On Top of Stromboli

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002), 2002 was the "International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains." Write a story or poem about an ecotour to the mountains.

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"What a great idea," she said.
"Let's sign up right now," he said.
So on December 26, 2002 a plane they gaily board,
and off they go to on ecotour to see a live volcano.

"It's such a pretty place," she said.
"We'll hire a guide today," he said.
But no guides were there to be found that day
so on their own they climbed instead, though locals said beware.

"Tell me the date today." she said.
"It's December thirtieth," he said.
Today's the day Stromboli quaked beneath the sea
and from a submarine landslide it caused a tsunami.

"Oh no, I felt a shake," she said.
"I see a great big wave," he said.
Luckily they'd not gone past the "guided only" sign,
But were high enough to see the waves crash up along the shore.

"Next time I think a beach," she said.
"Or maybe just a ranch," he said.
Since ecotourism can be a lot of fun,
but danger lurks and lies in wait around the lovely bend.


On December 30, 2002, the mountain-like island of Stromboli, off the Italian coast, erupted with lava flow and a submarine landslide causing a tsunami. There was considerable damage to structures and dwellings, but no lives were lost. It is a popular destination for ecotourism, as it is a continuously erupting volcano, whose eruptions are mainly small explosions from the crater. The December 30 eruption was the most recent one resulting in major damage. http://www.ifaraglioni.it/stromboliuk.htm