Photographic Memories #12
As every traveller knows, when you look back through old travel photos, many of them trigger wonderful memories. With no current prospect of travel even domestically let alone worldwide, we will have no new adventures to blog, but we do have many such memories….
Photo #12: Stromboli
A bit of poetic licence here as there’s 3 photos instead of the usual 1, but then it’s not often that you get the opportunity to climb a living volcano after dark and look down on the fiery inferno below. This was the Aeolian Islands, 2011. A boat trip from our host island of Lipari to the volcanic Stromboli included an afternoon stop on the pretty, flora filled island of Salina before we arrived at the destination island and met up with our guide: guided groups are your only option due to the inherent dangers of this walk.
The climb started about 5pm, up through the forested foothills and then more steeply up the volcanic slope itself, the timing of the trek judged so that you hit the top ridges just in time to see the glorious sunset, before you take in the amazing spectacle of the fiery caldera. We were given strict instructions to turn our faces away from the flying ash immediately after each fire burst, but that still gave us enough time to marvel as the brilliant orange of each roaring explosion of flame flared before us. It was a truly unforgettable experience, and close to midnight before we descended the mountain.
The downward journey was on the other side of Stromboli, down a seemingly 45-degree slope through soft volcanic ash, all the way under instruction to keep our mouths firmly closed, not to speak, to walk fast with large strides despite sinking shin deep in the soft ash on every footfall. If you fall, get straight up and carry on. When your boots fill with ash, carry on, don’t stop. You mustn’t breathe in too much of the dust.
The whole trip was an unforgettable and (so far) unique experience. Laying under the stars, on the deck on the boat ride back to Lipari well after midnight, sipping the complimentary Malvasia, we knew we’d done something special.
8 Comments
Annie Berger
What an amazing day trip you chose, Phil and Michaela! Seeing the majestic volcano erupt must have been a highlight of your trip. Thanks for sharing your photos and text from a long ago trip as they provide inspiration to travel far and wide when we can.
Phil & Michaela
Thank you Annie, it was a memorable trip. We try and see volcanoes etc on our travels but this was the best by far…… so far anyway 😁
Annie Berger
I love your last bit, ” so far anyway.” Spoken like a true world traveler!
Phil & Michaela
👍
Andrew Petcher
What a great trip. I have been to the top of Vesuvius but although there was a lot of smoke there were no flames, later this year I hope to get to see Mount Etna.
Phil & Michaela
Can definitely recommend Stromboli, and the Aeolian Islands in general. The seafood pasta (a favourite of yours, I read!) is as good as anywhere else we’ve been.
Monkey's Tale
Wow what a great experience! We’ve been up several volcanoes but never oe with red hot lava!
Phil & Michaela
It was amazing and exciting. Great walk too. Its the only lava one we have seen too, most other volcanic activity we have seen has been steam, bubbling mud and sulphur.