Day Five - Mount Etna
Another early start. So much for a holiday and it is no wonder I am sleeping so much! I had to be at the bus station for 8.00am. The bus station is about a 15 minute walk in normal weather; in the heat it is about a 25 minute walk. I opted, finally, for a trip to Etna, Randazzo and the Alcantara Valley. For those of you who do not know, Mount Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe. The volcano is perpetually active and is 3350 metres high. I am not going right to the top, just to 1900 metres. Etna has been an UNESCO site since 2013. It last erupted in 2021. Let us hope it does to decide to perform today whilst I am up it!
To say this was an interesting trip would be an understatement. The guide was waiting at the bus station. She looked like a cheaper version Philippa Perry (hair wise) and spoke English, German and Italian. She said her name was Greta as in Garbo and I would not have said how old she was, however, it turns out she was 82. Yes, you did read that right. She flitted from English to German and back to English again, but did repeat herself quite a bit and I suspect in all three languages. The little minibus consisted of a couple who spoke German, a couple I found out later from Brazil. Another couple who spoke German. A couple of South East Asian appearance but who spoke German who had a self stick each and took so many photos it was embarrassing. Finally, a couple who I suspect where mother and daughter and of course moi!
The first stop was to the Alcantara Valley which had been created many years ago by the volcano eruptions. When we arrived the 'Mother' as I shall now refer to her as could not even get off the mini bus and had to be helped off by one of the German speaking men and the Brazilian guy. I did wonder how she would get around the valley. Fortunately, they decided to opt that one out. I was told it would be €6 so got my money ready. Philippa (or Greta) come along and said she did not have any change, did I. I looked in my purse and only had a €2 coin and she said great then took the €10 note and the €2 coin! I was mugged in broad day light. The gorges were quite impressive but I would rather explore this at my own pace. Half way along Philippa said to me had I paid her and I said that I had and how much I gave her. The German speaking South East Asian couple were taking photographs as if they were going out of fashion; thrusting their self sticks in front of anyone else wanting to take photos. I got back to the bus and once again Philippa said had I paid and once again, I said that she had fleeced me for €12! This was going to be the theme of the day. The next stop was to a town called Randazzo which was very pretty and this is where the market was. We were then told that we would not be going to the market as they have moved it to out of town and there would not be time. Instead we were going to look at two churches. Now, please don't get me wrong, I do like looking around churches but I chose this trip because of the market and also what are the chances of being able to look around a church, in Sicily on a Sunday without there being a Mass taking place. The 'Mother' by now was in a wheelchair being pushed by her daughter. We were just going into the first church when it all kicked off. 'Mother' had sliced and I mean really sliced, her leg open on the wheelchair. I have never seen so much blood. It was oozing out her like Etna erupting! The daughter, bless her, had a couple of tissues but you know me, I always carry a couple of packs of tissues with me and was able to help. It transpires that 'Mother' was on anticoagulant medication and hence why there was so much blood. I said I would go to the chemist and get a dressing but when I got there the German speaking guy was already there and was being sold a crepe bandage! I spoke to the pharmacist and we purchased 5 padded dressings which did help but it really was a nasty cut. I then spent time taking to them as they were the only English speaking people. It turns out that they had this holiday booked for over two years but because of Covid it never happened. Also, the 'Mother' had been fit and well until she had the Covid vaccination and then got blood clots on the lungs (hence the medication). She used to walk 6 miles a day and now could hardly walk at too. Such a terrible shame and it really was a nasty cut. The daughter told me that they are going home on Monday and I suggested that they get it checked out as soon as possible.
By now it was 12.30 and we still had not seen the volcano. I was waiting to get on the bus and Philippa, yet again said to me you have not paid and that was it, I flipped. I said to her that she had taken €12 from me, she said are you sure and I said I do not lie. I suggested she counted the money and she will find that she is €6 in credit she then said oh there is just you, I assumed you were a couple. I cannot tell you how much this annoys me. Why do people see the world as couples, and normally male and female couples at that! Something I do not subscribe to. The couples I have seen together yet again do not speak with each other as they are always on their phones. Back on the bus and it was freezing on there as the air conditioning was on full even though we were travelling higher and higher and finally six hour after we started this trip we were at 1900 feet on Etna. I have to say I was disappointed. I do not know what I was expecting. It looked just like a building site. There was no exhibition or information about the volcano. There were a few wooden chalets selling souvenirs and a cafe. I did smile as there were flag poles and even though there was the European Union flat, Italian (of course) Germany and evening the Israeli flat but no Union Jack. The daughter was telling me that she has been charged extra for taxis when they have heard she is British. Also, a colleague of mine has recently been to Athens and said the same. We are really not liked in Europe anymore and this makes me so angry for so many reasons.
Back to the volcano. So we went to have a look at a relic of a hotel that got submerged when Etna erupted and saw some more lava that had obviously set but still looked like a load of top soil to me. It would have been good to have had more information about it all. Also, the temperature now was 14 degrees. There is only so much top soil you can be looking at unless you are South East Asian in which case you can still be taking photos. I went and sat back on the coach. Philippa then gave me €6 back, no apology. We were dropped off at the bus station around 4.00pm. I decided I was going to have a quiet night. Popped into the Coop where they know me now and I think I am on mates rates as my shopping did not seem to cost much. Back at my little apartment I just pottered around and believe it or not, by 9.00pm I was shattered so an early night it was. I wonder if I will ever learn about day excursions!
As always, with my love.
Karen x
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