of interest: Syracuse. Among the Greek ruins lay several caverns in excess of 72ft from floor to ceiling. Sandro also taught us a comprehensive lesson on the history of the Greek amphitheatre that stands in Syracuse. After this tour, most of us were ready for a good night’s sleep and we hastily returned to the hotel.
Nathan Sparkes (Year 11) and Jacob Page (Year 11) report on a hell-lava good trip to Sicily
We had arrived in Catania the previous afternoon and after a whistle-stop tour of the city, we had made our way to our first hotel, situated about 5km north of Catania. Following our arrival, we strolled down to the coast, where surfaced lava had formed several complex stacks off the coast. These intricate formations provided a perfect opportunity for a Geography-related group photo, as we clambered up above the choppy sea. Sandro informed us that Mount Etna was powered by the magma under our feet and here, with Etna in the background, it was easy to understand how volcanoes have impacted both humans and the planet. The day after ascending Etna, we took a hydrofoil boat across to Lipari – the largest of the Aeolian Islands, north of Sicily. After finding the hotel and dropping off our bags, we were back out on the boat to the neighbouring island Vulcano, meaning – you guessed it – ‘volcano’. The 500m peak loomed dauntingly above the bay and we began to climb the black-sand slopes. After an arduous trek up the volcano in the sweltering heat, we were blessed with one of the most breathtaking views any of us had ever seen. In the distance, we could see neighbouring volcano Stromboli billowing out smoke and gas into the dazzling blue sky. We were perched on the rim of Vulcano’s primary crater, which at its widest measures over 1,800ft across. The surrounding area was littered with ‘bread-crust’ projectiles, some of which were as large as a hatchback car and capable of being launched over 5km. Under Sandro’s watchful eye, we tentatively made
71
Made with FlippingBook Online document