Cold Water Call

I used to joke when I was guiding groups that over there those crazy people are now swimming in ice-cold water even though the warm spa is right next door. But at a 1-of-May lunch in 2016 I agreed to go the next day to try a dip in ice-cold water. The first experience was gruesome - water temperature was plus 3. I came out of the water like Edvard Munch's silent scream-painting's freak. I had never experienced anything so cold, and I thought I would never warm up and probably die. But after a couple of days of testing, I began to enjoy the feeling afterwards, and since then I've been indulging in this madness. Be careful -you might get hooked on it.

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At first my motivation to continue with this hobby was the feeling afterwards, then, after a couple of years, my motivation turned into an irresistible call of the cool water, and today it is a holistic experience of the nature. When you dry yourself on the terrace (no matter it there's a storm and frost), you'll just grow stronger). And at the same time you look at the wonderful landscapes of Hanko, the horizon, the swans, the sea, the sky, the cliffs, the clear water... You never get cold when you get out of the water, maybe a litle when you dip in. I remember a very cold winter day when an old lady came to Simmis and said, “I had to come swimming because I was so very cold.”

We have a great winter swimming spot in Hanko - men's and women's changing rooms, a terrace and heated stairs to the sea (and a pump that keeps the water open in winter). All other seasons my husband and I go to the beach to swim, but when the ground is so cold that our feet freeze, we go to “Simmis”.

So, I go for a dip in the sea with my husband. He downright hated cold water after his gruesome experiences in the military. I don't think we have any pictures of him playing with our kids in the water. His friends couldn't believe their ears when they heard that he too had been hooked. That's what happens!

When starting this experience, I asked my friend how much time I should count per time to this hobby, she asked back, “How long does it take you to to undress and get dressed?”. Because you are only seconds in the water, max a minute, in winter time. And no sauna, of course!

If you're a tourist, you can book a room at hotel Regatta and get a key to "Simmis". We inhabitants rent our key from the town hall, and pay under 30 euros per year. A good deal, eh?