Swimming...

The girls really want to go swimming so today we decided to try out the North Clackamas Aquatic Center. http://www.clackamas.us/ncprd/aquatic/ This is the best public pool I have been to in PDX. There are slides, a good size kiddie pool with slide, a wave pool (I have not seen that anywhere else in PDX), lap pool, diving pool, and a whirlpool. The girls had a ton of fun. There are family changing rooms complete with a shower which made changing in and out of swim suits easy. This is a much better solution for a family swim than driving out to Bonneville as there is no kiddie pool. However, the air temperature was a little chilly to me. There is some space to walk around, and some tables are set up where you can eat snacks (from the snack bar), or drink a soda. It is of course not TuWass http://www.tuwass.de/0_fr_start.htm, but better than any pools I have been to. It does need a little updating...

There were a few things that seemed quite strange to me

• People were allowed to walk into the pool area with their street shoes to test the water (feel the water temperature. Is it just me? I think its a little gross
• There was quite a bit of sand (at least that is what it seemed like) in the kiddie pool. I could not figure out where it came from as there is no sand box inside?
• Whirlpool only allows people above the age of 18. So there it is not possible to enjoy warmer water with your kids. Here is a picture to the "warm" area at TuWass http://www.tuwass.de/0_fr_start.htm

If you have not been, you should give this pool a try. Have fun...

Sunny Days call for a visit to the Playground

PICTURE TO THE LEFT IS WASHINGTON PARK - TO THE RIGHT IS BERLIN ZOO

It is sunny here - yes, it does not always rain in PDX...- so yesterday we all went to a trip to the best playground in town in Washington Park right by the Rose Garden. What fun everyone had. there are several slides, places to climb, swings, etc. . It is a really fun playground, but I have to

have to say that it is not quite the same as German playgrounds. Why? For one, the slides are steeper, there are more things to do, just very different. So truth be said, the playground here is perfect for the 2 year old, but for our 4 year old the German playground really had a lot more to offer. When we were in Berlin we visited the Berlin Zoo (and no, we did not see Knut). WOW - what a playground!!! The play structure looks like a ship, and you can climb, slide, down...I think Alena could have played on the structure for hours. Swings were made out of recycled tires (isn't that cool?). That of course was an extraordinary playground, but besides that I really found that the German playgrounds offered a little more for young kids. What do you think? Let me know. I love to hear from you.

Here are the links - If you are looking for a great playground in Portland, go to Washington Park http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=841 - It really is fun, and both kids could have spent hours there as well.

For more information about the Berlin Zoo go to http://www.zoo-berlin.de/en/

Sauna in PDX

The Blockhaus Sauna at Tuwass in Germany


The out door warm soaking pool at Tuwass, Germany (see the snow around it)



The Finish Sauna at Tuwass, Germany

In Germany I love to go to the Sauna. We try to go at least once a week. In the Tuttlingen Sauna there is a Steamsauna with 50 degree C, Sanarium with 60 degrees C, Herbalsauna with 80 degrees C, Finish Sauna with 90 degrees C, and a Kelosauna with 100 degrees C. I personally love the Sanarium with its great light- and aromathreapy, and the Hebalsauna. Ron really likes the Finish, and also the Kelosauna. Then I like to cool off under the shower, jump into the cold soaking pool, and then rest on a reclining chair. Wonderful!!! - Here is a link to the virtual tour of Tuwass. It is of the entire place including the pool area. It will take awhile to load-up but if you have some time, take a look at it...http://www.tuwass.de/0_virtual_tour.htm

Today I really, really felt like going to the Sauna. Good thing we live in PDX as there now also is a private Sauna in SE. It is called Löyly and located on 2713 SE 21st Ave, PDX. They opened for co-ed, women only, and men only times. Co-ed times require mandatory bathing suits. I am used to the German Sauna were it is mandatory to be nude. So that is not so appealing to me. Women/Men only times however are clothing optional. Great! I went today for the very first time. The place is very serene, candles are everywhere, the scent in the air is heavenly, and there is - very quietly - music playing in the background. The cost is $15 for an hour, or $25 for three hours. For the $25 you will get two towels, and a robe. If you choose to go for an hour only pay an extra $3 for use of a robe. There are two sauna's. One is - I am guessing - around 80 degrees Fahrenheit or so, the other is a steam sauna. They are both small but nice.


