Swimming in the Salt Pools of Romania

by Sarah
(Southampton)

This was such fun. We discovered in a little Arges town a salt lake swimming pool which was very similar to the Dead Sea.

As you can see in the picture, the water is a murky brown from the salt dissolved in the water. This is the site of an old salt mine. The water apparently is 300m deep!

When you get in (very carefully as if you splash, it really hurts the eyes!), you just bob about like an egg as our charming Romanian family described it.

My mother had great problems as her legs kept floating to the surface! It did take a lot of practice to keep your legs downwards, and lots of old women were clutching to the sides for support.

There was also a small childs pool which was in theory more safe, but I would always worry about a child splashing and it was very empty.

The only thing to take great care of in Romania swimming pools is skin disease - as these can occur anywhere. Also be prepared for a cold shower as there was a huge queue for the hot showers.