Tags
Alcanatara, Alcantara Gorge, Alcantara River, Castiglione, colubro, Etna, Etna Discovery, Gole d'Alcantara, tadpole
Sicily 2: Alcantara Gorge. This morning, Friday 14th April, was billed as a nature trail, which I think gave some of us the idea that we were in for a gentle stroll. We did not imagine that we would be climbing up and down a gorge!
Claudio, of Etna Discovery, was our guide along the three areas of the Alcantara (stress on the second syllable) Gorge. Very knowledgeable he was too, and his strong arms at tricky passages were also most welcome. He took us first down a shady path to a viewpoint over a particularly narrow part of the gorge.
Then back up and along a top path to a stretch which gave an impression of a wider part of the Alcantara river valley.
Return to the vehicle and then down to a spot where we were able to access the river floor.
Finally, after a debate as to how we might best use the rest of our time, Claudio drove us some way away to another spot, where a quite lengthy rising walk took us to further views of the river upstream – to find that others had got there before us.
Unfortunately on the way back down to the vehicle, I stumbled on a stone, and twisted my right ankle rather nastily. This meant that for the rest of the holiday I was having to walk very gingerly, especially where the surface was not totally flat, and when turning corners, though this didn’t prevent me from joining in any of the activities. (Dancing was not on the menu.)
Lavinia Ross said:
Sorry you injured your ankle, and I hope it is healing nicely.
The snake got himself a good meal at that pool of doomed tadpoles. Nature wastes nothing.
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Musiewild said:
I imagine it has shed a skin or two by now!
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susanpoozan said:
Sorry about your ankle, what bad luck. Loved the views especially the ones with water in.
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Musiewild said:
There’s something about flowing water, isn’t there?
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tootlepedal said:
My sympathy for the ankle. It is so easy to do when you are having so many delightful things to look at as you go along.
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Musiewild said:
Thank you Tom. Nine days on, I’m still having to go a bit carefully.
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Deb said:
Truly a beautiful place!
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Musiewild said:
Yes indeed.
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Josh Gross | The Jaguar said:
Ouch, sorry to hear about your ankle! At any rate, the area around Mt. Etna is gorgeous. I had no idea Sicily was so beautiful, though I shouldn’t be surprised: our planet is full of beauty!
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Musiewild said:
‘Gorgeous ‘ – Ha, ha!
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Josh Gross | The Jaguar said:
Haha, I wasn’t even trying to make a pun!
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Musiewild said:
I did wonder.
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Olive Simpson said:
What bad luck with the ankle injury – though not surprising in that terrain! Hope you are mending well. What gorgeous scenery – and you were obviously lucky with the weather. My pal in the south of Spain has been complaining for weeks about torrential rain, thunder and very un-Spanish conditions, so you did well! XX
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Musiewild said:
Only the occasional wince now because of the ankle, thank you. We did have one torrential thunderstorm…
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Christine said:
Aïe pour ta cheville… ça rappelle des souvenirs de Côte d’Armor, n’est-ce pas ? Où c’est moi qui clopinait à ta suite. N’hésite pas à faire des séances de kiné pour consolider ta cheville (conseil de coutumière aux entorses !) Encore heureux que ce soit arrivé à la fin de la journée. Cela aurait été dommage de rater une si belle gorge et rivière. Quelles belles fleurs, aussi.
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Musiewild said:
Heureusement la cheville se guérit tout seul. Juste un petit rappel que je dois faire attention de temps en temps maintenant.
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Isobel Shelton said:
Yes, gentle stroll indeed! You have captured this wonderfully. From your fellow hobbler at the back of the group…..
It’s good to hear you are on the mend.
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Musiewild said:
I was just amazed and admiring at what you achieved – and uncomplainingly too.
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maryh said:
A most interesting and energetic day. Excellent pictures. So sorry about the twisted ankle.
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Musiewild said:
It’s almost better now,.
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Where Abby Goes said:
Beautiful! Your post made me even more excited for my trip to Sicily next month.
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Musiewild said:
Have a great time!
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