Oostelijk Zwembad - the Eastern Swimming Pool

I couldn't believe my luck - there is a swimming pool within a 1/2 mile of my apartment in Rotterdam!  Not only that, but it is also the second oldest in the city (built in 1932) and it's a national monument.  The pool has a beautiful Art Deco ceiling, designed by a Dutch architect named Foeke Kuipers.  It was partially destroyed during the WWII bombing of Rotterdam, but was restored and a warm pool extension was added within the last 20 years.

My swimming friends will recognize the dilemmas I describe here.  Some are strictly swimming related, while others have to do with corona restrictions and my lack of fluency in Dutch.

First of all, appointments have to be made on line - this is a corona restriction of course - and that was relatively easy.  The cost of a one day pass is a bit high - $6.50, less for seniors, but I just didn't want to go there (not while checking in, in English, with a line of Dutch swimmers waiting behind me).

Next, the lockers.  There were instructions in English, but I still did it wrong.  What door do I close?  What's my number?  Where is the lock?  How do I lock it?  Anyway, I trusted that no one would want my stuff, so I left everything unlocked, memorized my locker number and went on to the next step - to the pool!

Thanks to corona, the arrows on the floor pointed the way down the stairs to the pool.  Then the fun really begins!  Which lane do I go in?  There are 5 lanes, separated by buoy lines, similar to those you would see at a lake but NOT real lane lines that one usually sees in a US swimming pool  - that kind that not only mark the lanes but also keep the water from being too "wavy".  So, ask the guard - yes, she speaks English - and she shows me where the slow, medium and fast lanes are located and I opt for medium.  Good choice.

The water is very warm - and deep.  Over 6 feet in the shallow end, so I jump in, start my swim and immediately feel so out of practice.  It's been over 3 weeks since my last swim and I can feel it.  Needless to say, quite a few swimmers pass me, but after awhile, I am passing some of them.  After about 30 minutes, I'm done and then it's on to the shower....which I heard might be coed.  And it is!

But with bathing suits on.  I see one guy washing his hair and two women rinsing off, all with suits on, so I go peeking behind more doors and find another shower (a single) with a door.  So I scoot upstairs, ignoring the arrows, grab my bag and shuffle in, only to realize it is a handicap shower stall.  Well, I considered myself somewhat 'impaired' - culturally, linguistically and age-wise.  So I ignored the stares and have my private shower and make my way back to the locker.

Once back in my locker, the janitor pointed me to the exit (UIT) and pointed to my shoes, and with a smile, said something in Dutch that sounded like, 'you need to take your shoes off before you go into the locker so you don't make a mess for me to clean up!'  I tried to say back with my smile, "I'll do better next time'.  (Where is the shoe pile???)

All in all, a great first swim, not too many mistakes and I have another reservation.  I am just so grateful that the pool is nearby and easy to get to.  I miss the YWCA and my friends there but I will be back.

Here's the inside of the pool - 

And here, of course, is the parking lot!