Would you, could you, brave the sea now?
By katerina
@thea09 (18305)
Greece
December 20, 2009 8:41am CST
Now I ask this as I'm on my fourth day with no water at all. I have good friends who let me go round to shower but the sea is practically on my doorstep. Now I've just been checking the temp. of the sea and it is supposedly 16 C or 61 F. So why does the sea appear to be freezing cold? I know for a fact if I got in the sea on a cold and miserable December day I would probably drop dead as the shock would be horrendous.
Actually I don't believe that temp. is right in the first place as I go in in June and then it says it is 22 C or 72 F which doesn't sound much more. We have a standard joke that the Greeks only swim in August when the sea is around 25 C or 77 F. Our local sea though is colder than normal as it has icy cold water springs underneath which add an extra freeze factor.
The very odd person can still sometimes be seen in the sea, in fact the Greek goes in for about ten minutes every afternoon but says he's finished now for the year.
So could anything induce you to swim in the sea now or would you be more like me and bundled up in your woolies?
7 people like this
25 responses
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
21 Dec 09
I would brace the sea but not everyday, because the burnt on the skin might not be good; but depending on the climate there.. judging by it, 22c or 25c is pretty cooling.. here we can get 30++ over C and more.. hot! But when it's cooling, it's really cool. Bundled up in the woolies interchangeably with dipping in the sea would be my best option. I really hope you get water back soon, Thea..
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
23 Dec 09
Ok who are you today Zed? far too young, please try and age a little.
Greek at heart indeed, then where were you this morning when there was olive picking to be done? Actually it is a beautifully sunny day so indeed perfect for picking. So coffee and then down to the olive press.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
21 Dec 09
Hi Zed, we don't get 30 + in the summer even. I wondered what you meant by the burn but I suppose you mean like freezer burn. You sound as crazy as the Greek still going in at this time of year. It's only a few years ago though that this time of year we'd still be having summer like weather in the day time and lots of foreigners would go for a dip on christmas day and winter didn't hit till after the new year. Glad to see you're still doing a Goran.
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
21 Dec 09
No I would be more like you lol all bundled up and cosy
No way would you get me in there not even in the Summer lol I get cold very easy so no chance
Goodness fancy having a Gabs Ice Statue I would not wish that on anyone lol
How comes you have no water that is not good at all
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
21 Dec 09
Hi gabs, a fellow coldster I see. Now you probably wouldn't get in the English sea in the summer but surely you'd do it somewhere hot like over here?
Fifth day without water is becoming seriously annoying, I'm just about to go and try to get some information on if it's due back at any point this week. I just hope the theemos hasn't decided to take an early holiday.
2 people like this
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
20 Dec 09
Hi Thea. This discussion is only 5 hours old, but I am hoping that even now you have your running water back.
I don't buy into the Global Warming debate, but I AM concerned about water supplies here in Australia. We have had so many years of drought that our water supplies dwindled to in many cases as low as 10% capacity and some towns actually ran dry, having to truck in water. Recent floods boosted some dams, but water is still a problem. We have to move into desalination.
Would I swim in the ocean? Well, I haven't done so for about 40 years, even in our warm waters, so I don't think I'm about to do so. If I chose to swim again, I'd do what I preferred when younger and head for the pool - but a cool, refreshing shower and drying off under the wall fan is my choice.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
20 Dec 09
Hi Cloud, when I got back from the Greeks yesterday and realised to my horror that the water was still off I pretty much knew they wouldn't do a thing about it until after the weekend and I'm just hoping they manage to get round to it tomorrow. It really is a lot of effort going out for water and heating it up and clearing up.
I think our water supply could be much improved here if it was managed properly. Leaks go unattended and water floods away from broken pipes for ages, yet every summer the shortages get more severe. They build new houses without proper drainage and new roads cause more floods in winter. You have drought and we have complete wastage, bringing me back to all time complaint about swimming pools for private foreign houses. What I would do for a shower now.
I don't think I'd be too keen to swim in your shark infested oceans or is that a bit exagerrated?
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
20 Dec 09
"Shark infested" would only be a bit exaggerated, but only a complete and utter idiot would swim outside a patrolled area. Since the vast majority DO swim between the flags, shark attacks are fairly uncommon, but there would be a few a year.
