Yesterday I finally made it to the swimming pool, now I am talking about the Zihuatanejo’s Olympic size Alberca de Olympica at the sports complex. I have been swimming there for years, quite frequently I would be one of two or three people in the pool at 8 AM, nice for lap swimming. A few years ago they covered the pool with a Quonset hut type roof and it kept the pool cool as the sun didn’t beat on it, but it was ice cold in the morning. The locker room was a disaster, gang showers that didn’t work, toilets that flushed with a bucket, doors missing and no running water. Few gringos would venture forth, but I am dedicated lap swimmer and you would find me there most mornings at 8. I knew they had remodeled and I hoped it would be nice and and is it ever nice. Stall showers with actual running water, new flush toilets, sink with running water. It is beautiful, they did an amazing job
My next surprise was when I went to get in the pool, it wasn’t ice cold. Very pleasant to jump right in, none of that shock of taking your breath away as you hit the water. Now that may be just because the temperature has been so hot, or possible a heating system, time will tell.
So today my second pool day I carefully read the new signs posted where you pay at the entrance and between the sign and my conversation with the attendant in my fractured Spanish I learned I can buy a month log pass for $150 pesos. I can swim as much as I want for 30 calendar days for that price, twice a day if I like, ( but that’s not going to happen) or I can pay 15 pesos every time I go Even if I only swim 3 times a week I’m ahead! I like this new system. But the down fall is so does everyone else in town! The pool is busy with both lap swimmers and classes. But that’s OK, I’m up before the crack of dawn and I will just start swimming a little earlier in the morning and maybe avoid the class of 10 or so young boys racing across the pool. If you haven’t ever tried the pool or if you have and were turned off by the experience give it a chance. You should like it.
From the pool I walked over to the Megga. There is a real bad intersection to cross near the new Waldos where another lady and I stood there for an eternity kind of shaking our heads wondering if we would ever cross. She saw a break in the traffic, grabbed my hand and we ran across the street together, safety in numbers. People here are so helpful, how can one not love Mexico.
At the Megga I discovered how to sign up for a “frequent flyer card” so maybe by the end of the season I will have enough points to save a few bucks on something special. And I bought packages of grated cheddar cheese, nothing in a block, but cheddar none the less. Signing off KO
Hi!
I saw your post about the Alberca Olímpica de Jihantanejo and I’m trying to find out a bit more about it for an entry on my Swimmers Guide website.
Mostly I’m interested in knowing about the pool’s accessibility for the general public. Can you just pay a fee to drop in for a day? How much does that cost for an adult (or Senior Citizen)?
Curious also to know how many 25-meter lanes they can string off for cross-wise swimming. Do you have any idea what the water temperature is?
Thanks for any information you might be able to provide.
All the best,
Bill Haverland
Raleigh, NC
https://www.SwimmersGuide.com/
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Hi Bill I’ll share my knowledge about our lovely Alberca Olympica here in lovely Zihuatanejo Mexico. It is a public Olympic size pool with 5 or six lanes roped crosswise the shallower end is all open. I’m a senior and I pay 25 pesos to use the pool each time. That is about $1.50 US or $2.05 Canadian. I’m not sure if that is just the going rate or s senior rate but my best guess it’s the standard rate. It is open from 7 AM to 1pm currently and im sure you could stay until closing. But there are no amenities like lounge chairs or tables. I would equate it more to. gym pool rather than a recreation pool. As it is quite warm in this part of Mexico the pool is not heated but has a high Quonset hut roof over it which keeps the sun from direct contact. This makes the water temperature feel cold when you first get in in the morning. But being a lap swimmer that’s the way I like it. Bounce and splash people say it’s too cold. While this information is not to formal or technical I hope it helps. Kathleen
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