More Gym Stories

As a foreigner, I attracted a LOT of attention in gyms that I visited around the world. In these gyms were quite the cast of characters and big contrasts in the equipment available. Here are a few examples:

• Warsaw, Poland – in the basement of a nice hotel. I worked out there regularly for a few years when I had consulting work in Poland. The gym was modern and I enjoyed the weights, cardio equipment, and the hot tub and sauna. It did surprise me when some girl and her friend got in the hot tub buck naked with me. I didn’t tarry long…and went back to my office.

• Kyiv, Ukraine – I joined a gym where everyone was fascinated by me being the lone American there. A wide-eyed crew followed me around as I spoke broken Russian to the trainer and the crowd that I had attracted. I could tell this was a gym for muscle heads. Old rusty equipment was everywhere – tons of free weights and old weighted machines. One old stationary bike sat in the corner where no one used it. It looked like it had been there since the 1940s and had not been used since the 1950s.

• Paris, France – A business trip and I was right next to EuroDisney. I was the only guy in the gym for 2 days. There were only a few pieces of equipment, but I used them over and over. I longed for the variety of weights that I used in the Ukrainian gym. Right next door was some of the best food and best Cuban Cigars I’d ever had. To me, those were much more interesting that going to Disney by myself.