Ciutadella Menorca Swimming Pool

After a surprising result at the Coniston Chill Swim 8.5km in the Lake District on Saturday, I am now on holiday in Menorca, on the Spanish Balearic Islands, and should probably be taking it easy. I've visited the island many times, but I have never managed a swim in either of the two lap pools here.

Staying in our trusty Cala Galdana on the south of the island, but today we are heading to Ciutadella, Menorca's old capital. It has a history stretching back over 2,000 years and, despite pirate raids, invasions and losing its capital status to Mahón, it is still widely seen as the island's historic and cultural heart.

With some ChatGPT assistance, I am almost certain the Piscina Municipal Tita Llorens pool is open for lane swimming each weekday morning from 7am to 2:30pm.

Arrive at the pool just on the outskirts of Ciutadella, in a business district opposite a power station. There looks to be a gym and various sports pitches and courts nearby.

The pool is visible from the car park, with the doors on the pool deck open to try and vent some of the 34 degree heat. Head into reception, pay the €8 entrance fee and manage to overcome some English and Spanish communication problems about there being two male and two female changing rooms. Still not sure what that was about, but pick one, quick change and out to the pool deck.

Not sure what I was expecting, but it is a great 25m, six lane pool, with an quite unusual end-to-end two metre depth, with concrete spectator benches down the far side and plenty of glass on two sides to let just enough light in while keeping the heat out. The pool looks like it has had a good few years of use, but it is well managed, clean, tidy, well spec'd and well maintained. I cannot quite see the far end of the pool hall, but there looks to be a small learner pool beyond the far end starting blocks.

Sharing the pool with two other swimmers, pick a middle lane, jump in and make a start. Pleased to find nice, clean, clear water and, most importantly, it is crisp and cold. Perfect contrast to the heat outside.

Not planning too much today as there are things to see and do. Swim through a 1km, then five 200s to give a 2km total swim.

Swim done, quick change with my tiny hotel borrowed hand towel - Better than the flannel dry swims, or the no towel swims!

Time to head into Ciutadella. I think that is the first Spanish pool on the list.