No photo that I could take will ever do justice to the majestic Slanic salt mines in the Prahova region.
The boys have worked hard on their internships and so today, our last day in Romania, we decided to visit a different region and take in the salt mines. It was a bit of a trek to get there but as everybody slept in the car, I was able to listen to BBC radio 4 with lovely peace and quiet all the way.
I have never really thought about salt mines before, having lived in Brittany for years, salt comes from Noirmoutier and is found in butter (not so in the south!) so to visit the mine was an exciting opportunity.

Going underground was just the best idea as it was only 12-13•C in the mines as opposed to over 30•C outside and the air has a fresh saltiness; reminiscent of a trip to the seaside.
We stopped for lunch in a nice restaurant before a minibus took us down into the depths of the mine. It was difficult to see the route as the lights were on inside the minibus and although the were some lights along the track into the mine, it is quite dimly lit. It took about 5 minutes to descend, all the while feeling the temperature dropping.

There are quite a few panels showing the history of the mines of old, weathered looking men humping huge lumps of salt around, various types of old machinery: the biggest chainsaw I have ever seen in my life, some Indiana Jones Temple of Doom type mine carts and a lot of rescue equipment, mainly breathing apparatus, some of it looking decidedly dodgy - more gas mask than oxygen mask.

The beauty of the marble
walls and ceilings that came from the layers of salt which has been systematically carved away was an absolute joy to behold; the mines are cavernous (and with an echo if you shout loud enough) the floor to ceiling height is over 200m and the total excavated space has a volume of 2.9 million m3.
There are some salt carvings, quite a few busts, some ornamental objects and some lovely displays of crystal salt and amber.

We returned to the lycée feeling tired, with little to do but pack our suitcases for
our return flight to France tomorrow and complete our blogs.
I have very much enjoyed my time in this beautiful country. There are some exceptional places, the people are really tolerant and generous, the braised cabbage dish is nothing short of delicious and the lemonade is just divine.
Part of me feels a little sad to be leaving but another part of me is looking forward to my next Erasmus+ adventure.
"ramas bun"