ellen_datlow

So the six of us: Carol, Bob, Ellie, Justin, Rick, and I meet at Court Street and Atlantic at 1:15 and see a group of people standing around with cameras and flashlights. We ask if this is for the tunnel tour--yes it is. after about 15 minutes, a guy comes around with clipboard and explains that we must line up at the side of the courthouse (the building we're standing in front of) and sign the permission forms--and he and his colleagues will collect the $15 per person. By now there are lots more people (turns out about 150 total show up). We've already noticed a jeep parked in the middle of the street with the center area closed of and what looks like a manhole cover opened to the world...uh oh. Is THAT where we're going? While the signing, paying, and settling goes on, a cop car stops, two cops get out and go to the hole/jeep. Apparently, the cops often come by--they get a kick out of it and one mentions (or jokes--I don't hear it but this is relayed to us) that he and his wife would like to go on the tour. It IS all legal, there are permits. It's an official city franchise run by Bob Diamond, the guy who discovered the tunnel back in 1980--for more information read about it here Atlantic Avenue tunnel

So... at around 2:30 we are ready to go. This after sweltering in the heat for an hour. I'm a little nervous, as I've got my carrier bag that I hold on my shoulder, so Carol took it from me as she climbed down first. Narrow narrow--so this is what going down a manhole is like. Strong, sturdy ladder yes. I've worn my cowboy boots because I don't have sneakers and I thought that sandals wouldn't work. (I was wrong and should indeed have worn my rubber soled flat sandals, but I didn't realize that till walking in the tunnel itself).
Twelve feet down the ladder, walk over some debris, climb under a barrier and then there's a hole in the wall in front of me with stairs going down. Unfortunately I'm blinded by the dark and yes, there are lanterns lit along the walls going down the steps, I trip because I can't see the stairs in front of me for the shadows. Just a teeny trip and I fall on my ass. When I get up I realize that I can see better when I walk sideways down the steps.
We all wait at the bottom and are told we can walk to the second set of lights. You can see pretty well with the lanterns and with our flashlights (bring one with a wide beam if you can). Some people had miner's headlights which I'm sure were great for them, but blinding to anyone walking in towards them.

The ground in the tunnel is very uneven, with gouges, ridges, rocks. So my feet, legs and back are feeling a little sprained today. It was great and I highly recommend it--however if you're claustrophobic don't do it. There were people of all shapes and sizes (and ages) so it's not arduous...I could have worn my skirt (I changed into trousers there) but bring handy wipes. Leaving, I used the ladder rungs to climb because I felt more comfortable/secure but my hands were then filthy from everyone else's shoes.
It's about 20 degrees cooler down there than outside.

You can see all my photos here: photos of Brooklyn's Atlantic tunnel tour .

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The Atlantic Tunnel tour underground

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