Caves & Mines

From a glacial ice cave in the Alps to a salt mine in Romania

Touring the Historic Rammelsberg Mine

Germany
40
Legend tells that in the year 968, a knight was hunting deer in the forests of Rammelsberg, a peak in the Harz Mountains.  Stopping for a rest, he tied his horse to a tree.  Restless, the horse pawed at the...
Inside France's Mer de Glace Ice Cave

Inside France’s Mer de Glace Glacier

France
2
Have you ever seen a glacier up close?  Hiked along one, touched it, or possibly hazarded a crossing?  If so, you’ll know they’re powerful forces of nature, hulking masses of snow and ice, creeping downhill so imperceptibly they could easily...

Descending into the Turda Salt Mine

Caves & Mines
6
If you didn’t know where to find the entrance to the Salina Turda Salt Mine, you’d likely drive right past it.  Capped above ground by a modern glass and steel dome next to a huge parking area, surrounded by small...
Cave Hermitage of Tosantos, Spain

The Unexpected Cave Hermitage Of Tosantos

Spain
4
Everyone who knows my mom knows that she’s perpetually late because she’s incapable of going from point A to Z. Instead, she stops at points B through Y in between. Even if her final destination is point B, she’ll still visit points C-Z...
Waterfalls at St. Beatus Caves in Switzerland

St. Beatus vs the Dragon

Switzerland
2
After several weeks of pretty spectacular sunny weather in our little Swiss valley, we knew our luck couldn’t hold out. But we were still bummed when the weekend arrived and the sun fled, bearing gloomy gray skies and rain. It was...