When I moved to Europe about 35 years ago, I was amazed by the clean and inviting water of Alpine lakes. I had always enjoyed swimming, but seeing the beautiful bodies of water in mountain valleys made me wonder, can I swim there? In the States and in Japan, where I had lived before moving to Europe, I had only ever swum in swimming pools.

After some careful swims from the shore, I became more adventurous and swam further out. Little by little my confidence grew and I became a strong open-water swimmer. I loved this activity, but it was only possible to swim from May until September, so the rest of the year I had to return to swimming pools.

Then, about 5 years ago, I decided to start swimming in the winter, as well. Our lakes rarely freeze over, so I thought, why not? It took a lot of experimenting and learning how long and how far I could safely swim in the icy waters, but now I am hooked (= I love it).

So look for me in Alpine lakes if you're visiting Europe. It's my favorite and my 'happy place'! If you are also adventurous, why not book a lesson with me to discuss your passion. Or we can travel together in my 'Travel with a Friend' lesson. Let me lead you through the Apls or I will follow you wherever you want to go!