I am back in Sicily, recovering from the 30-hour trip home, fighting jet lag, and searching for kitchen utensils that have mysteriously found new homes during my absence. And just as I started settling in and feeling at home again, Mount Etna, our friendly neighborhood volcano, decided to give me a welcome home of her own!
This photo was taken about 1/4 mile down the road from our house. Visit my Flickr page to see more!
Update: I just found a great little video clip of the eruption, check it out!
That is so cool!
9:02 pm Sep 4th, 2007What a spectacular welcome home!
11:40 pm Sep 4th, 2007Such a cool picture!!!
12:06 am Sep 5th, 2007Cool and more than a little scary!
12:55 am Sep 5th, 2007Does it feel like coming home, or just going away for a bit back to Italy? What a sight to be greeted by, regardless.
4:20 am Sep 5th, 2007THANKS so much for the pics! We were in Sicily this July and my kids got to go up Mt. Etna off roading. This has really impressed them!!! Fabulous photography! Cheers-
12:06 pm Sep 5th, 2007Joe: Yes, it was amazing last night!! My husband called me up on his way home and said “go outside right now!” I went out and all of my neighbors were outside staring up at the mountain. We ended up driving down the road a ways with my camera to get away from the streetlights.
Lydia: An amazing welcome home! Etna has erupted like this a couple of times since we’ve been here but it seems like I’m always out of town when it happens. This is the first time in four years that I’ve actually seen a lava column like that!
Ruby: Thanks! I took sooooo many photos before I actually captured some of the lightening!
SusanV: Not too scary! Etna is one of those volcanoes that is constantly venting so even though she erupts every once in a while, they aren’t huge and explosive. There have definitely been some disasters in the past but generally speaking, we’re pretty safe here.
Curt: I definitely feel at home here although I’m trying to get used to the idea of leaving since it’s coming up soon!
Elizabeth: You’re welcome! I bet they had so much fun up there! It feels like a different world up there once you get past the tree line and all you can see is lava everywhere. Thanks for stopping by!
2:25 pm Sep 5th, 2007Your arrival onto the island must have angered the fire gods. They need to find a virgin to throw in.
2:52 pm Sep 5th, 2007Jason: I prefer to think that the fire gods were celebrating my arrival! Either way, they seem to be appeased now, I think everything’s quiet once again.
3:09 pm Sep 5th, 2007lol @ Jason’s comment!
5:15 pm Sep 5th, 2007Man, I just love it when I get home and our volcano is erupting! Grr. I want to live in Sicily at the base of Mt. Etna! =)
5:20 pm Sep 5th, 2007Ruby: I can pretty much always count on some off-the-wall comment from Jason
Speaking of Jason, go check out his site, he put up some other Etna photos.
Corinne: Do I detect a hint of sarcasm in that comment? You don’t have much to complain about considering Yosemite is only a little over an hour away from where you live! And, oh yeah, what was it you said about visiting the cabin last weekend? Rough life, eh?
6:12 pm Sep 5th, 2007Welcome home! That’s the best picture I’ve seen of an eruption and I’ve been on this island forever and seen a lot of eruptions! Smack came over last week and my dogs and I fell in love with him. Let’s do a playdate soon.
7:46 pm Sep 5th, 2007Coleen: Thanks, it’s good to be back! And that compliment about the photo is huge coming from you because I know you’ve seen your share of Etna eruptions and photos! I figured Smack must have met up with you guys at least once while I was gone…we’ll get together soon!
7:56 pm Sep 5th, 2007Welcome home!
9:08 pm Sep 5th, 2007Cynthia: Thanks!
Everyone: Look for the update at the bottom of the post…I just found a little video clip of last night’s eruption at YouTube, it’s pretty cool!
9:24 pm Sep 5th, 2007I put up other Etna photos?
Oh yeah, the ones from January. Thanks for the plug, however those pics are no where near as spectacular as yours.
1:19 am Sep 6th, 2007What an amazing sight.
That has to be a good omen on your return to Sicily — the gods are telling you something!
2:36 am Sep 6th, 2007the video is great, especially with the scooter noise in the background…THAT is what I miss about sicily!
4:52 am Sep 6th, 2007Karen: Yes, I like to think that it was a good omen!
Dustin: I’m glad someone picked up on the scooter noise in the background….Ahhh, the sounds of Sicily! I bet the eruption would have looked so cool from your beach! Smack says hi
12:42 pm Sep 6th, 2007That’s crazy stuff, Nicole — how cool! Definitely glad you got to see it…
6:00 pm Sep 6th, 2007That’s what we need here in Hotlanta, a lava spewing volcano. Just not too close to Buckhead…
4:08 pm Sep 9th, 2007It looks like Sauron has awoken!
5:41 pm Sep 22nd, 2007A marvelous sight to behold in the eyes of man. The gods have been pleased.
7:44 am Feb 28th, 2008Awsome pic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! luv it
9:41 am Mar 12th, 2008when do people think it will erupt again?
1:53 pm May 19th, 2008