While in Budapest, we decided to go visit the Szemlo-hegyi cave because it was the one of two caves in the area that was open. When we got to the cave, the sign on the door said that tours were given on the hour and it was only about half past. We wandered around and looked at the display in the building. We then sat waiting for someone and to come from downstairs. At about 10 minutes before the hour, someone came down, asked if they could help us. We told them we wanted a tour. The person took our money and handed us pamphlets and told us that we could guide ourselves! Why couldn't we have done that 20 minutes earlier???
The cave was discovered in 1930 and was opened to the public in 1986. It has a stable temperature and humidity level and the walls are covered in thick layers of mineral deposits which are unique in Europe. Because of its environment, the air is supposed to be very healthy and people with breathing difficulties come there and sit for a while to feel better. I have to say, it was easy to breath while there and I didn't feel any of my usual sinus congestion...
The cave had an artificial entrance made by miners. It has a series of caves that you wander through. The Ferencvaros Hall is the first group and has growths that are supposed to look like bunches of grapes but I thought it looked more like cauliflower. In the Maria Chamber, there is a hole in wall of the cave. Supposedly, some explorers were in the cave and only this young girl Maria could get through the hole and into the corridor. The other people in the party had to widen the hole in order to get through.
No comments:
Post a Comment