Ultraviolet Apocalypse!
I'm going to try to be good and actually post about the places we visited during our epic road trip of doom in the US. One of the places we went was the Ultraviolet Apocalypse! It's actually a Carmelite Monastery in Munster, Indiana. We were looking for awesome places to visit on the road trip and the description over on the crazy road trip site was just impossible to resist. So we called up and made a reservation (or rather, we got ontogenesis to do it for us) and headed over there first thing in the morning. It's actually only about half an hour South of Chicago so a good first stop.
The outside is actually pretty normal looking. It's basically a regular looking church in the middle of a pretty wooded area. We went in to tell the people we were there and one of them came out to unlock the shrines for us. Then we got to tour them on our own (which is good since then we didn't have to pretend to be religious.) XD
The outside of the first grotto -
The buildings are made of sponge rock with random semi-precious crystals set in the walls. The first grotto we went in was basically a series of hallways that led to different shrines ending at the top of the building. There were a few pretty angel carvings.
Some of the stones set into the wall (there were all different kinds) -
One of the awesome angel carvings!
After leaving that grotto we headed over to the other one that was supposed to be the highlight. Upon approaching there was a very creepy angel statue.
Its eyes follow you!
Then, when we went in we got even more angels!
The next room was laid out like a church with rows of seats facing the altar. On the altar is Jesus on his deathbed flanked by two Roman soldiers. The altar is made entirely of different kinds of crystals and is apparently supposed to look like a glowing sacred heart.
Nearby is the "Flagellation Chapel" with a marble Jesus tied to a pillar.
Then we have the ultraviolet highlight! A room decked out in blacklights that depicts the Archangel Gabriel and Jesus raising the dead. Seriously amazing!
And outside as you're leaving you get this sign :D -
Definitely worth a visit if you're going to be anywhere near Munster, Indiana! And because no post is complete without tentacles, one final pic of our darling Lee with his new friends Mel and Sue.
Also, I am still flailing about the new Sherlock ep! Is that seriously all we're going to get for a year?? Say it's not so! *weeps bitter tears*
The outside is actually pretty normal looking. It's basically a regular looking church in the middle of a pretty wooded area. We went in to tell the people we were there and one of them came out to unlock the shrines for us. Then we got to tour them on our own (which is good since then we didn't have to pretend to be religious.) XD
The outside of the first grotto -
The buildings are made of sponge rock with random semi-precious crystals set in the walls. The first grotto we went in was basically a series of hallways that led to different shrines ending at the top of the building. There were a few pretty angel carvings.
Some of the stones set into the wall (there were all different kinds) -
One of the awesome angel carvings!
After leaving that grotto we headed over to the other one that was supposed to be the highlight. Upon approaching there was a very creepy angel statue.
Its eyes follow you!
Then, when we went in we got even more angels!
The next room was laid out like a church with rows of seats facing the altar. On the altar is Jesus on his deathbed flanked by two Roman soldiers. The altar is made entirely of different kinds of crystals and is apparently supposed to look like a glowing sacred heart.
Nearby is the "Flagellation Chapel" with a marble Jesus tied to a pillar.
Then we have the ultraviolet highlight! A room decked out in blacklights that depicts the Archangel Gabriel and Jesus raising the dead. Seriously amazing!
And outside as you're leaving you get this sign :D -
Definitely worth a visit if you're going to be anywhere near Munster, Indiana! And because no post is complete without tentacles, one final pic of our darling Lee with his new friends Mel and Sue.
Also, I am still flailing about the new Sherlock ep! Is that seriously all we're going to get for a year?? Say it's not so! *weeps bitter tears*