We went from the large amphitheater to this small one that was half covered by the newer city.

 Can't get away from the ash.

 This fountain is ancient and still has running water.

 Hoping on the tram to get back to the bottom of the hill and catch the ferry across the sea.

Random flowers --- love the colors!

 We need to make one last stop before we head back to the main land.

 Taormina is a city on a hill top but the Greeks also thought it was an amazing location because it is the sight of a beautiful Greek Amphitheater.

 Built with some lava stone as well.

What a view!!

 The colors were much better than the pictures but ----

 The Americans brought in a insect during  WWII that has been killing trees. The tree grows this bulb at the end of the branch to trap the insect , but in so doing cannot grow and produces very few leaves.The scientist are working hard to save the trees. Sounded like what we are dealing with in the west, the Pine beetle.

 Cater after carter.

 We got to hear Mount Etna thunder. The thunder we heard, timing the sound were 7 in 5 minutes. THAT IS REMARKABLE! On location  at the tip top we are told the sound is deafening, like bombs going off.

 This home was carried on top of the lava flow but not burned, how can that be??

 Just one of the unique plants that can survive the ash.

 The next morning we got to see ash being shot out! It was exciting.

 While trying to find a place to get the best picture, we saw the deck below us had ash --- so maybe not so unusual

 Once again the bank of white clouds gathering, but not getting past Etna.

Leaving Sicily.

Second half of Etna day.

 Somebody(ies) lined the dead wood up to spell I love you. Pretty fun, that is a heart below the words.

 This plant is called  'mother in law' it is able to grow in the lava only after a few years of being shot out of the volcano.

 With all the ash these Birch Trees have GREY bark.We slid down the hill, it was steep and felt like deep powder snow, your feet sunk deep into the ash.

 Etna is still smoking and showing some color.

 One group used donkeys to get up to the craters, the donkeys look as tired as I felt, but they are headed to food so they are motivated to get back to their stalls.

 The pines are growing but the gases in the newer lava produce this lime green color.

 Pranzo time

 After eating we took off on roads covered by ash and we were shown how the lava flow cut up the roads.

Our other off road jeep. We are headed to a location to hear Etna THUNDER.

 We are at one of the summits and it is all hiking from here on out.

 It was interesting to see so many trees carried on top of the lava, which was cooled somewhat but not burned.

 The group to the right are a group of ladies from England, they were much faster than we were and had been hiking much longer. The real shocker was they were 70 + they all could have been "Miss Marples"

 Carl was thrilled with the cloud formations that came up from the sea but were stopped by Etna. So they just spun around the same area and multiplied. No rain through.

 These are button holes , or vents from the volcano / cracks up to the surface. There 10 or 12 ?

 Picking Violets?? up 7 to 8 thousand feet above sea level.

 That smooth black stone is from the volcano BUT it is 2 to 3 times the weight of the other lava.

 Made it to the top of this crater and it is cold with strong winds.

 It is huge!

 We got pretty excited to see color in the stream while we were on top. Our guide told all the terms but I didn't take notes. It was awesome. Along the sides of some the formations we could feel heat! That was really surprising, from where we were at, we were still miles away from the top.

 No guessing where the lava flowed, here come more sea clouds.

We are headed back.