Miramar Schwimmbad

So, what does one do for entertainment once the grey, grey, cold days of November come? Go to a schwimmbad (indoor water park)! It's fun, food and a balmy 85 degrees inside. We have a couple of smaller ones nearer our home, but this is a favorite. It's in Weinheim, near Frankfurt, less than an hour away.

Here's the main attraction, the wave pool.

You can see the slide tower through the window. It's the main entrance to all the slides that come out in different spots around the main pool area.

Ah, the bubble chairs. Lay back while tiny warm bubbles massage you ...

There are smaller pools all around, and plenty of places to relax

Here's Vance, finally at the crest of the inflatable seal, ready to dive off

It's time for the 2pm activities! First there's the dance party, led by the lifeguards (they are tough to see, but are lined up on the shore just past the red umbrella) Everyone knew the song and they were singing along.

Next is the tug-o-war ...

Then the big race for crystals thrown in the pool.

With all the lounge chairs, why would you choose this platform to rest? Because those lights above are going to come on and warm you like a convenience-store burrito.

Then there are the outdoor heated pools - my favorite.

Just to the back of this one is a playground. On the right of this photo is one end of a zip line. It's 30 degrees out and Vance gets out of the pool, runs over, and goes across the zip line (a breezy journey, no doubt). He thought he was good, until we told him he had to stop at that cold-water shower and rinse his feet before getting back in ...

And this is Eric's happy place. These are scattered around all the pools. The beating is too intense for me, but he swears his "retirement home" has got to have one of these.

Now to the crystal pools. It's hard to tell, but that back wall in covered with Amethyst. These are heated with jets also. They are not hot-tub hot though, and you'll see them filled with families with babies.

And the quartz pool. The ceiling light above changes color. Again, heated with jets.

And the resting room. The chairs all face a window and lay all the way back (not flat, but in a shape that slightly lifts your head and behind your knees - perfect for napping). You also get all the noises form the rest of the place blocked out and have overhead heat lamps.

Or you can sit by the fire ... Come early if you want one of these spots. This entire side of the complex is detailed with crystals, beautiful tile and gold trims.

Now how about a tropical drink? There's a bar with pool tables. There are also ping-pong tables around the corner.

Want lunch? Here's a reminder at the restaurant entrance- "If you are FKK, please wrap a towel around you!" (What's FKK? Freikoerperkultur, or Free Body Culture.) On Tuesday and Saturday after 7pm, the whole place goes natural. The kids and I were there once on a Saturday afternoon. At 6pm there's a family dance party and laser light show around the pool. By the time it was over the locker room was already filling with the FKK's. Be warned. Although you will likely see people at any time changing at a locker instead of in a changing room, so be warned anyway... And when I wanted to get a photo of the amazing tile work outside the sauna entrance, Emily reminded me that the open entrance is often a view to the naked walking around inside. You don't want that photo bomb when you are trying to get tile-work (and you don't want to be the creepy gal who is taking photos of the naked guy through the entrance ...)
So, after hours of swimming you're gonna need lunch. I recommend the Goulash and some fries (because I recommend German fries with everything. Whatever you've got, I'll have it "mit pommes, bitte."). Vance (on the left) is having dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets. All the world loves chicken nuggets.

So that's a day at a schwimmbad. There's even more than I've shown you, and it'll be rockin' all winter if anyone wants to join us. Love, Val