@ElicBxn (63233)
• United States
21 Dec 09
I'm a big sissy about cold water and even tho we have a famous swimming hole in town, Barton Springs Pool http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barton_Springs_Pool I don't care to swim there because the water is so cold -
I have swum in the ocean around New Jersey and that's too cold too - give me warm water ANY DAY!
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
22 Dec 09
it'd have to be a very VERY large amount of money.
the atlantic in my area is 40F at the highest right now.
i have a godfather that does the "polar bear" thing for charity on new years..
good cause,but man that's nuts.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
22 Dec 09
no kidding..but he used to be a plumber,so i imagine he was squirted a time or two with ice cold water.he must be used to it LOL
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
22 Dec 09
Hi scarlet, I'd never heard of the polar bear thing until I started this discussion and now it's about the third time I've come across it. I just don't know how they can bring themselves to do it. They must all be made of sturdy stuff otherwise they'd be dropping like flies.
1 person likes this
@jb78000 (15139)
•
20 Dec 09
i'd go in, but only in a dry suit. in fact i did my scuba thingy in november or october (years ago) and you had to do two open water dives and even with what is basically a waterproof duvet on it was still bloody freezing. some people do swim in the winter, god alone knows why.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
20 Dec 09
What's a dry suit, something for rabbit's? I've only heard of wet suits. The Greek goes in as he doesn't feel the cold but he's got more sense than to suggest I go with him apart from in the summer. Even so he's finding it a tad cold now and limits himself time wise. Over here though the Greeks make fun of the tourists who start arriving in March and head into the sea and wander round in shorts as if its summer.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
21 Dec 09
In My case,We're talking about the Atlantic..In December...with Snow on the Ground! I don't think so! 
Part of my Childhood was spent in a Glasgow Tenement Building,there were no baths...I can remember my younger siblings being bathed in a tub on the floor..The Local Indoor swimming pool had Cubicles with baths in them..We went there to scrub up! I'd suggest a sponge bath or a Sauna rather than Icy sea water!
Part of my Childhood was spent in a Glasgow Tenement Building,there were no baths...I can remember my younger siblings being bathed in a tub on the floor..The Local Indoor swimming pool had Cubicles with baths in them..We went there to scrub up! I'd suggest a sponge bath or a Sauna rather than Icy sea water!@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
21 Dec 09
Probly luxuriating in my own bath,or running a nice hot shower as long as I wanted at the time!
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
21 Dec 09
Hi SherherdSpy, and just where were you when I made a whole discussion about the baths at the swimming baths, the creepy cubicles hmmmm? I suppose the Atlantic might even be a bit chillier than the local sea.
After 5 full waterless days it came back a little while ago, a shower never felt so good.
After 5 full waterless days it came back a little while ago, a shower never felt so good.1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
20 Dec 09
Hi jillhill, they swin with ice in the water, surely they can't survive that? How long do they manage? I've seen footage from some places where the land is packed with snow but the water is like hot pools but I've never heard of people swimming in water with ice in. Brrrr. Where abouts are you for that to happen?
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
20 Dec 09
i WOULDN'T BE JUMPING IN YOUR SEA OR ANYONE ELSE' ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.I don't swim so jumping in the tub would be wild for me & i can't even do that anymore, i'm so boring, lol.I'm sorry u don't have any water , hope that changes soon. What would we do w/out firnds??
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
21 Dec 09
Morning Aunty, very sensible, you wouldn't catch me in the sea either at this time of year, there's at least another six months to go. Now you had to go and mention a tub, I don't often wish I had one but I do at the moment. They are a rare thing out here where showers are the norm. I'm going to sit it out till this afternoon before I go calling on my friends shower but it's certainly good to know I'm welcome in it.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
21 Dec 09
I miss my tub but had gotten where i could not get down in it & was afraid i was going to fall getting over it to take a shower so i had the tub taken out & a walk-in shower put in. It's very nice & easier on me to get in & out but i always did like to saok in a tub of hot water. U do whatcha' got do. I hope u have water soon. aunty
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
21 Dec 09
Bad luck about your tub there. The water pressure is generally so low though that one would take hours to fill here. Actually the Greek has one but I forgot all about it as don't use that bathroom. Hugo used it once and reminded me why I'm glad I don't have one, the thick black line all around when he'd finished.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
21 Dec 09
We have summer right now and it is quite hot; we have an unheated swimming pool outside and there is no way I am ready to jump in...No way…It has to be at least 40 degrees Celsius for a week before I’ll brave it, so swimming in the ocean at winter time is definitely out of the question! Why is it that you don’t have water? How inconvenient for you! Water is so important...I hope whatever the problem is, it will be resolved soon.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
22 Dec 09
That really stinks! Five days? I hope you have water by now!
