![Lateral crater from 2001 - but if you look closely you'll notice many additional craters further below](/blog/2017-09-02_climbing-mount-etna/images/i_02_Lateral-crater-from-2001-but-if-you-look-closely-you-ll-notice-many-additional-craters-further-below_500px.jpg)
![Pico del Teide as seen from the south of the caldera](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_10_Pico-del-Teide-as-seen-from-the-south-of-the-caldera_500px.jpg)
![Shadow of a Martian... of sorts :-)](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_08_Shadow-of-a-Martian-of-sorts_500px.jpg)
![Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, down at Los Gigantes](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_18_Swimming-in-the-Atlantic-Ocean-down-at-Los-Gigantes_500px.jpg)
![The Las Cañadas caldera on top of Teide, as seen from the International Space Station (public domain)](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_02_The-Las-Canadas-caldera-on-top-of-Teide-as-seen-from-the-International-Space-Station-public-domain_500px.jpg)
![ESA's fast-moving Heavy Duty Planetary Rover (HDPR) at Teide (credit: ESA)](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_07_ESA-s-fast-moving-Heavy-Duty-Planetary-Rover-HDPR-at-Teide-credit-ESA_500px.jpg)
![The El Chinyero vent on the Santiago Ridge, still black from the 1909 eruption](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_11_The-El-Chinyero-vent-on-the-Santiago-Ridge-still-black-from-the-1909-eruption_500px.jpg)
![The white/yellow on the Etna summit is sulphite - not gold... according to our guide](/blog/2017-09-02_climbing-mount-etna/images/i_06_The-white-yellow-on-the-Etna-summit-is-sulphite-not-gold-according-to-our-guide_500px.jpg)
![Some rocks are unbelievable in size and shape](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_09_Some-rocks-are-unbelievable-in-size-and-shape_500px.jpg)
![The Los Gigantes are really unbelievable in their dimensions, you'll feel like a tiny human on the twisty roads.](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_14_The-Los-Gigantes-are-really-unbelievable-in-their-dimensions-you-ll-feel-like-a-tiny-human-on-the-tw_500px.jpg)
![Relaxing in the pool](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_22_Relaxing-in-the-pool_500px.jpg)
![The view is spectacular.](/blog/2017-09-02_climbing-mount-etna/images/i_12_The-view-is-spectacular_500px.jpg)
![Me and the Milky Way (photo by Ellen Middelkoop)](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_21_Me-and-the-Milky-Way-photo-by-Ellen-Middelkoop_500px.jpg)
![Teide Observatory with telescopes from different countries at 2390 meters altitude](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_20_Teide-Observatory-with-telescopes-from-different-countries-at-2390-meters-altitude_500px.jpg)
![Mount Etna](/blog/2017-09-02_climbing-mount-etna/images/i_16_Mount-Etna_500px.jpg)
![On top of the Los Gigantes massive, with the La Gomera island on the horizon](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_13_On-top-of-the-Los-Gigantes-massive-with-the-La-Gomera-island-on-the-horizon_500px.jpg)
![These craters are the result of explosive magma eruptions](/blog/2017-09-02_climbing-mount-etna/images/i_09_These-craters-are-the-result-of-explosive-magma-eruptions_500px.jpg)
![Twisty roads to the top of Teide, with remarkable geological formations visible](/blog/2018-08-21_space-travelling-from-el-teide/images/i_05_Twisty-roads-to-the-top-of-Teide-with-remarkable-geological-formations-visible_500px.jpg)
This summer holiday brought me to Tenerife, part of the Canary Islands, Spain. It's a popular destination because of the climate, but it's also the home of Teide, the world's second highest volcano (7500 m, measured from the sea floor). The incredible views reach way beyond earth, into outer space, the Milky Way and other distant galaxies.
Last week me and my wife went to Sicily for a little summer holiday. It is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is an autonomous region of Italy, along with surrounding minor islands. It's home to Europe's largest active volcano: Mount Etna. We had a chance to visit this lava spurring monstrosity and it was quite the experience.