Yes, we decided to climb the most active volcano in the World - Etna. It is also the highest one in Europe, with the height of 3.320 m and the last eruption was in 2004. Let me tell you, I was a bit nervous, but I am very happy I did it. It was such an experience; the air, soil, smell, everything is different and unique.

An important fact to mention is that in the surroundings of Etna the soil is very fertile and people use it efficiently. One of the examples would be the Pistachio plantations in the city of Bronte that we visited on the way back. I have never seen a pistachio tree before and I was really excited to see it. As you can see on the photo, the fruit is still growing, because the harvest is in fall. I still couldn't resist to pick a few and see what it looks like in this stage. This was amazing to see also because at school we tend to order Sicilian pistachios for some specialty desserts, and they are very expensive.






While we were in Bronte, pistachio gelato was a must. Just so you know, I never liked pistachio gelato, ever! It was probably one of the flavors I couldn't eat. I am happy to say that this has changed everything. This is now probably my favorite flavor. It is so creamy, smooth, nutty, and it seems like I'm eating ice cold pistachio paste. And color? Combination of brown and dark green. From then on, Stacey and I were judging all gelato shops by the color of the pistachio one :)

After the amazing experience we headed to Taormina - a beautiful and fancy little town, full of tourists who enjoy high end stores and exquisite cuisine. We just went for a walk and of course...a dessert. This is something that caught my attention and I had to get in (ok, I had to see all of them, but this one was really special).






As I already mentioned, most pastries here are made of marzipan, pistachios, and citrus marmalade. There isn't anything creamy, the shop consists soley of cookie - like pastries, very moist and sweet. It goes very well with a strong espresso.





Crazy, huh?





With this post I will close my 5 week Italian trip and it is time to tell you a little bit about Croatia where I am enjoying myself to the fullest.