Along the entryway of the church, there are 14 small chapels representing the stations of the cross, illustrating the events of Jesus' last journey. Each station has a cross and several kneeling platforms carved into the halite structure.

Each of the 14 stations of the cross were marked with a plaque, both in English and Spanish. This one at Station 12 explains, "Jesus died on the cross."

The main nave of the church, which is over 600 feet below ground contains the largest underground cross in the world, carved in bais relief.

This is Juan, our tour guide. The tour was in Spanish, but he also spoke English, so he would give me the condensed version in English as we walked from one station to the next.

The cathedral contains several beautifully lit naves, this one containing marble sculptures depicting the Holy Family.

Once you reach the actual cross at the end of the cathedral, (85ft high X 35ft wide) you realize it is actually the shape of a cross carved into the stone and illuminated with white light.

I took a supplemental "Ruta Minerale" tour into the actual working mine, which required donning this fashionable sombrero.

Three bus transfers followed by three hours in the salt mines left me starving, so all it took was this man carving off a hunk of beef as a taste to reel me in!

This typical "asadero restaurante" offers outdoor seating so the aroma travels down the block!

This is your first indication you are not about to enter a vegetarian restaurant!

Not enough adjectives for how indescribably delicious this "mixed platter" was, containing beef, pork, ribs, plantains, yucca, and all the trimmings for about $8.00 US. (And yes, I DID have to ask for a doggie bag!)

The latest in "Miner's Wear" on display for window shopping in Zipaquiera.