| We stopped enroute at what must be a popular stopping point for tourist busses.. |
| because as well as the good view of Mount Etna.. |
|
| there was a large parking lot and numerous vendors selling souvenirs and refreshments.. |
|
| We stopped enroute at what must be a popular stopping point for tourist busses.. |
| because as well as the good view of Mount Etna.. |
|
|
| there was a large parking lot and numerous vendors selling souvenirs and refreshments.. |
| Leaving the bus at our next stop.. |
|
| We leave the bus at an intersection by a a nearby sign indicates that we are near the Astrophysical Observatory of Catania. |
| another sign seems to indicate that there is a volcano nearby, as well as indicating various restrictions - one of the more intrigueing is the one in the middle which seems to be a ban on kangaroos... |
|
| Gian prepares to give us our briefing |
| the explanation is given with the aid of a satellite image |
|
| and a shuttle image |
| receiving our explanation of the surrounding lava flows. The pristine flows in the background are aa flows from 1985. |
|
| The vegetated lava field is pahoehoe from the 1610 erruption. |
| soon it is time to head for our next stop.. |
|
| This stop deals with a large hornito on top of the 1610 lava flow, the rim of which we enthusiastically climb. |
| the group spreads out around the rim |
|
| Paul Geissler, who instructed on the last IRSPS short course, sits on the rim of the hornito. |
| The hornito consists of welded scoria. |
|
| and shows a large central depression. |
| The uppser part of the internal walls are vertical. |
|
| The walk ends at the fenced off vertical entrance to a lava tube |
| Ljuba looks on as one of our field trip leaders jumps the safety fence to give us an explanation of the lava tube. |
|
| Gian peering into the lava tube. |
| The camera crew which has been filming our progress all day. |
|
| Looks like we were getting bored with the lava tube by this point. |
| I think Inge took this picture of me at the perimeter of the lava tube just before our return. |
|
| Then back to the road for our trip back to Catania |
| Four of us went down town at a suitably late hour and found quite a nice little outdoor resturant in a street off Via Etnea. |
|
| Jens impressed everyone by asking for some salami and being served with what must have been a substantial part of a butchers shop... |