Swimming and Eating Helsinki in the Winter.

My sister and i decided to spend some quality time together yesterday. This quality time would commence with a leisurely swim at the swimming hall on Yrjönkatu, after which we would proceed to have lunch somewhere nice. 

Situated right in the center of town, down an alley from a street corner, hidden from view, the Yrjönkatu swimming hall is one of the oldest public pools in Finland. Built in 1928 and completely renovated in the 90s, it still retains most of its original character. In addition to the classical architecture and historical significance, a noteworthy fact is that the pool is open to men and women on alternate days, and most people swim in the nude. As far as i know, this is the only public pool in Helsinki (perhaps even Finland) where alternate dates for men and women and nude swimming are the norm. 

Neither of us had ventured here before, and both of us were slightly apprehensive about the whole explicit nudity thing. Which really is strange, considering the Finnish sauna and summer house mentality, which dictates that nudity is only ever a couple of beers away and never something out of place. It's just that this seemed so...public. Further investigation was required. 

And so it was that around midday we found ourselves outside the swimming hall, shivering in the cold and inspecting the sign by the door. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays are reserved for women. Glad we picked the right day. We pay the lady at the counter (this must mean that the entire staff also works alternate days) and head to our lockers. The interior is beautiful; there's a lot of light and the ceiling is high. Classical arches frame the pool, the saunas and showers are at one end, the elevated changing space (i won't say changing rooms, cause there weren't any - it's all one big space) and lockers surround the pool. 

Old ladies, mothers and young women glide through the water. Almost everyone is naked. It only seems strange for a while (like one of those dreams where you're naked, except that in this one everyone else is), then it just seems natural. We leave our stuff in the lockers and head for the pool. There's something of days gone by in the whole experience; it feels like a different time far away from the cityscape of commotion outside. Very serene. I was rather impressed. Enough so to maybe take this up on a weekly basis. 

Famished after swimming, we decide to head to Kallio for some Thai food. We tread through the freezing cold towards Lemon Grass, a tiny restaurant that serves delicious food at a very affordable price. Lunch is served between 11-15 and will set you back 8-10 euros. We warm our frozen digits with steaming cups of tom yum soup and slowly start to regain control of chilled limbs. We follow this up with a veggie & tofu green curry, which is a perfect blend of fiery spice and creamy coconut. Lunch is rounded up nicely with a plate of fruit and a cup of tea. We both agree that the food is pretty awesome and also really good value for money. 

Slightly sleepy, seriously well-fed and happy with the days activities, we pull on scarves, hats and gloves; venturing out into the cold to take on a city that is full of these great places. Helsinki, happy advocate of explicit nudity and provider of great veggie thai fare, i love you. 

Yrjönkadun uimahalli, Yrjönkatu 21 B, 00120 Helsinki

Lemon Grass, Kolmas linja 12, 00530 Helsinki