The people at my new pool were very helpful today. They showed me how to slide my card so that the doors would open. They showed me how to get a bracelet for a changing cabine (think: closet), and what to do when you get out of the pool.
But the piece de la resistance was when the bracelet-guard stopped me en route from the cabine to the pool. "What are you wearing?!" (Um, excuse me? This is a swim suit.) "You can't wear that. No way. I guess you didn't see the sign? Only bathing suits that look like underwear, please."
Oh dear. Welcome to Europe.
You'll all be very proud of me. After an initial "pleasetellmehedidn'tjustsaythat" moment, I didn't miss a beat. I just carried on bravely, asking whether they sold those at the front desk and how much they would be. (Let's just say in terms of price per fabric, this is the most expensive piece of cloth I've ever purchased.)
Feeling like I had made all the mistakes it was possible to make up until that point, I wasn't surprised at all when the whole pool started yelling at me after my second lap. Apparently you aren't allowed to swim without a swim cap. The lifeguard lent me his. I can't tell whether or not it helped having horrible vision. On the one hand, I felt completely lost without my glasses the whole time. On the other, at least I couldn't tell if anyone was staring at me unless they were within two meters of my face.
By the way, I know what you're all thinking. And the answer is no, you're not getting a photo on this one. Scarves, yes. Tiny bathing suits, definitely not.
Posted by nickles at January 31, 2007 03:53 PM | TrackBacki can't stop laughing!
:)
what an amazing day. . .ha ha. will you be returning, now that you know the rules and you have an "appropriate" bathing suit? :)
Posted by: Yemen at January 31, 2007 11:38 PMcourse i will! i figure i have to go 84 times to make it worth it (membership price + bathing suit costs must be equal to or less than daily admission costs).
Posted by: bob at February 2, 2007 10:38 AMNo pictures??
Then how will EVER know what a pool in Belgium looks like?
Part pooper.
. . . how will *we* ever know . . .
party pooper.
Your vision is better than mine. I can't see anyone unless they shake me violently and say "Sarah?? Sarah?? Are you alive???"
Posted by: funke at February 2, 2007 12:52 PMWhat I love is that they require speedos for "hygenic" purposes. I don't get it...
The swimming cap is new to me though. I don't think that's Belgian law; it must just be your pool's requirement.
I think the kids in my neighborhood might be having a lice problem.
Posted by: bob at February 9, 2007 05:06 PMand carrie, it's a lot like you'd expect. you know, big, blue, wet, lazy lifeguards, kids breaking the rules.
they do have this huge yellow slide on one side, with a spiral staircase made of hard plastic. and also three diving boards in the deep end. (these make swimming laps sometimes tricky and sometimes downright unsafe.)
so you know. use the imagination. you'll probably get pretty close.
Posted by: bob at February 12, 2007 06:18 PMI don't know. I've never been accused of having a great imagination. :p
Posted by: Carrie at February 12, 2007 07:59 PM