Only a day after my arrival in Bogotá, I was whisked away to the Catedral de Sal, the first wonder of Colombia. This landmark is an old salt mine that was converted into an underground cathedral within the last century. Although uneasy thoughts about traveling 180m under the surface of the earth crept into my head, I tried to keep an open mind as I followed Juliana’s family through the entrance.

After a long trek through different caves and tunnels we finally made it to the grand cathedral.  As I walked into the space I immediately felt much smaller than 5, 4″.  I guessed this room to be about 50m high and at least 100m across. I was simply awestruck for awhile, not really knowing what to do with myself.  Believe it or not, people make this journey regularly, as this cathedral is not just a tourist attraction, but it is also a functioning church.

As we began our return to the surface, I could not help but feel overwhelmed by an immense feeling of gratitude. Never in my life have I seen something so strikingly beautiful. It truly seemed that every detail within the mine carried some sort of meaning, whether it was spiritual or factual. I know that this will be an experience that I will never forget.

This is a photo of Juliana’s family and I, whom I am also very grateful for. They are simply the most patient translators an amateur Spanish-speaker could ask for.

That is all for now!

Julia