We made a couple of trips outside Bogota. One was to Zipaquira, a town famous for Colombia's proud 2019 Tour de France winner Egan Bernal. His mural was vividly exhibited at his house.
However, Zipaquira is better known for its Salt Cathedral or Catedral de Sal. It used to be a salt mine and the miners decided to convert it into a full cathedral that is still functioning with two masses on Sunday.
This is the entrance into the Cathedral.
When the water flows into the rock salt, it produces the crystalized wall like this.
From the entrance, there were 14 stages of the Pathway to the Cross, depicting the scenes of Jesus Christ going to the Calvary carrying His Cross. Each stage exhibits a cross that symbolizes the story in the bible until He is buried. The Crosses were in many different types, such as solid, hollow, carved or buried. They all are made of rock salt.
At the Choir, you could see below the wide open space where people gather in mass.
Even the chandeliers are made of salt crystals.
The main cathedral below still holds two services at noon and 2pm on every Sunday. Also, people could get married at this cathedral or any other place within the Cathedral, but it would be costly since they will have to pay for the opportunity loss from having to close the Cathedral to the general public.
Most of the salt from the mine, formally called Halite, is used for the industrial purposes due to heavy mineral contents. But, there were plenty of artifacts made of salt.
Monserrate Mountain
On the top of Monserrate Mountain, a church stands vividly overlooking the Bogota City.
The church was built in the 17th century and stands at more than 10,000 feet above sea level, along with its El Senor Caido Shrine. From here, you could see outstanding views of downtown Bogota.
The name Monserrate was derived from Catalonia in Spain where a monastery of the same name is located. It is a pilgrimage site, the same as in Spain, under the control of the Colombian Archbishop.
On the way up, we took the cable car.
The view of Bogota was indeed panoramic.
At the top was a Basilica, which has been rebuilt three times.
Inside the Basilica was a black Madonna, the same as in Spain.
Around the Basilica were a commercial shopping area where coca products were sold along with many types of souvenirs.
"The passion of Christ comforts us." Indeed.
On the way to the funicular station, I saw a sculpture of Jesus standing before Pontius Pilate who was giving a death verdict to an innocent Jesus knowingly.
On the way down, we used the funicular instead of the cable car. A different view and experience.
Colombian Dishes
Colombia is known for many words starting with "C." Coffee, culture, colors, unfortunately also cocaine. Another C is cuisines. Here are a couple of dishes that deserve mentioning.
Ajiaco
The Ajuaco Bogotano or Santaferefio is a typical soup of the area of Bogota, Colombia. It contains chicken dams or shredded potato Criolla, Pastusa and sabanera, cob corn and capers and optionally cream. Alejandra was emphasizing that a special herb, called Guascas, has to be added to create the unique taste of Ajiaco. We bought some Guascas to try them out back home.
Arepa
Another dish more well known to the world is Arepa. It is a type of food made of ground maze dough, originating from northern region of South America in pre-Columbian times, and is notable in the cuisines of Colombia and Venezuela.
It is eaten daily in these countries and can be served with accompaniments such as cheese, cuajada (fermented milk), various meats, chicken, avocado, and diablito. It can also be split to make sandwiches. Sizes, maize types, and added ingredients vary its preparation.
However, Zipaquira is better known for its Salt Cathedral or Catedral de Sal. It used to be a salt mine and the miners decided to convert it into a full cathedral that is still functioning with two masses on Sunday.
This is the entrance into the Cathedral.
When the water flows into the rock salt, it produces the crystalized wall like this.
From the entrance, there were 14 stages of the Pathway to the Cross, depicting the scenes of Jesus Christ going to the Calvary carrying His Cross. Each stage exhibits a cross that symbolizes the story in the bible until He is buried. The Crosses were in many different types, such as solid, hollow, carved or buried. They all are made of rock salt.
At the Choir, you could see below the wide open space where people gather in mass.
Even the chandeliers are made of salt crystals.
The main cathedral below still holds two services at noon and 2pm on every Sunday. Also, people could get married at this cathedral or any other place within the Cathedral, but it would be costly since they will have to pay for the opportunity loss from having to close the Cathedral to the general public.
Most of the salt from the mine, formally called Halite, is used for the industrial purposes due to heavy mineral contents. But, there were plenty of artifacts made of salt.
Monserrate Mountain
On the top of Monserrate Mountain, a church stands vividly overlooking the Bogota City.
The church was built in the 17th century and stands at more than 10,000 feet above sea level, along with its El Senor Caido Shrine. From here, you could see outstanding views of downtown Bogota.
The name Monserrate was derived from Catalonia in Spain where a monastery of the same name is located. It is a pilgrimage site, the same as in Spain, under the control of the Colombian Archbishop.
On the way up, we took the cable car.
The view of Bogota was indeed panoramic.
At the top was a Basilica, which has been rebuilt three times.
Inside the Basilica was a black Madonna, the same as in Spain.
Around the Basilica were a commercial shopping area where coca products were sold along with many types of souvenirs.
"The passion of Christ comforts us." Indeed.
Inside the church was a fallen Jesus on His way to the Cross. It was a rare scene displayed at a Roman Catholic Church, but I was humbled by the agony He endured not for Him but for us, the sinful humanity.
On the way down, we used the funicular instead of the cable car. A different view and experience.
Colombia is known for many words starting with "C." Coffee, culture, colors, unfortunately also cocaine. Another C is cuisines. Here are a couple of dishes that deserve mentioning.
Ajiaco
The Ajuaco Bogotano or Santaferefio is a typical soup of the area of Bogota, Colombia. It contains chicken dams or shredded potato Criolla, Pastusa and sabanera, cob corn and capers and optionally cream. Alejandra was emphasizing that a special herb, called Guascas, has to be added to create the unique taste of Ajiaco. We bought some Guascas to try them out back home.
Arepa
Another dish more well known to the world is Arepa. It is a type of food made of ground maze dough, originating from northern region of South America in pre-Columbian times, and is notable in the cuisines of Colombia and Venezuela.
It is eaten daily in these countries and can be served with accompaniments such as cheese, cuajada (fermented milk), various meats, chicken, avocado, and diablito. It can also be split to make sandwiches. Sizes, maize types, and added ingredients vary its preparation.
Colombia is an amazing country that has transformed and is being transformed with determination. - Jeffrey
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