A fake volcano, an ice-cream, a dog dressed as a shark: how I holidayed in the Aeolian Islands – without leaving Philadelphia

I’ve long dreamed of visiting these Italian islands. But who needs sea views and olive groves when you’ve got traffic-filled expressways and the Fairmount Water Works?

If someone gave me a large sum of money with the stipulation that I had to use it on a summer holiday, I would probably head to the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago off the coast of Sicily boasting dramatic cliffs, mud baths and picturesque beaches. I went there with an ex about 15 years ago and we argued the whole time; I’ve always wanted to go back and not have the beautiful views ruined by romantic discord.

Of course, Italian summer holidays have been ruined by something rather more serious this year: wildfires and scorching heat have closed airports, forced evacuations, and left a trail of death and destruction. It’s not the best time to be jumping on a carbon-emitting plane and heading off for a carefree vacation in the Med.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/t614FNG