This is going to sound odd, but, the aquatic life I refer to is ours!! Or rather, to be more precise, Phillip n mine!
We had decided to splurge yesterday and buy an all-day ticket to the Saunaland at the local spa centre. For 14Euros (about £12.50 ?) you can spend the whole day (well, about 16/17 hours in total) here at this wonderland if you chose to….
We had always paid by the hour before and felt that it was rather a chore to time-watch and feel rushed, rather spoils the whole experience really. So, a whole day ahead of us to do whatever. I had not looked around the place beforehand, but Phil had and he had an idea of what there was on offer
We had lots of books, puzzles and snacks and bottled water at the ready and off we went. At 10.15 am we were in the water for our distanced swims (Phil 100 lengths, me usually about 60) simply to get the exercise factor out of the way and then start enjoying ourselves. The water quality is superb and we had a lane each to get on with things. Brilliant.
My first exploration found what is called here a Solebecken – a steaming hot mineral pool with lots of Jacuzzi and waterfall areas. Lovely and really hot and soothing to the body after a hard swim. The water tastes slightly bicarbonate-y so the minerals must do some good ? Thank goodness there was no sulphurous fumes as an Asthmatic finds them deadly! (well, this one anyway). Here I lounged about floating in bliss and did all the bubble stuff as well. Quite a power behind all those bubbles really and when my heart started to pound just moved on to calmer waters. Pays to be safe…
Philip in the meantime had been in the steam room and down the flumes (see, still a boy at heart). We then went into one of the many saunas – ah but first – we needed to strip our costumes off. The chap who was already in there said that it was not essential, but it might disturb some others if we were not disrobed as well. Wow, deep breath and peel !!! I am almost 60 and do not have the lissome body of a 30 year old any more.
I am actually quite used to stripping off at home, and have been for years, but not in public. My habit, once the summer hit us was to take a sun-bath each and every time the sunshine ventured anywhere near Hampshire but only for a few minutes at a time and would gradually increase the time over the weeks ahead. So, no sun burn but a healthy dose of vitamin whatever. I often gardened in the nude (amazing what you do when your neighbours are well-distanced away) and was totally comfortable with that. Strange then that I should mind a few middle-aged men so much.
I noticed, very rapidly that there were three ‘forms’ – one involved robes and the second a carefully-arranged carefree-looking draping of the towel (massive) over the shoulder and down the front of the body – thereby sort of discreetly covering essentials, and the third was the let-it-all-hang-out look ! Mostly I covered decorously but by the end of the day was a lot more carefree and comfortable with all the middle-aged men about, (very few single females about I noticed).
We had a great day, trying out all the different temperature saunas, steam rooms, infra-red thermrooms etc. After each immersion, we went outside into a sheltered garden area and lounged to cool and recover ready for the next session. The acquatic bit comes inbetween all these – cooling showers, ice-cold dunk pools, fresh ice chip rubs (wasn’t sure what to do with these to begin with!) – eat them to cool us ?– we eventually followed the herd and rubbed our bodies down with ice slush – fabulous after a 90 degree sauna.
Now - the best bit. We have had many many Saunas all over the place, but the Almsauna (as it was called here) was a totally new experience. A long log cabin with two heaters, one for logs and the other – electric ? The structure was obviously ancient, and one wall was of stone and also one of the heater chimneys and surrounds – these would retain the heat and so increase the temperature all day long. What we didn’t know what a proper proper sauna was like as yet.
On the dot, every hour, a lady comes in, closes all the windows (it is incredibly hot in there already) pours a wooden bucketful of water (infused with different essential oils) onto the heater and starts wafting a towel/flag around over her head in a circular motion. This dramatically increases the ambient temperature so you are left puffing ! Then, she walks around the whole place flying the flag above her head so to speak, by which time you are awash in sweat (sorry) and then to crown it all, she stands in front of each participant and waves the towel in front of you and a heat wave just hits you and overwhelms you – almost a scorching wind that takes your breath away and leaves you staggering.
I could hear the men loving it, but after two goes of the Sahara-like heat wave just had to say a polite thank-you and dash out into the cool. I sat on a bench waiting for my heart to calm down and soon after heard the men clap and thank the lady for her effort. Exit all. She promptly went to the outdoor pond, stripped off, showered and cooled off with a brisk swim. What a job !?
The idea apparently is to relax for 15 mins, go to the Restroom for a snooze or so and then take showers/dips/icerubs to cool the blood/body ready for the next onslaught. Wonder where we’ll find the next similar Sauna??
And so, you see, most of the day we were in various stages of dampness - dripping, sodden, sopping, streaming wet ……almost aquatic really
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