Stromboli volcano - How did you like it ?
Frank Balszuweit
I am thinking about going to Stromboli, the italian volcano island in
spring next year. (Have been unable to at Mt. Etna on Sicily this time
:(
My question:
Have you been there and was it worth it ?
I mean, a lot of the photos you see on the web ( www.stromboli.net )
look like Dante愀 Inferno itself,
but is that something I can expect in real life or just a very
fortunate event or the effect of prolonged exposure of the film ?
Any information how you liked it, how to get there, whether to book
ahead and so on are most welcome,
thanks,
Frank
kathie
Frank Balszuweit wrote in message
<7705fe42.01081...@posting.google.com>...
I went a long time ago (1982) so things may have changed - for example I
believe it's now compulsory to go with a guide.
To get there you can take a ferry from Naples or a hydrofoil from Milazzo in
Scicily (http://www.siremar.it/).
It's quite a long climb to the top, about 4 hours I think (remember you're
starting from 0ft!) - take PLENTY of water, and then a bit more. There is
(or was) absolutely no source of food or drink on the way. Can be very hot.
Best way is to start out about 3pm and spend the night up there - it's more
spectacular in the dark. We just slept out in sleeping bags -some people
didn't have bags and were seriously shivering in T-shirt & fleece, it's
windy up there. Not sure if you're allowed to do this now as wandering
around in the dark is risky - preciptitous slopes. Eruptions about every 15
minutes in 1982, but the periodicity can be quite variable so best to check.
Accommodation wasn't a problem in May - several little guesthouses. The
hydrofoil (aliscafo) gets cancelled when it's windy (and these are the
*Aelolian* Islands!) - you can get stranded for a couple of days as the
ferry isn't a daily service. Definitely worth it (but bear in mind I was a
recent geology graduate at the time, so may be biased).
--
Kathie