Swimming

Back in November a friend of mine mentioned that she tried to go swimming at least once a week, which took me back to three years ago and my first experience with a public pool in Nuremberg.  I remember being shocked by how nice it was; big open hall, clean, a shallow pool, a regular pool, diving boards, water slides, water zone for toddlers, outdoor extension, etc.  And it was a public pool!  Over the summer it was a goal of mine to go swimming every week, and so it was very easy for me to decide to do the same thing again here.

In the past I've always thought swimming such a hassle, which it still truthfully is, but I'm willing to overlook that because otherwise it is great to get into the water, especially in winter!  It's not only good exercise, but just a relaxing mental break.

The other pro: the price.  Most everywhere I can get discounts as a student, and the pool is no exception.  So here it costs me about half the price it did at home to swim - I can buy ten entry fees for €18.  I suppose I should also thank the German taxpayers for supporting this quality of life.

My pool looking all fancy from the angle and exposure.

The closest indoor swimming pool to me in Hannover is also quite nice.  There's even a decorative Christmas tree at the moment, which seems out of place amidst the humidity. Most of the kids splash around in the shallow pool, so there's no fear that someone will jump on your head, like in Bloomfield.  I stick to the deeper pool.  However, there's a different problem here: traffic!  Since I go in the mornings, it also seems to be the prime time for (speedo-clad) retirees.  I've found it a little funny that most every swimmer here does sort of a easy breast stroke where they slowly swim along with their head above water.  I've named it the "Rentner-stroke" (Rentner=retiree).  Sometimes I hit the pool at a low traffic time, but other times it is full of many lap swimmers and I sort of have to weave in and out.

Otherwise the whole process is made very easy by German efficiency with the seemingly clean showers, lockers, changing stalls, and row of hair dryers on the way out.