Swimming Abroad

(Round the world trip, summer 2001)

One of the goals that I made for myself before I left on this trip was to try and go swimming as many places as possible. I enjoy swimming in a pool much more than open water swimming, so I tried to find pools close to where I was staying. While I didn't get to go swimming at every stop along the way, I did find enough pools to make me happy.

My first chance to go swimming didn't occur until we were in Kokkola, Finland, visiting our cousins. The custom in most of Scandinavia is to close the indoor pools during the summer, with the assumption that everyone will go to the beach instead. In Copenhagen, the pool that I found was open for the summer, but it just wasn't open on the day I visited (Sunday). In Stockholm, the pools were already closed.

The pool in Kokkola was gorgeous. I thought the facility must be new, because it was so clean and didn't look used at all, but I found out it was actually built in 1985. In addition to the main lap pool there were 5 other pools (I don't think I found them all!), a bowling alley, and a physical therapy center. And of course, this being Finland, the nation of the sauna, there were saunas available as well. There were lots of skylights and windows to let in natural light, and potted plants surrounded the pool area.

My cousin Britta, who lives just a few blocks from the center, goes to water exercise classes here in the winter. I think I can easily say that this was the loveliest pool facility I've ever been to.

My next opportunity to go swimming was in Munich, Germany, where I actually got to try out two very different pools. The first was Müller'sches Volksbad (more photos here and here). Construction for Müller'sches Volksbad was begun in 1894 and the pool opened on May 1, 1901 (I didn't realize while I was there that this was the 100th anniversary). It is an excellent example of Jugenstil (German Art Noveau) design, with gorgeous tile and decorative work. Swimming here was like stepping back to the early part of the 20th century - quite an experience. I only regret that it was late in the evening when we went there, so I was a little too tired to enjoy it fully.

My other swimming experience in Munich was at the Olympic Swim Hall. The Olympic facilities in Munich unfortunately evoke the memory of the hostage taking (and subsequent killing) of Israeli athletes by Palestinian terrorists in 1972 - at the same Olympiad where Mark Spitz won 7 gold medals in swimming.

My reaction to swimming at the Olympic pool was more mundane. I'd never swum in a 50-meter pool before, and all I could keep thinking was, "where is the other end?!" I figured 500 meters was a good amount to swim for somebody who hadn't been swimming regularly in over a month. It was pretty cool to be swimming in an Olympic pool, even if I was so out of shape and far from being an Olympic athlete. Also, I was intrigued by the changing area, which was not segregated by sex (though the showers and toilets were) - there were individual little stalls to go into to change if you wanted privacy. But most people just dried off and changed in front of their locker. It's too bad Americans can't be as relaxed about this - I've been to swimming pools in the US which post the maximum age a child is able to enter a dressing room with a parent of the opposite sex.

In Frankfurt, Germany I was able to get a quick swim at the local pool in Ober-Ramstadt, just a few blocks from Vanasati's house. It was a nice community pool, with kids from the neighborhood splashing around. I don't think they heat it, and since it was a rather cool afternoon when I went for a swim, I found it a bit nippy.

Le Pavoniere pool, located in Cascine Park in Florence, Italy, is a lovely outdoor pool. All locals and no tourists! I got to do lots of people watching on the Saturday afternoon that I visited - the pool was rather crowded, so didn't get to do much actual swimming. I love the way that Italian men can be physical with one another without worrying about being perceived as sissies. It's also an interesting experience to be lounging on a crowded pool deck, surrounded by people who are speaking a language you don't understand. I felt like I was in a bubble by myself.

In Singapore there was a pool at the condominium complex where I was staying. During the day it was too hot and muggy to go swimming, but I went a couple times in the evening, which was really lovely. There was also a shallow wading pool and after swimming a few laps I lay in the wading pool, listening to all the tropical birds calling to one another and looking up at the stars, which were familiar yet strange, seen from so close to the equator.

Note: Photos on this page were taken from a variety of sources on the Internet. No copyright infringement is intended.