Friday 3 July 2015

Slovenia's amazing limestone cave

Postojna

Postojna town is home to the second longest limestone cave, the Postojna Cave. The cave was discovered during the 17th century and has since developed into a tourist destination. Although this means your experience will be less 'natural', it is still worth visiting the exceptional limestone structures and my personal favourite, the concert hall. The concert hall is said to have amazing acoustics. A huge chandelier lights up the surrounding limestones and dim-lighting makes for a romantic atmosphere.



The cave is a paid entry. You will that the fee includes a train ride and the much needed lighting to view the limestone formations. There will be a point during your tour that the guides will switch off the lights, just to let you feel how dark it is inside. When they do, you will come to appreciate the lighting they provide (or you paid for) because closing your eyes in a lighted room brings more light that the cave in the dark. It is pitch black. So since electricity and bulbs don't come free, someone needs to pay for it.

As the second longest limestone cave system, you will be thankful that they built a train to ferry you 2/3 of the length. Even walking 1/3 of the cave takes 45 minutes - 1 hour. One thing to bring during your train ride is a nice thick jacket. Although it is summer and sweltering outside, limestones have the effect of lowering temperatures (a characteristic of the stone) and adding the wind from the train ride, it can get uncomfortably chilly.
The cave is a natural occurrence. It goes without saying that no one should ever touch or even break any of the formations. It takes thousands of years to form, but it will only take one touch for you to destroy it. Unless you think your curiosity surpasses the need to preserve the formations and that it will bring benefit to mankind for the next thousand years (I highly doubt so), I highly suggest you keep your hands in your jacket's pockets. 

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