It was the perfect time and place to discover a special place in the midst of the Thuringia Forest in Germany. It had been unusually hot and humid and so it felt like a great idea to visit the famous fairy grottoes in the small town of Saalfeld. The subterranean caverns that now served as a show mine promised at least a slight break from the heat. Since we had to wait for the next tour, we explored the surrounding forest first. We walked a trail and at some point saw something that first looked like a tall bare tree trunk. Yet as we got closer my heart skipped in delight: there was a fairy carved out of it! She had her wings spread and looked as if she was hovering in mid-air. I was so enamored, that I could have spent the entire time looking at her or taking pictures.
However, our tour started and I had to leave the fairy not without a slight sense of regret. We entered a small tunnel that lead us underground. Every step took us not just deeper into the earth, but it was as if we were entering a hidden world that could not have been more surreal. Outside it had been bright and hot. Vibrant greens were all around and the sound of birds had enlivened the forest. Here it was dark and gloomy in the sparely lit gallery. Cool air emanated from the rocks and every sound of walking feet or spoken words seemed muffled.
While we stopped at various location where the tour guide entertained the group with his stories, I stayed back to soak in the atmosphere. I rested my hands on the cold and moist walls to tune into the space around me. In my mind I acknowledged the spirit of the mountain. I thanked it for watching over this refuge that was beautiful in a stark and eerie way. Yet, the most gorgeous scenery opened up when we entered the third and most famous chamber called the “Fairy Kingdom”. Here an underground pool reflected a surreal landscape made of stalagmites and stalactites that almost looked like a castle. Classic music set in and together with the changing spot lights created an atmosphere that could have been the backdrop for any out of this world movie. At times I even saw a staircase ascending as if there was a doorway opening up between the lower and upper world. I was grateful to have found just the right intersection of time and space to dive into this mysterious underground realm. It was wonderful to be charmed this way and to renew my sense of awe and wonder for the beauty of this world.
