EXPEDITIONS
our way to some of the ephemeral vents around the lip of the volcano. Shielding ourselves from the indescribably bad smell of the volcanic gases, we managed to get up close to the piping-hot crystal-lined sulphur vents and observe the volcano in action. We then descended the mountain, where, once at sea level, we took a hot mud bath in the volcanic springs and frolicked in the geothermally heated sea. The penultimate day began with a hydrofoil back to mainland Sicily, where we drove straight to the Alcantara Gorge. Here we were assaulted with a plethora of facts about how the fast-flowing river has gradually eroded a solidified lava flow to create the gorgeously smooth, 60ft walls of the gorge. Mr Henderson, Health and Safety completely out the window, took us up the gorge, where we jumped into the rapids and were tossed back down to the rest of the group. Soaked and frozen by the surprisingly icy waters, we got back in the coach and headed to our final hotel in Paxos. Equipped with a floodlit football pitch and a large swimming pool, we were far from bored on our ultimate night of the trip and, with Etna standing over us, we prepared to return home to SE21. Massive thanks go to Miss Woolley, Miss Frater, Mr Henderson and Mrs Briggs for taking time out of their holidays to accompany us and for making it such an enjoyable experience.
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