Istanbul, Elite World Business Hotel
March 15, 2014
1 PM Local time
Turkish bath
Now to elaborate on the style of the Turkish bath. Vern, you
will recall the very authentic one we were privileged to enjoy in Druskininkai,
Lithuania.
Outside the bath area are several relaxing areas with
couches and chaise lounges. The lighting is subtle and décor includes soft
colors and historic art depicting people in traditional wear relaxing. From
here, enter through double doors of engraved wood to a large, vaulted, round
room. The ceiling is a colorful dome of geometric design.
Most interesting and the core of a Turkish bath is the
large, octagon, heated marble slab filling the center of the room. About 2 feet
off the floor, it is large enough for 10 people to relax with heads to the
center of the circle.
Artistically situated around the perimeter of the tiled room
are alabaster basins. Each one offers extremely hot and also cold water. Next
to the basin is a copper bowl for pouring the hot, soothing water over the
body. This hot water can also be thrown across the marble slab to cleanse it.
Two private rooms can be used and contain a basin, copper
bowl, and marble slab the size of a twin bed. This is where I enjoyed a
relaxing time as the main room was occupied by a couple of young men wrapped in
towels from the waist down. I presume with swim suits beneath the towels. From
observing them briefly, I learned how to use the bowl to pour the hot water
over the body. Reclining on the heated marble calms and soothes. Tense muscles
and aches and pains dissipate as one is drawn into warmth.
The octagon marble slab
Reception area to the spa
beyond slab you see a couple of the basins
doorway to the private room I used
ice available outside the sauna. Not sure how to use this???
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