Memory Lane

This week has been a walk down memory lane. I spent virtually my whole last three of years at high school at the pool, playing water polo. This weekend bought back to life many of the experiences I had, with, of course, a few key differences.

Firstly, they replaced all the girls on my girls’ team with men. Not boys, but men. Big, hairy, strong, men.

The only photo I took at the pool

English became Icelandic and Spanish fluently. Or English with an Icelandic or Spanish accent, which in the heat of a game can be equally difficult to understand.

Where I spent the rest of the week...

Trainings of sprints, legs and weights became sitting in the hot pot, waiting for the rest of the team to arrive and getting the lane ropes out of the pool. We are all on Ísland time (pun intended).

Playing in the sunshine with cats

The women’s ball that I used to play with was upgraded to a man-sized ball. Because I was playing Man-Sized Water Polo.

But sometimes it rained... (was raining at the time of capture)

The ten team strong tournament became a two team fight. It was best of three. That’s because there are only two teams in Iceland…

The joys of dumpstered food

Olympic rules water polo were being kept to, here. That meant 8 minute quarters stop clock. I have never thought that dying by drowning would be a particularly pleasant way to go, but when I discovered the length of the quarters, I considered this possibility.

And what would a blog be without unrelated photos?

Presentations before games would only happen for finals games, when a big crowd had turned out. In these games, we were presented to a crowd of nobody. Didn’t quite have the same effect.

Westman Islands 

Finally, I used to get wet playing water polo. I stayed pretty dry this weekend. Except for when I handed people their drink bottles. But, I was, nonetheless, an important member of the team! All drink bottle carriers are!

Westman Islands

So anyway, despite all the changes that had been made to my version of water polo, my team mates won the championship and we were all presented with our gold medals. Much to my great amusement.

Westman Islands

And yes, I realize that’s not very politically correct.