Day 8: Mount Etna
We learned a lot about volcanoes from Boris. I guess most volcanoes are given male genders, but not momma Etna, she is the only female volcano. We also learned that volcanoes also have all sort of side craters, that they aren't just one big crater. Craters become dormant and new ones are formed all of the time, and most eruptions aren't the blow off the top of the mountain type. We really enjoyed our time up on Momma Etna for its cool temperatures, amazing views, and fascinating geology.
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We traveled to Mt. Etna this morning, picking our Vulcanologist up on the way. Boris was from Germany, but had been living in Sicily a long time as part of the team from the University of Catania that monitors Momma Etna, one of the most active volcanos in the world. He was wonderful! I love when I meet someone who you can tell loves their job, Boris' enthusiasm showed it!
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Practicalities ~ the Whisper System
You can see in the photo above of the 3 of us that we all have a blue ribbon with a black box on the end around our necks. These systems are great. Boris would talk into his with an attached microphone to us, and allowed us to hear him (or any other guide we had) without him shouting. You can wander off a ways looking at things and still hear, and you don't have to bunch up blocking the traffic flow. You will get some earbuds with your whisper system, but I am much more comfortable for the duration of the trip when I bring and use my own.
Benanti Winery Visit
We then headed to one of the wineries at the base of Etna to taste how she affects the wine produced. She definitely affects them in a good way. We had a little tasting with an au derve while our guide at the winery explained how Momma Etna affects the soil their vines are in and thus the wine, and how the slope of where the winery is on Etna affects it as well, along with the process they go through in their old pressing room. It was beautiful with giant beams and deep vats for fermentation.
We then moved to a large hall with family paintings on the wall. It was a beautiful room, and we got further wine tastings with a light lunch spread that was so delicious! We had fresh tomatoes, artisan bread with oil, a meat and cheese board, a cold roasted veggie salad, a large meatball etc...Dessert was coffee and a cannoli. The wine was great, the food was delicious, the atmosphere was amazing, and our fellow travelers great company. We really enjoyed this visit.
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