European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 28, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sights sounds journey to the Center of the Earth Spain offers a Chance to take a trip through a Cave via an underground by Allen Cowan staff writer travellers on autobahn 7 from Valencia to Barcelona in Spain can see a lot on this coast it winds its Way among colourful Groves of oranges and their Beauty enhanced by the suns Orange hues skipping off the Mediterranean invisible from the the stalactite in Cave of san Jose and its underground located in the Vail de a Village of pottery makers and sewers of ropes led shopping bargains Are the Quality of goods is and its delightful to watch craftsmen working As did their fathers and their but the the lure that makes a Detour from the Highway is the Cave it is a breathtaking ride inside a Phenomena of a rare sight for americans who have Little Opportunity stateside to see there Are but two noted Sites in the those in the Luray Cavern in Virginia and Carlsbad Cavern in new but Spain is just a hop from most any european and once in this land of bullfighting and Jai Alai the Cave the journey begins at the Cashiers which is carved out of the a Short walk inside is the where wooden fishing boats await twelve to a carefully a guide sits in front to warn of Low another rides in Back to steer the motor less boat like a its an Serene journey into the bowels of the the boat glides past Sandy twisting and turning on its torturous path through the underwater lights cast a warming glow from beneath the Crystal Clear lights on the Walls Are strategically placed to focus attention on unusual Rock discerning eyes can see real Flowers and Bushes along the some sunlight seeps and theres fresh water and air to allow these botanical wonders to exist in Sharp contrast to the dark looking the stalactites Are clearly appreciate them even those jagged ones snapped off by thoughtless tourists and contemplate the work of scores of stalactites Cluster a Spray of Needles so to speak created Over Majestic Cones sagging under their own fighting Gravity to stay icicles intertwined As if Woven by hand by a berber who decided not to make a Rug that they Are natural of the grandeur of the giant redwoods in Muir Woods North of san or of viagra Falls on the new York Canadian the icicles Are actually deposits of Carbonate of formed by the evaporation of dripping water full of what evaporates out is carbonic which holds the Lime in when the acid solidified Lime layer after layer is built upon the giving the stalactite its length and in the word stalactite derives from the greek word which Means a trickling or guides Here Tell tourists that stalactites grow one centimetre inches every 100 for the stalagmites Are the same except they form on the Bottom of caves and reach toward the an easy Way to Tell them apart is to remember the c in stalactite stands for while craning dont look too carefully into the bats hang among the the first great Cavern is aptly named Sala de los or Hall of not to there dormant while the lights Are the ride takes about 30 Halfway tourists Are let out of the and then walk a path through the the boat picks them up at the end of the path and the ride a word of dont go to the Cave if its been raining holes in the ceiling allow Rainwater to soak and the water level in some places the ceiling is too Low to navigate at High other than the Rainy when the caves might be there open every Day of the guided which Cost about per Are in Given every 30 begin about 10 and Stop about 5 there Are several restaurants in the including one inside a souvenir pottery miniature Golf and to get to the take exit 49 off autobahn 7 and follow the signs to Grustas de san go into town to see the pottery makers and March stripes Magazine 77