Vulcano, Italy
If the island's name evokes thoughts of Dr. Spock, being there takes the image even further. The sulfuric, volcanic terrain is the ideal setting for a Star Trek episode. The overwhelming, disgusting odor (imagine contact lens enzymatic cleaner shoved up your nose) even smells like another world. There were a bunch of old people hanging out in a brownish, quietly bubbling, hot, sulfuric pond. I stuck my finger in and then smelled it. Grossed out, and wearing jeans, hiking boots, and a long sleeve shirt on a cool damp overcast evening I decided not to go for a dip, despite the encouraging crowd. It's like I was on a planet made of rotten hard boiled eggs.
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