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
21 Dec 09
Hi Paula, we have 40 C for about 3 months in summer and I do brave the sea then but maybe not an unheated pool. Must be something to do with getting acclimatised as when my English friends come out each June they are straight in the pool where they stay whilst I'm still in jeans. They tell me its lovely and warm but its there two weeks in the sun.
I made the mistake of getting optimisitic when I called the deethmos earier about the water supply and they said it would be back in a few hours. There's only 45 minutes of the working day left so I'm now getting quite annoyed as its now the fifth day.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
21 Dec 09
I do know what it is like to be without water. After heavy rains we sometimes are wihtout water. I always have a dozen large bottles for emergency use. Then I take the empty bottles to work where I refill them and cart back to the house. Then we fill up the toilet tanks , flush and re fill them and off I go again with the empty bottles. A total pain in my rear end.
The bottled water we keep for drinking and cooking but the other stuff we try to bathe in and flush toilets. I bundle up all washing and take to villa where someone will do it for me and I will gratefully over tip them!
Go into the sea? No way! Tell the Greek to be careful about swimming in very cold water as it can shrivel body parts
Go into the sea? No way! Tell the Greek to be careful about swimming in very cold water as it can shrivel body parts1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
21 Dec 09
Filling the toilet tank is flushing is more efficient as you do not need so much water plus you get the pressure to flush the stuff down the toilet. You cannot get that pressure from emptying bottles into the bowl. Take my advice and fill up some bottles and store then somewhere - even under your bed. Anywhere. Always good to have some water stored.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
21 Dec 09
I always do keep water stored as it was off every night in the summer. I'll remember that with the toilet next time considering the amount I must have spent pouring bleach down it. I am really hoping that I can afford a back up water tank before the summer but it won't be huge and wouldn't have lasted 5 days.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
21 Dec 09
Hi Cynthiann, it just came back an hour ago and I'm waiting for the tank to fill. I never thought of filling the toilet tank from the bottles, I've just been emptying them directly into the toilet. Saying that though I just broke the part inside the toilet investigating why it refused to fill up with water again. The washing machine is going but I'm not sure how long its best to wait to heat the water in the tank, I'm just about to press the button and hope it doesn't explode.
The Greek is strong and sturdy and loves the cold. It bothered him not a bit when the water heater to his tank broke the other night as he doesn't bother with it if there's nothing from the solar. The cold shower nearly killed me.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
22 Dec 09
The sea is indeed dangerous. Several drown every year just swimming locally and there's been a few injuries recently as the fishermen were trying to pull the boats out of the water before the storms came which are strong enough to smash the fishing boats to pieces if they are left in the water.
@snafushe (791)
• Canada
21 Dec 09
I have gone for polar bear swims before! Though I don't suggest using salt water as a way of getting clean. Although it does disinfect many things, so it may be just what you need! I used to live right on the ocean. There was a polar bear swim every year at our harbor, and I would always partake. It's not that bad once you get over the initial shock of the temperature. Your body pretty much adjusts. Though I suggest you wear a wet suit. Don't stay in longer then you have to either because you could easily get hypothermia!
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
21 Dec 09
Hi snafushe, someone else mentioned these polar bear swims. We have a tradition here on the 6th January where the Pappas leads a procession to the harbour then throws his gold cross in and one victim has to dive in and retrieve it. Brrrr madness. I really can't understand the idea of the body adjusting to the sea at this time of year though if one is really wimpy about the cold. Of course the real problem about using the sea to get clean is you still need a hot shower afterwards to get rid of the salt water.
@willowgirl (188)
•
22 Dec 09
I have to ask, but how did you end up with no electricity or water???!!!
Was there some kind of disaster there or something?
Sounds really extreme, especially at this time of year although I expect it isn't snowing in Greece but even so!
I'm glad to hear you have your water back now!
