Word Of The Year

Staycation – the word of 2020 –
Is here again, and life’s still empty.

A holiday at home? Exciting?
Two weeks in prison – more inviting.

Last year’s buzzword here again,
Bring along your ball and chain.

For that’s now this year’s buzzword too;
So much to dream, so little to do.

Shall I fly or book a cruise?
No longer is it mine to choose.

Stay at home or nearby?
Get me to the airport and let me fly.

A Covid passport will be needed,
All other options now conceded.

Goodbye – Two Word Tale #12

Photo by Shawnna Donop from Pexels

GOODBYE

At last
It’s here
Stand fast
No fear

Ship ahoy
Let rip
En-joy
Your trip

Be-ware
Don’t dare
Take care
Play fair

Bon chance
Toodle-oo
Good luck
See you!

Pip pip
In-deed
You’re off
God speed!

 

Mount Etna, Sicily

[ Photo Blog  #65 ]

 

Giardini Naxos is a small town situated on the coast of the Ionian Sea at the foot of Mount Etna, in north-east Sicily.  This is the town outside which the cruise ship I was on in 2006 anchored enabling us to go ashore.  The approach from the sea is dramatic with the continually smoking volcano looking very close and dangerous to the town.  In fact the volcano does erupt regularly but appears to find a different exit point each time along the crest of the hill range, thus leaving several old craters which it is now reasonably safe to visit, or so we were assured!   In the past Etna has deposited its lava all along this coast and the evidence is easy to see in the long-since cooled and solidified lava floes now forming shelves of rock jutting out to sea all along this coast.  I have included two photographs of this below. 

The sea approach to Giardini Naxos with Mount Etna smoking in the background

Lava outcrops, now solidified spill into the sea all along the coastline

Close-up of the lava deposits

My wife and I accompanied a group from the ship to take a coach to the mountain top – a journey of about 30 miles which takes approximately one hour along the winding uphill roads.  I include further  photographs of this dramatic journey below.

A Giardini Naxos beach looking towards the ancient town of Taormina and its Saracen Castle

Another idyllic beach and rocky outcrop near Naxos

Looking back from the road leading to the summit

Several views of the craters of old eruptions

Flora gradually reclaiming a foothold on the barren earth

 

The tour guide serenades us with Italian operatic arias as we descend the mountain on the return journey