Dr. Weil Travels in Italy

1 min

In the late spring of 2012, to celebrate my 70th birthday on June 8, my daughter Diana, some close friends and I took a wonderful trip through Rome and Sicily. The highlight was a trek up glorious Mt. Etna, the famed active volcano on Sicily’s east coast – we explored natural springs and enjoyed breathtaking views. A bit of la dolce vita to kick off my eighth decade! (More travel photos from this trip are available on Dr. Weil’s SmugMug.)

Photos by Andre Fasciola

Watch Dr. Weil describing this milestone birthday and his hopes for the future.

See more photo galleries here.

Taken from the hilltop castle Castelmola along the coast. In the background is Mt. Etna, an active volcano.
Laghetto di Fanghi is a celebrated mud bath on the island of Vulcano near the coast. Bathers cover themselves in mud (reputed to have therapeutic powers) and then go into the spring-warmed sea to wash off. This was a great treat right after we hiked down from the live volcano. Vulcano is a great little island, but it smells like rotten eggs.
My daughter Diana and I toss coins into the fountain dedicated to the Roman goddess, Diana. According to Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and birthing. Who wouldn't want to throw a coin into a fountain honoring a goddess that shares your - or your daughter's - name?
An image from atop the island Vulcano with the Mediterranean in the background. Also in the background you see the Island of Lipari (left), and in the far distance is the other very active volcano called Stromboli (right).
Here, we are on top of the active volcano island named Vulcano. The Roman name for the island?contributed the word for volcano to English and other modern European languages. The Romans used the island for harvesting wood and mining alum and sulfur.
My daughter and I take a break for a photo-op while out seeing the countryside.