CITY Issue 55 - (Page 72) SPA ANCIENT REMEDIES An air of mystery surrounds the Mediterranean’s Arabian baths, but just like modern spas, hamams will leave you abandoning your inhibitions. Jessica Kraft explores the secrets behind these timeless soaks. s it typically goes, mericans are wholly unprepared for the particular pleasu es of the ab bath, o hamam. The ep essed anxiety f om episodes in high-school gym showe s and ou cu so y exfoliation habits make us woefully self-conscious when we st ip down and submit to the ough mitts of a Tu kish masseuse. es, it is a bit cont adicto y: People go to the baths to elax, ight? But you’ e not going to achieve bathing bliss — that deliciously sleepy, sc ubbed-pink contentment that you thought only came in pill fo m — unless you’ e al eady a bit chilled out to sta t. So abandon you inhibition and walk in like an Egyptian. If you’ e t aveling a ound the Medite anean today, it can be ha d to fi nd a enovated bath f om the days of the ab empi e, though in the th centu y you couldn’t fi nd a town without one. The ab baths we e de ived f om the ancient Roman custom of alte nating hot and cold dips into a tesian pools, which was thought to imp ove ci culation and ove all health. Befo e household plumbing, this was also the only way to get clean — so the whole village showed up, and the int icately built baths became cente s of socialization, with matchmaking, business deals, and ente tainment. omatic oils and incense fi lled the ai and deco ative pe fo ations in the domed ceilings let in only the most celestial light. dventu ous Eu opean a tists became enchanted with the sensual atmosphe e of the hamam in the th centu y, painting lounging beauties and decadent dons in the O iental style. The mystique is still the e fo visito s today. Most baths seg egate by gende , so you will likely bask in the buff, though some places have co-ed sessions CITY 72: Perfect temperature for having the top down in the all-new BMW 1 Series Convertible
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