Holy Bat Cave It Isn’t! (It’s a New Museum)

In just a few weeks, an organization in Horse Cave, Ky.--a state well-known for its caves--will open a cavern with almost all the classic amenities . . . except the bats. The reason: It isn’t, well, exactly a cave. An old brick building that once housed a drugstore and pool hall is being transformed into a two-story cave setting--complete with stalactites and stalagmites. And when it opens Aug. 1, the American Museum of Caves and Karstlands (karst is porous rock silt with fissures) will be one of the few places in the United States dedicated to the preservation of caves. Visitors will also be able to tour the adjacent Hidden River Cave, a cavern that snakes under the city and, before it was polluted by sewage, was a primary source of water, water power and tourist dollars for the town. It has been cleaned up for visitors, although work remains before it is pristine. The new center is not meant as a Disneyland for spelunkers. Officials of the sponsoring organization, the nonprofit American Cave Conservation Assn., have opened it to educate the public about the importance of caves and ground water preservation to the environment. For entry to the museum, visit the American Cave Conservation Assn. office at the corner of Main and Cave streets. Horse Cave, Ky., is about halfway between Louisville and Nashville, Tenn., 30 minutes from Mammoth Cave.

Travel Quiz: What is the most densely populated state in the nation?

Notice for Panama Visitors: The hijacking of three small passenger planes in Panama since the first of the year has prompted the State Department to issued a travel notice--the weakest form of travel advisory--urging U.S. travelers to Panama to exercise special precautions while visiting. Travelers contemplating flights on small planes are advised to consider the possibility of hijackings before booking such a flight, although no passengers were harmed in any of the hijackings, the advisory said. The hijackings prompted the State Department to reissue a notice reminding travelers of an on-going high incidence of crime in Panama City and surrounding areas and to suggest that travelers take the following precautions: Minimize the amount of cash and other valuables carried along; do not carry items of personal value that cannot be replaced. Avoid going alone into poorer areas of town, particularly after dark. Choose restaurants that have adequate security. Park in well-lighted areas. Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Visitors who are victims of crimes should report them to the U.S. Embassy at Apartado 6959, Panama 5, Rep. de Panama; local telephone 27-1777. Although the majority of travelers experience no problems during their visits to Panama, a State Department spokeswoman stressed, the U.S. Embassy there regularly receives reports of tourists who have been victims of crimes ranging from armed robbery to purse snatchings.

One Last Word for the Barcelona-bound: American Express has opened four new temporary customer service locations in and around Barcelona to provide travel and financial services for visitors to the 1992 Summer Olympic Games, which begin Friday. Among locations are those in the Rey Juan Carlos I hotel; a welcome desk at the Barcelona airport that is shared with the Spanish Assn. of Travel Agents, and two mobile travel offices to cover areas frequented by travelers. American Express will also operate 24-hour, multilingual phone lines that will answer basic tourist questions, such as addresses for local tourist offices, and provide service for traveler’s checks and cards. The toll-free number for English-language assistance is 900-20-01-78.

Montreal Lightens Up: Visitors to Montreal, which is celebrating its 350th anniversary this year, can watch “The Night Fantastic,” a multimedia show that tells the city’s history with light, sound, music, giant puppets, special effects and films and slides that will be projected onto Notre-Dame Basilica and surrounding buildings. The sunset show (about 9:30 p.m.) runs every day but Monday through Aug. 2 at the Place d’Armes, a square in front of the basilica that has been transformed into an open-air theater for the event. Forty-five artists, including 25 puppeteer/musicians, will perform. Tickets are about $13.

Quick Fact: Denmark has raised its speed limit on highways from 100 to 110 kilometers per hour (about 70 m.p.h.). It has also increased its speeding fines 50%. But the steepest penalties are reserved for those who drive while intoxicated. That can cost violators $1,000.

A Stone’s Throw from Russia: The fabled crown jewels of the Russian czars, and some of the historic Romanov jewels (including some Faberge eggs) that have never been seen by the public anywhere will be displayed outside Russia for the very first time in Israel, for eight weeks beginning in mid-December. The Russian show, which also will contain rough diamonds, including one stone of 162 carats, will take place at the Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum in Ramat Gan near Tel-Aviv.

Cashing in by Phone: Foreign currency can now be ordered, using Visa or MasterCard, by telephone through “Call for Cash,” a new program by Chemical Bank. Consumers can order more than 100 foreign currencies or buy traveler’s checks (1% fee) in eight currencies: Canadian dollars, English pounds, French francs, German marks, Japanese yen, Spanish pesetas, Swiss francs and Hong Kong dollars. Money is delivered by registered mail ($5 delivery) or overnight courier ($10). Up to $2,000 in currency can be sent within the continental United States. For more information, call (212) 878-3674.

Comparatively Speaking: Number of passengers involuntarily bumped from major U.S. airlines, January-March (most first): TWA (1,974), Southwest (1,895), Delta (1,030), USAir (760), United (736), Continental (687), American (618), America West (571), Northwest (401). (Source: Department of Transportation.)

Quiz Answer: New Jersey, with 1,042 people per square mile, according to the 1990 census.