Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen

I have a feeling that, as the summer progresses (for I've declared that summer is here) these entries will likely deteriorate so much that, come the end of in August, I'll simply write "Went swimming again.  It was great."

When I was small, it felt like we spent most of our time in the pool each summer, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.  There's nothing more paradoxically relaxing and exhausting than a day at the pool.  It's what summers are for.

For a time, at least, I'll have something to say about my days, because there are so many beaches and pools to explore, even in just my little corner of Zürich.  Today Dennis had an errand to run near Zürich Horn (by Chinagarten) so I packed the kids up and took them to the nearby Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen ("Strandbad" meaning "bathing beach," and "Tiefenbrunnen," "deep well").  There's no true beach, but it is a gorgeous little stretch of Lake Zürich, a private beach that is included on our summer swimming passes.

Hunting for fluff

I don't think there's a way to get to the beach, but I chose the slowest possible route: the one that passes by the wonderful playground that inevitably adds an hour to the travel time.  When I finally extracted my kids from the sand, it was already close to 3:00, but Dennis wasn't meeting us until dinner, leaving us plenty of time.  We walked through Zürich Horn, spending some time trying to pluck bits cottonwood fluff out of the breeze (it's everywhere!), and then by the ice cream stand, where I proved unable to withstand the combination of the longing looks of my children and the hangdog look of the vendor. Popsicles around!

A library at the beach:
what a fine combination!

Tiefenbrunnen, I've heard, is one of the most popular beaches in the city, and the reason is clear: it's gorgeous.  The grounds are landscaped beautifully, with flowers and old trees and fun little winding paths through the sunbathers' lawn.  There are two enormous, spotless changing and locker areas, and the roof of each is has a draped-off single-gender sunbathing deck.  You know, so that you can lose the tan-line.

Although that wasn't particularly appealing, I was enchanted by the lending-library bookshelves in the locker rooms.  And the kids gave a long look at the little grill restaurant and convenience store (they totally sell candy! And ice cream!).

But all that was overshadowed by the playground and, of course, the water!

The kids made a mad dash to the water's edge...only to come screaming back.

"Mom! The bottom of the lake is moldy!"

Well, no, Ella, I'd actually call that slime.  Don't worry.  It won't hurt you.  It kind of feels fun on your toes after a while.

"Mom! This water is connected to the SEA! There are FISH!"

It's okay, Alex.  They don't have teeth. Or, at least, not very sharp ones.

Ella at the water slide.

For some reason, the kids weren't particularly reassured.  It took five minutes of watching the squealing, happy kids on the waterslide before they could be convinced to go back in.  But, after that, they wouldn't come out.

"Mom! This is GREAT!"

Apart from the waterslide, there were several little outlets to the water.  One had three diving boards, the high board draped with kids clingling to the edges by their fingertips.

There, in the background, is the swimming ring.

In the middle, there was a two-foot-deep swimming ring, still open to the lake but with a raised aluminum bottom to help out the smaller swimmers.  And, amazingly, there was a lifeguard on duty.

Joey, watching the divers.

But the lifeguard seemed much more interested in me than the dozen or so kids in the swimming ring, and, eventually, left her perch to have a talk with me.  "Please be careful with that camera," she asked.  "Generally, cameras are not allowed at this beach. For protection from the pedophiles," she clarified.  Ah, I see.  So enjoy these photos: they're the last you'll see of Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen.

I suspect we'll go back, though: the kids had so much fun on that water slide. It was filled with unruly children, mine among them.  Alex went down the slide on Ella's lap at least a dozen times. I had fun watching their eight-limbed shadow fly down the chute, two happy face peeking over the edges every once in a while, while Joey watched the fish at my feet.

We probably stayed too long for our own good: Joey was in full meltdown the time we exited the grounds.  With great relief, we spotted Dennis, with a bag full of takeout food, next to Chinagarten.

So we placated Joey with a fried rice picnic in the shade before our bus ride home.