MOUNT - MAYON - VOLCANO

We took advantage of the long Easter break to do something we always wanted to do, with our best pals in the Philippines ... whale-shark watching in Donsol.  To get there, we have to transit Legazpi which is a 1-hour flight from Manila.  Legazpi is in the Albay Province on the island of Luzon, where the Mayon Volcano, or Mount Mayon is located.

Folklore names her Balkan Magayan ie Beautiful Volcano, or Balkan Daragang ie Beautiful Lady but majestic and graceful are just not enough to describe her beauty.  One has to be there to feel it, as Andrea did with her classic 'jump shot'.  Renowned for her 'perfect cone' Mayon is almost totally symmetrical.  She has captured the romantic imagination of many over time, and to those who witnessed her fury, outright fear.  I am always amazed by the heaven or hell references to volcanoes, offering fierce destructive power on the one hand and sheer mesmerizing beauty on the other. Mayon's first eruption was recorded in 1616 by a Dutch traveler and she is still active.  Her latest show of force was as recent as 12/29/2009.  By the way, it is not cloud at the summit. The grand dame is letting off steam from the crater ... fire will follow, not anytime soon, but she will.