Nikki has tried it

Citrus scent in the canal? Taster day in the underworld

The "windows" to the sewers are the 80-kilo manhole covers. The manholes are often the only way to stand upright.(Bild: Christof Birbaumer, Krone KREATIV)

They clean manholes, repair damage and even work in the sewer for us on some days: "Krone" editor Nicole Greiderer accompanied a team from Innsbrucker Kommunalbetriebe down into the underground.

Pleasant temperatures, silence. A stream babbles at my feet. Sounds idyllic. Unfortunately, the water that washes around my ankles is yellowish-brown sewage, and toilet paper is wrapped around my wellies. The only light comes from the lamps on our helmets and it only reaches a few meters into the darkness. It also smells like a public toilet that no one has cleaned for far too long.