Together with two friends we gave a closer look to cave which stays close to hotel.

We planned how to leave a semi permanent stair with less impact possible for cave.

Beeing a small group it was possible to descend inside to discover that it is bigger I remembered and that to enter in main room there is a second jump with needing of a second longer stair.

It was possible to go inside without stairs but it is not a wise idea and. Without it this can be an hazardous procedure.

After third excursions to cave in four days I finally decided a possible tour. In less than one hour (even just thirdy minutes with a good step) it would be possible to appreciate:

- pillow lavas (soft shape lavas)

- “Pahoehoe” lavas (flat lavas on which you can walk very easily)

- “A’a” lavas (sharp lavas)

- several lava rivers (looking at them you will figure out when lava was still melted and flew inside its natural banks)

- a cave with three different arms to south and south-est and a big room to north (cave entrance is at center of their crossing)

- “bonus” on way back to hotel it is possible to reach Orazio and Antonio Nicoloso chalet. What’s special? It has been covered by lava in 1983 but Nicoloso brothers digged about 20 meters and …no, I will not publish any photo, you’ll have to discover by yourself wether they found anything or not

About cave problems next time we’ll have to do some cleanings. People who discovered this cave in past years decide to sponsorship it with Pepsi cans and other garbage. Why?

It was year 1985. Hotel was just rebuilt on 1983 lava in same spot than restaurant destroyed by that eruption.

I was 11 years old, my brother 14. We loved adventure on young lava seeking for warm spots where it was possible to burn newspapers and pieces of wood. I still remember that humid and sulphuric taste of those white hot spots in a sea of black lava.

On one of our walkings we have been attracted by a natural easy patch on cold lava rivers. Running on those we seemed autobahns respect all rocky lava around we reached an strange zone where lavas seemed molten chocolate on a deformed cake.

To the top of this island of beutiness we found a big hole which revelead our eyes an extraordinary discover: A cave!

It was long time I didn’t reach this forgotten cave. Today I decided to rediscover it and see if it would be possible for our guests to reach it.

It took a bit of time but yes, it wasn’t hard. I reached it and, except for 2001 and 2002 ash making path even easier, our cave is still there and in good health.

I didn’t enter. I was alone and entrance requires attention (at least until we make it easier). It was an emotion to find down in cave same blocks of lava we used 25 years ago to leave cave. I hope soon to go back and use them again.

On way back to hotel I decided to create some “caims” [thanks Julie for translation!] to help people who want to reach cave. It costed me both hands skin so if you wish to join to this work don’t forget gloves.

I also remember somewhere in that big lava valley, on road to 1910 crater, a big circle of lava inside a depression and another little cave (I wouldn’t surprise me to know me and my brother have been only two people to ever have been there, this one was far by anything else.

I wouldn’t know how to find that and probably I will never see it again but yes, it’s plenty of surprises in that big sea of 1983 lava which sourrounds hotel.

There are different ’syles’ to visit Etna.

I adore mr. and mrs. Krabusch one!

Here some photos from their last trip on Etna few days ago.

…and what about ‘free style’? Some past photos took here and there around Etna (2008).

On May, 15th 2001, nine years ago, she disappeared on Etna our guest Beatriz Lebeña Caldevilla.

Tejedor is a spanish folk band which dedicated her a wonderful and deep music, “Etna”.

You can listen it following this link: LLunáticos - Etna

(I wasn’t able to find a better and official video. If you find one please contact us using comments)

Yesterday’s ash emission lasted for about 15-20 minutes (under strong winds).

On Hotel Corsaro Facebook group you will find a video of this event.

It seems there has been an ash column few minutes ago.

Looking at webcams we see nothing.

Maybe it has already finished?

I publish only webcam image in which there is something possibly pertinent to an ash emission.

UPDATE: it has been confirmed, a short activity has been seen around Sud Est crater. Who was up on Etna today has been lucky. Nothing is visible in this moment.