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
22 Dec 09
Hi willowgirl, this is rural Greece, we don't need to have a disaster for electricity and water to go off, though 5 days was taking the joke the way too far with the water and I wish they'd made them stay on and fix it on the Friday afternoon. The electric supply isn't very keen on wind though so likes to act tempremental at such times, but usually we aren't without that for longer than 8 hours. I just get used to it.
No snow here, only on the tops of mountains, are you snowed in back in the UK at the moment? I hope you managed some of the nice clean fresh white stuff rather than the usual heaps of grey mush with traffic at a standstill.
@willowgirl (188)
•
22 Dec 09
Maybe you need a wind generator and some solar panels so that you have a little electricity when it cuts out!
Yes! lots of snow, here. I've been out in it a few times and it is white and nice. It must have blown in from the mainland I think! ;) It looks quite beautiful!
Very cold tho so I have to run the heating a lot and cook food in my coat!
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
21 Dec 09
I wouldnt be swimming in a freezing sea. I like it to be over 33C before I get in the water. I'm a bit weak that way.Many of us have back yard swimming pools, but we have the sea within 15 mins drive from here. It is always much colder than pools.
Why dont you have water at the moment anyway? I may have missed one of your discussions.
Are you having some sort of tidal surge?
My daughter and I are going to Penneshaw next week. It is right on the ocean. As my daughter still needs to do her swimming training, she is going to find this very interesting traioning in the cold water. Very often its quite hot there though.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
21 Dec 09
We are on the southern ocean which is very cold regardless of the time of the year.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
21 Dec 09
Hi Jenny - 33 C, that's way hotter than our water ever gets, my chart shows tops at about 27 C for August. Why will the sea be cold at Penneshaw when you're in the middle of summer out there? I'm always suprised at how much the sea temp differs just here, the local sea is cold, up in town just 40 kms away it's warmer, and much much warmer up where the Greek is. Yet it is here that everyone comes in the summer to invade the beaches.
I'm not quite certain why we have no water on day 5, but as it is Monday I just hope they get round to fix it. I did here of a broken pump higher up which maybe the cause.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
20 Dec 09
If I were to be induced, possibly, but it'd have to be pretty powerful, and once I woke I'd be mighty pissed, lol... Ofcourse, that's with using the literal form of induced in my opinion which is, in example, to promote sleep... or induce.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
20 Dec 09
Oh yes, the sea tides are probably very big and crashing, a very dangerous place to be, lol... Though there are those who are risky and others who are professional and know what time of day to go out regardless of the season, etc.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
21 Dec 09
Hey thea! I'm with you on this one! There is no way I would
want to step into the sea at this time of year if the water
was at that temperature! That is a bit too chilly for a swim!
But, then I am so cold right now because the temperatures here
in NYS are in the twenties and teens and we just got about 6
inches of snow or more! But, I know that the air would have to
be quite a bit warmer where you are to venture into the sea
that is that chilly!
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
21 Dec 09
Hi Opal, now I'm of the theory that when you have snow at least its a brisk fresh cold you get with it rather than the nasty damp cold we tend to get. I've heard they are snowed in in England too at the moment, even Sandra has it in Spain. We only get to see it on the top of the mountains.
I was really suprised when I checked the sea temp. as I rather expected to see it at around zero but I'm still convinced it would kill me just stepping in.
@celebratelifeh (1142)
• China
21 Dec 09
here also just suffered a lot from no water servered around 2 days and that's really horrible that we have no water to wash face. no water for bath. no water to wash pants..that nearly destroied my normal life by just stopped 2 days. can't imagine what it will be if no water for 4 days. good luck.
1 person likes this
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
20 Dec 09
Hi thea
OH NO..NOT ME..
I will stay inside with my snuggie and booties slippers on my feet. Even here in the summer time I think that the lakes are still cool and everyone else says it is so nice..I guess I am a cold nature person..LOL
I like my heat.
Keep smiling.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
20 Dec 09
Hi rose, I'm with you there, I can only take the local sea in small doses even in the summer but further north it is much warmer in the water without the cold water springs and I can stay in much longer.
I always say though that if my feet are cold in the winter my whole body is cold and nothing moves it, but those thermal socks I got last week are proving their worth in that department.
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
20 Dec 09
Im like that too. If my feet are cold then I can't get warm at all. I try to keep them covered during the winter. I usually wear out a couple pair of these booties before winter is over..lOL
