Museum weather

It rains buckets pretty continuously here, which is great for museums. My bunkmate Vera (from Holland) and I spent the day together yesterday in Zipaquira, just outside of Bogota. Remind me to tell you some funny bus stories later. Zipaquira's claim to fame is that it is cute and historic, and very near a large salt mine.

The salt mine was pretty cool. To the left is an optical illusion. Maybe it is obvious in the picture, but in real life it was difficult to tell that there was water reflecting the ceiling. All of us on the tour were fooled by it!

Vera and I took the miner's tour, where they show you how the salt has been mined over time. We got to use pick axes to mine some salt ourselves, and then they simulated an explosion and explained how dangerous mining salt is. Apparently there are flammable gases in salt mines, too.

After they mined a couple of levels of salt out, someone decided that what the mine really needed was a church. The entire third level of the mine is a giant cathedral, with 14 rooms dedicated to the passion of Christ. Everything is made out of salt, including the lectern, places to kneel, and the confession booths. To the left is part of a nativity scene carved from salt.

The mine boasts the world's largest underground cross. And here I am in front of it!