(16 Jan 2014) VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:
IT MAY LOOK LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE 'DARK AGES'...
BUT THIS ABANDONED SILVER MINE... ABOUT AN HOUR'S DRIVE FROM STOCKHOLM... IS ACTUALLY A POPULAR 'SUITE', IN WHAT'S BEEN DUBBED THE WORLD'S 'DEEPEST HOTEL'.
IT HAS A BED, DINING TABLE AND CHAIRS, AND A LOT OF CANDLES...
BUT 'NO' TOILET... NO TV... AND OF COURSE, 'NO' WI-FI.
SOUNDBITE: (Swedish), Maaike Ouwehand, Sala silver mine tour guide:
"Here in the mine there is no mobile phone coverage. So you can't use your mobile phone or the Internet. It is guaranteed free of these sorts of technology."
A FIVE-MINUTE ELEVATOR RIDE TAKES GUESTS UNDERGROUND... ABOUT 500 FEET... THROUGH AN OLD MINE SHAFT... AND INTO THE ROOM, WHICH GOES FOR ABOUT 650-DOLLARS A NIGHT.
FORGET ABOUT SINGING IN THE SHOWER -- THERE ISN'T ONE. BUT THERE IS AN ECHO CHAMBER NEARBY.
Soundup: woman singing
THOUSANDS OF GUESTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE BOOKED TH SUITE SINCE IT OPENED IN 2006. FOR ITS NOVELTY... AND ITS SOLITUDE.
SOUNDBITE: (Swedish) Maaike Ouwehand, Sala silver mine tour guide:
"Quite a lot of couples come here. Many propose down here actually. That is always exciting. You notice it when they arrive, everything has to be secret. And then they leave smiling, most of the time anyway."
THE SILVER MINE SUITE IS OPEN ALL YEAR.
BUT GOOD LUCK SHOWING THE DEPTHS OF YOUR LOVE HERE THIS VALENTINE'S DAY.
IT'S ALREADY BOOKED.
HANNAH BUCHDAHL / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
