Two walks in two days – the first on Panarea about an hour by boat from Lipari, and the second to climb to the crater on the island of Vulcano, about 15 minutes away by boat.
Yesterday we went on Summertime, a smallish converted fishing boat to Panarea – a small island an hour away which has a few locals and a lot of flash holiday homes.  We walked out to a spectacular promitory had been the location of a prehistoric village.

The walk through the village was easy but it was hot and we did a bit of dodging golf carts, scooters and Apis transporting goods and people to the various homes and B&Bs.

After the walk and a light lunch at the tiny port, the boat took us out to a volcanic vent in the seabed (smell that sulphur!) and the to a bay below the prehistoric site where the braver among us went for a swim – the water isn’t that warm yet.

Today we were off to the island of Vulcano on the same little boat.  The walk to the crater was short – but 800 meters of steep uphill  climb on soft volcanic sand for much of the way to the top in hot sun.  The fresh orange juice and lemon granita at the bottom were welcome!

On the trip back we stopped in a little cove for another swim – I got in this time – John made sure he had proof!  And it was COLD! Our reward was panettone and malvasia wine for morning tea on the boat after.

Pics of Panarea in this  post.  Pics of Vulcano follow.