The shiny stuff in the caves is feldspar

This kneeler on the Via Crucis is carved from salt

At this station, XII, I think, the cross is empty

The striations are from the miner's tools (it was done by hand), the white veins are salt.

The Pieta. Mary had the features of a Muisca woman

This work echoes "The Offering" from the Gold Museum

A group of art students are carving this scene out of salt. Unfinished but worthy of admiration

Baked chicken lunch at Quira. In Muisca culture, Zipa is chief, Quira is wife

In Independence Plaza, flags of the 5 nations freed by Bolivar

Obleas at Toledo on Zipaquira. Tastes like a Nutter Butter cookie

Half chocolate, half caramel. A happy camper!

Marcia & our guide -- the son of a salt miner and univ. educated

Zipaquira & Salt Cathedral

February 15 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

An hour outside of Bogota is an ancient salt dome the indigenous and successors have been mining for centuries. It is estimated that there is enough salt to last for two more centuries.
About 70 years ago, the miners started bringing a statue of the Virgin with them as they mined. Eventually, they decided to build a chapel for the same. Regrettably, water intrusion caused the chapel to close. About 25 years ago the miners dug out a new set of tunnels and built a chapel in one of them. There is a lot more to the story but it's a bit in the weeds.
We had been warned to dress warmly but it was quite warm below decks.
Next stop was lunch and a walkabout in the town of Zipaquira. A nice place but not that much is reportable.
Tomorrow we fly to Pereira and the coffee region. I'm hoping to see Juan Valdez.Read more