Another beautiful spot in Sicily

We found a little bit of Southwest Missouri right here in Sicily. Yesterday Bob and I took a trip to Alcantara Gorge (Gole della Alcantara). It's an area in the northeastern part of Sicily about a third of the way up the mountain (Mount Etna). It's a little tricky to get there and we took a couple of wrong turns, but just about the time I had given up hope of ever finding it, there were signs that pointed the way.

We walked a nice long (hot) trail overlooking the gorge and saw bluffs that reminded us of home. The river itself was a beautiful clear stream you could drink out of (well, that's not Missouri anymore but the one of my childhood). From the top of the bluff we looked down on crystalline waters running through the lava bed. The effect can't be put into a photo but here's a couple to show you a bit of the rocks and river.

After the walk we went to the little beach at the bottom of the gorge. We both said, almost simultaneously, "Roaring River". The water was cold, cold, cold and clear and beautiful. Signs warned to not stay in the water very long because of the cold. We took a few minutes to splash water on our faces and arms and after that long, hot walk it was very refreshing.