Saturday, 9 June 2012
I thought I knew myself reasonably well, like I know what my hobbies are, likes and dislikes. Somehow, on the 4th day, I found out that I actually like swimming. I couldn’t believe it. Swimming was more like a good theory to me, like the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics (Entropy of the universe only increases), great law but in my opinion mathematically difficult to apply. I totally understood the purpose of swimming, great for surviving in water, but it always had been a struggle for me. It was all history when one of the traveller I met recommended a visit to the local swimming pools.
Swimming pools in Iceland were revelations to me. As I picked up that swimming pools were great place to relax in Iceland, I saw the swimming pool sign in Olafsfjordur (pronounced Olafsfsfsfsjor-dur) decided to jump in. It wasn’t a big pool. However when I was submerged, I tend to swim in a circle and the pool became gigantic. Luckily I had the pool to myself. The lifeguard chuckled and gave me a pair of goggles. Jonny the foreigner who obviously can just swim to save his life circling in his pool. My bearings were realigned and pumped in some lengths. I kept swimming.
It was not a case that I never thought I could swim this much. I thought it would literally be one of the last thing I thought I would ever do, to avoid drowning. As a consequence, I stayed away from water sports. So perhaps, the recent development that I actually like swimming could open the way for new activities and sports.
I drove further along the coast and eventually reached Hofsos. As I spoke to the local shop keeper about swimming pools, (Top conversation starter in Iceland) it was clear that I hit Jackpot. The little town with 200 inhabitants, Hofsos had the pool of all pools. The architecture of the swimming pool was stunning. The sea view was gorgeous. Conditions were perfect with the sun shining, cool arctic breeze. The swimming pool in Yeovil could really do with a seaview, snow capped mountains and thermal hot bath.
Fittingly after Hofsos, every step took me closer to home. I found what I was looking for in Iceland. It was time to go home.
Adventures of Delboy 