Mount Etna is quite a sight to behold! While we couldn't stand on the peak, because it's off limits for the time being, we did get some spectacular up close views. Our guide had lots of great information about volcanoes and rocks, but to no surprise Ryan already knew everything that he talked about! We spent a good chunk of time gathering volcanic rock (so family guess what you're all getting for Christmas) and admiring all the deep craters that once poured lava. We got to see the remains of a hotel that was destroyed by a lava flow in 2002 and finished the excursion with a cappuccino beneath the mountainside. After that we visited Alcantara Gorge. The gorge was formed when a lava flow from Mount Etna cooled over a river leaving a massive basalt formation. Over time the river has carved through the rock revealing beautifully layered columnar basalts that seem to flow with the water itself. We swam in this absolutely freezing ice blue stream, then quickly dried off on the riverside. It was at this point we met a very sweet white dog who followed us around the rest of the afternoon. That was really good for both of us, because of how much we've been missing the dogs we love back at home (RooRoo Bee, Tinky-Winky and Lily-pup I'm talking about you!). Anyway we had a great outdoorsy last day in Taormina and now we're riding the train to Palermo in search of street food and more beaches!