I did miss that there is not a time in the Sauna (in Germany they are "sandtimers") so it is hard to keep track of the time spent in there. To cool off there is a cold water shower in between the two sauna's. It does the job. - There is an area to get a cup of water, or a cup of tea (add $3 - bottomless cup). Now the location is very, very small so they really tried to fit a ton of stuff into the area. But there are no reclining chairs, but there are matts you could put on the floor to lie down, or you can sit on a bench (a wooden bench) and put your feet up on the table in front of you (that's what I did)...This is my only gripe about Löyly that there is no place to actually relax after the actual sauna bath, and to me the relaxation is just part of the whole experience. At least a couple of recliners would be nice...

Another nice thing so is that you can get a massage while there, a nice foot soak, or even a facial.

Give it a try. It is almost like being home...at least its as close as we can get. I certainly will be back Check it out online at http://www.loyly.net/

Are you missing Laugenstangen?

Yeah, its Friday. Spielgruppentag...before Spielgruppe we stopped at Little T Baker on SE Division street to get some Laugenstangen. OK, I know I just got back from Germany but I already miss Laugenstangen...What a treat and at $1.75 they are really affordable. Are you in the mood for something else? Well, the bakery actually offers sandwiches, a ton of different desserts all in a sleek, but cozy, urban setting right here in Southeast Portland. And if you want a Salami-Sandwich on a Laugenstange...you have come to the right place.

And here is something else. You want to have Brezeln for your next event? You can special order and they will make them for you. Call so for qty., pricing, lead-time etc.

Enjoy

Contact information is -

little t American Baker
2600 SE Division
Portland, OR 97202
Phone: 503.238.3458

MO-SA 7 AM - 5 PM
SU 8 AM - 2 PM

Rainy Days make me want to go to the pool....

On rainy days I love to go to the pool. The problem however is that I have not really found a indoor pool I really like. So I am on the search for pools...earlier this year in the spring we drove out to Bonneville Hot Springs Resort. It is a really nice pool, large out door soaking pool, and a "sauna". I write "sauna" because, there is no rest area, no cool off pools, and of course everybody in the sauna is wearing a bathing suit. That is rather strange to me...

Today was a nice rainy fall day here in PDX, and we decided to go swimming. In the quest to try out new things we went to the soaking pool at the Kennedy School in NE PDX. I have to say the pool is very nice. The changing area, showers, are quite rustic - but the pool itself is very nice. We had the pool to ourselves. It is outdoors, the water is very nice and warm, you can turn on the jets, float in the water, look at the sky, and feel the rain drops on your head.
Besides the changing/shower situation it is - very nice!!! We did have lunch and a pint afterwards. The whole family was quite happy...

One more thing to the shower/changing area situation. The changing area is right by the pool, the showers however are by the bathrooms which is across the hall. The bathrooms are also across from one of the larger meeting rooms. So picture this...the girls and myself wrapped in towels, barefoot walk through the hallway, past the meeting room (oh, and the doors were open), to the showers. 15 minutes later we did the same thing on the way back...this is a little different...

Here is the link to the Kennedy School Soaking Pool - http://www.kennedyschool.com/index.php?loc=57&id=120

Link to Bonneville Resort - http://www.bonnevilleresort.com/spa_pool.htm

A hot day in Portland...

It has been hot here...really hot, almost 100F hot. Our high today was around 95 degrees (35 degrees) and it was almost unbearable. We do not have air conditioning here as generally it really does not get this hot. A few days a year, and we thankfully do not have the humidity that is a hallmark of the Midwest. So what to do on such a hot day? Too hot for the zoo, OMSI is probably too crowded with people wanting to take advantage of the air conditioning...so we decided to go swimming. I have to admit first that swimming here (or anywhere in the US) is not my favorite thing. Why? I honestly think that the pools in Germany just have so much more to offer. For example here is the link to Tuwas in Tuttlingen http://www.tuwass.de/0_home1_kurz.htm. As for outdoor pools (Freibad) they ALWAYS an area where you can lay. ALWAYS grass, trees, water playground, restaurant, drinks, playground, etc. , check it out at http://www.tuwass.de/0_home1_kurz.htm. The surrounding lakes, as well as the lake of Constance all have great "Schwimbaeder". OK but now I am getting off track here :) Today we went to Creston Pool here in SE PDX. Guess what? There are actually some strips of grass surrounding the pool (inside the enfenced pool area), you can sit there, if you come early enough you can get a lawn chair...it was GREAT. Still not the same, but for here it was just fantastic. So this is my tip of the day...Creston pool in SE PDX where you will find some grass to lie in :) Here is the link http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=1107&searchtext=creston Have fun swimming and stay cool...