life in this republic

going to the gym

As my more alert readers already know, Dan has a membership to the new swanky spa in our little tourist town because he teaches English to the manager of the spa health club. I am very vocal about my sadness that I don't have a membership.

Three times a month he can bring me to the spa for the whole day for about $16. That is pretty cool. I can enjoy all the facilities: pool, salt caves, saunas, jacuzzi, gym and hanging out places. We thought this could be a great way for us to have the opportunity to work out together and have a date.

Yesterday he took me on a date.

It didn't turn out quite how I expected it.



RRC lit up prettily at night

                                                                                                          

I had a good upperbody work out on the machines and with free weights (after about 7 years without a gym membership) and I am pretty sore as I write this today.

Time spent in gym: 1 1/2 hours

the entrance to sauna world

We decided to go for a sauna after our work out. The deal is that you have to wear only this long sheet into the saunas. So we took off to our respective locker rooms and re-emerged wearing naught but sheets. Dan had his done up around his chest as it was his first time donning bed clothes. He was hesitant to go in, but I was excited to try all the saunas. They have aromatherapy, Roman, Finnish,  and infrared, beautiful showers and a chilled pool to dip into.

We had been in the saunas before, but at a time when no one else was about. I wouldn't say today it was crowded, but in most of the saunas there was a small group of people. We aren't the type to feel comfortable just hopping into a sauna with other people so we hunted down one that was empty. Finnish it is.

The doors work as a great people watching device as you can't see inside the sauna but once you are in you can see everything outside the door clearly. I saw two men who were coming into the sauna area wearing bathing suits. So I said to Danny that this was good news as he was really not enjoying having his sheet on. If they can wear bathing suits so can we. Wait, nope...ewwwww. Bathing suit-wearers decided that the locker room wasn't such a fun place to change. Right in front of our sauna door (remember, they can't see in, but, unfortunately, we can see out) they peeled off their bathing suits and started parading around naked. Ewww...Dan said he'd had enough heat, sheet and strange men's bits all over, so we left the saunas.

Sigh...

Time spent in sauna: 5 minutes

It was decided that we would hit the pool.  Off to the locker room to change into swimsuits. I can't wait to get in the jacuzzi!

placid, right?

The last time we were in the pool we had it completely to ourselves. How can they afford to stay open if no one is ever about? Maybe I could use that as my angle for getting a discounted membership...hmmm...

Today was a little different. Not crowded, by no means crowded, but there were a couple of groups dug in for the long haul. They had already entrenched themselves in a particular spot. Or, in the case of one young couple, swimming about and glaring if you were at all in their path. Fun. My goal, nay, prize, was the jacuzzi. But there were already ladies within fortifying their position. Every so often they would move or shift in such a manner as to signal their impending emergence from the water. A ruse of the highest order, my friends. They had no intention of surrendering their ground so hard won.

(Cue "Shaft" theme song) In walks a chubby ten year old boy named Honza. I know this boy as he was a classmate of Roxie's in the Czech school and I had the, ahem, "privilege" of teaching him English. Wearing a lowslung turquoise speedo and a huge grin as if to say, "Well, helloooo ladies! I have arrived!", he proceeded directly into the water and began splashing about, turning our less than romantic swim into people-watching-to-the-tenth-power.

Using the force, I applied telepathic powers instructing the ladies to remove themselves from the jacuzzi. No joy.

We entertained ourselves by watching "Ladies' Man" do flips in the water. He was annoying the swimming couple. Cool.

One of the ladies is getting out of the jacuzzi! Now the other one! As quickly as I can, without looking insane, I make my way to the jacuzzi to claim it as my own. Are. You. Kidding. Me? Ladies' Man flopped over the side of the pool as would a large elephant seal and rolled into the jacuzzi in one fluid motion. Kudos for the move, little dude, but I am completely bummed.

Dan encouraged me to go in the jacuzzi with Ladies' Man, but what I was about to witness removed that possibility for ever...
Stay tuned for tomorrow's exciting conclusion!