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swimming in Germany
Aug. 6th, 2007 04:19 pmWe live all of two blocks from the nearest city pool--yay! Okay, so Saturday is the first time we've ever gone--the school year has too many activities, and since the outdoor pool has been open, it's been too cold and rainy to go. But Saturday evening I took all the kids once I got home from camp (my husband had a class to prepare and was waiting for his turn to be productive). It wasn't too full, and there was a rather large area for "nichtschwimmer," which all my kids are, more or less. I mean, the boys had lessons one summer, but usually we're moving, and it's just hard to focus on the older kids when the younger ones need a lot more watching in the pool. It was my littlie's first time ever in the pool (she's two and was born on the coast, so she's been in the Atlantic plenty of times). She liked it. Anyway, we went back today, when it was much warmer, and also earlier in the day. Tons of people there! But it's supposed to rain the rest of the week, so we have to go when we can.
Anyhow, here is what you can expect at a German city pool: women wear either one-piece suits, or more commonly, bikinis. This ain't Italy, and nobody goes topless. So, it's all rather American-friendly. The men and boys wear swimming trunks--sometimes--but maybe slightly more common are speedoes. Yes, that goes for 75-year-old men, too. So what you see is a lot of over-sunned, wrinkly, saggy skin all over. I had to smile and think of that scene in Fire and Hemlock, where Polly writes this thrilling adolescent story involving some fictional character's rippling back muscles, and Mr. Lynn tells her to go to the beach and observe the human back, with wrinkles and fat and pimples and hair. Um, yes. That's what the human back looks like.
As far as kids, boys are wearing either trunks or speedoes. Teen girls wouldn't be caught dead in a one-piece, but younger girls wear them. Or two-pieces. Or just one piece (as in, no top). I saw kids as old as seven doing this. And for small kids (up to age 4?) you can go ahead and change their clothes right on the side of the pool. Why on earth would you need a changing room?
It looks like writing is going to be very slow this summer. However, we actually got to sleep in today!! So catching up on sleep just might mean it's worth it.
Anyhow, here is what you can expect at a German city pool: women wear either one-piece suits, or more commonly, bikinis. This ain't Italy, and nobody goes topless. So, it's all rather American-friendly. The men and boys wear swimming trunks--sometimes--but maybe slightly more common are speedoes. Yes, that goes for 75-year-old men, too. So what you see is a lot of over-sunned, wrinkly, saggy skin all over. I had to smile and think of that scene in Fire and Hemlock, where Polly writes this thrilling adolescent story involving some fictional character's rippling back muscles, and Mr. Lynn tells her to go to the beach and observe the human back, with wrinkles and fat and pimples and hair. Um, yes. That's what the human back looks like.
As far as kids, boys are wearing either trunks or speedoes. Teen girls wouldn't be caught dead in a one-piece, but younger girls wear them. Or two-pieces. Or just one piece (as in, no top). I saw kids as old as seven doing this. And for small kids (up to age 4?) you can go ahead and change their clothes right on the side of the pool. Why on earth would you need a changing room?
It looks like writing is going to be very slow this summer. However, we actually got to sleep in today!! So catching up on sleep just might mean it's worth it.
