Swimming is simply one of the things you do while in Iceland. There are several nice pools here in Reykjavik that offer just about everything for only 230 kronur (about $3.15): lap swimming, hot tubs, steam rooms, slides for the kids and more. It’s a great deal and I go with the kids often.
But going swimming here, especially for the first time, is an unusual experience for Americans. The swimming part is easy enough, it’s the shower room scene that is a little confusing and uncomfortable. This is tourist season in Iceland and they come to the pools in droves. They stand out, if not by their dress or language, then by the expressions of confusion and uncertainty on their faces. Everyone one else moves with purpose while they are trying to figure out which way to go, what to do with their stuff, and most importantly what the routine is. And, there is a routine to follow and it can be quite confusing the first time you go swimming in Iceland. Then there’s the issue of showering and getting completely naked in front of strangers. I know the routine well now and I have gotten more or less used to getting naked in front of strangers but it wasn’t always so.
I was reminded of my first experiences the other day while I watched an obviously American man go through “the routine.” You pay your money at the counter and you get a coin to put in one of the lockers, take your shoes off prior to entering the locker room and then locate an open locker. All pretty simple so far? Not necessarily. Almost nothing in Iceland is in English with the exception of a sign in the changing room stating that showering naked is mandatory. Getting your key out of the locker is not simple but maybe that’s just me. Anyways, I watched while this American walked around, confused, looking for someone to answer his questions (Yes, I could have helped him but I had my hands full with my one year old son). Eventually, he found one of the shower attendants and sorted out the locker stuff.
Then there’s the showering part. You can tell the first-timers because they try and cover themselves up as if people are looking. Well, actually they are – you can’t help but look when you see a male naked. But, you soon realize that it doesn’t matter. Icelandic men stand around and chat, naked, as if they had just met on the street and were catching up on the latest news and gossip. The younger Icelanders grew up with this routine and act accordingly; playing and wrestling, talking and laughing. Other European visitors don’t seem to have any problem with nudity either, just the Americans, and maybe the British.
But, there is something amusing and strange to suddenly get completely naked in front of strangers. Let’s face it, we hide our nakedness in every other social setting, even the bathroom. But then, there you are standing with only what God gave you. Additionally, I find it interesting the well known but unwritten and unspoken rules of nude etiquette: glance but don’t stare, don’t bend over dramatically to retrieve the soap or pick something up (No, this is not for the reasons encountered in prison), don’t dwell too long in certain areas with the soap and so on and so forth. It should be noted that I really do appreciate that everyone is required to get fully clean before entering the pool and I think that pools in America should also require this. It just makes sense. But, it is also so darn amusing and odd to be in a room of 20 or 30 men and boys walking around like you were suddenly in a nudist colony. Honestly, I still get a little uncomfortable but I also now get a chuckle out of it.
