Smoke ring

We were driving up Mount Etna when there was the sound of a 747 taking off, although the only thing to be seen was a strange grey cloud. Minutes later the sky started to rain ash, some pieces a couple of centimetres big.... not good for the hire car. After a while the cloud moved on and the road to the summit was accessible again.

From the car park the cable car ran some way up the mountain then jeeps took visitors nearer the summit. While there the volcano displayed its smoking skills by blowing rings...I am not sure I would have believed it if not witnessed with my own eyes.

The volcano erupted that week but it was only a relatively small one, in 2002/3 much larger eruptions destroyed the cable car. ....I would love to have seen those. Volcanoes are highly dangerous things but really are nature's beauty and wonder.
Map/Satellite photo
Webcam
Better ring photos by someone else
Eruption descriptions

Another world

Having just taken off to fly home from the Caribbean, where the sunsets are spectacular, the best sunset was saved until last. This picture does not really do it justice but it seemed almost of another world.