Tuesday 4 December 2012

Under the Scheldt

Saint Anna Tunnel Dimensions
This week I'm going underground or rather underwater and below the Scheldt River where the city of Antwerp's Saint Anna Pedestrian tunnel was built in the 1930s.  Started in 1931 it was opened in 1933
The tunnel is also handy for those pedestrians that ride bikes.  Of course the thing that fascinated me were the escalators that took us up and down to the tunnel

Wooden and very much a product of 1930s Art Deco they trundle  by the white ceramic tiles.  There is also a lift but the preferred option seems to be the escalator.

Always on the move, unless the stop button is pressed. 
First Level
 The depth of the tunnel means that there are not just one but two escalators to ride

 Reaching the bottom and a ten minute walk, or an even quicker bicycle ride and the destination is reached.
We travelling from the bustling city of Antwerp discovered the other bank was full of parks and people enjoying the day. We browsed a riverside collection of propellers and other maritime ephemera, its reason unknown to us, but we spent some time spotting which propellers had been built in the UK.   It is also undoubtedly the perfect place to take photographs of the Antwerp skyline and watch the barges sail past.  We passed a pleasant time strolling on the banks and made our way back to the tunnel entrance
 Back underground
And back to the bustling city

An entry to ABC Wednesday. A journey through the alphabet which has reached the letter - U

7 comments:

Leslie: said...

Cool...I went underground in London this week!

Leslie
abcw team

Roger Owen Green said...

an impressive technological feat!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Rajesh said...

Such a old tunnel and still in excellent condition.

mrsnesbitt said...

I can do escalators ....I can do bikes.....but at the same time? Ahem!
Admiration for all who can.
We visit Netherlands often - yet we never go underground - well not on the motorbike! lol!
Denise ABC Team

Chubskulit Rose said...

Love that old bell!

Chewed UP
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

Reader Wil said...

Yes, Belgium and the Netherlands have many rivers and consequently a lot of tunnels. Very interesting post ! Have a great Friday!

Anonymous said...

Very interesting way into the tunnel,seems to have been very well crafted.