Dignity

cibepe

Baden mit Hippies 🙌 #warmequellen #varmekilder #travel#fritid2019 #hippie #specialplaces#spain #termas #termasdesantafe

A more informative tour of the continent. Albeit a bit unstructured.

Above, fate has decided we start with a serene photo of Spain's Termas de Santa Fé near Granada (Andalusia).

Next a non-hot springs article from the Guardian (May 15). 
The article describes travels to Ireland's West Coast to look at the increasingly popular seaweed soaks combined with hot tubbing possibilities:

'Unfortunately, the country’s weather can rarely do the same, often making a trip to the coast a damp proposition. However, rather than escaping the harshness of the climate with a visit to warmer climes, a new generation of Irish people are embracing their cold seas – but doing it from the vantage point of mobile saunas and seaweed-filled whiskey barrels parked on the shore.

This Scandinavian-inspired solution to an Irish problem is reimagining the country’s beaches, where summer water temperatures peak at around 15C. The renewed popularity of traditional year-round sea swimming at Dublin’s Forty Foot and Galway’s Blackrock Diving Tower has inspired dozens of new swimming communities across the country, including Rise & Swim in Cork and Dublin Sea Swimming'.

It lists a number of possibilities, such as following:

stfranciskinsale

Thank you @wildatlanticseaweedbaths for a unique and wonderful experience this morning. We left feeling refreshed and revived. Our lovely seaweed and mint tea working its magic too so we were nourished inside and out! Thank you @marnielilykinsalefor being so organized and booking us in! ::#seaweed #seaweedbath#wildatlanticway #awesome#bathtimegoals

Then we look at a personal hot spring and de-clothing experience from Germany. Wandering Carol heads (Apr. 10) for Baden-Baden and it's baths:

'If you’re looking for a Baden-Baden spa and thermal water experience, you have the choice of two famous bathhouses, Friedrichsbad and Caracalla. Run by the same company, Carasana, they offer completely different styles of baths and are both well worth a visit.

Friedrichsbad is a regimented 3-hour bathing ritual set in Neoclassical splendour, while Caracalla has an upscale thermal waterpark sort of feel. There are also a few other ways to spa in Baden-Baden that I’ll touch on below.

...

Friedrichsbad is a dream of a building, you’ll be soaking and sweating amidst richly-painted tiles and a Beaux Arts dome, but clothing is not an option. And don’t expect to get dressed again for awhile – the compete bathing process takes more than three hours, and includes views of the opposite sex you might not want to see.

To add to the indignity of having no clothes on, you also have the pleasure of being in mixed company. Yes, it’s a co-ed experience, though when I went with my husband we opted for a single sex day because, you know, we’ve never seen each other naked. (Kidding!) Be forewarned: even on segregated bathing days you’ll bump noses (and hopefully that’s all) with the opposite sex during a couple of stages, including the one stage of the bathing ritual you won’t want to miss, soaking in the thermal pool under the lofty dome.

...

My advice? Relax and go with the flow. It’s easier said than done, but if you’re going to go to a German spa, accept that you’re going have to strip off your clothes at some point. The lack of restrictive clothing means better circulation for you. And don’t worry, the atmosphere at Friedrichsbad is anything but wild. It’s more like being in a temple dedicated to water.

Besides, being nude is all part of the German spa experience, especially in the saunas where clothing is often forbidden. (I should know. I’ve been kicked out for wearing a bathing suit, and learned my lesson fast.)

While there’s no escaping nudity at Friedrichsbad, it does elevate a mineral bath into an adventure –maybe that’s why it’s the best-known Baden-Baden spa experience of all'.

mosuradumont at Rennes-les-Bains (south France):

One of the best kept secrets of Bugarach is a Roman bath that is free to the public, a few minutes away from the spa hotels. It takes hundreds of years for the primordial water to gush up from the earth’s warm navel to the bathers waiting in the surface. H urged me to take a sip; it tasted of warm, formless solar nebulae, of volleys of interstellar ice crashing on a planet of molten lava, subsumed on impact. While wading in the warm pool, an old codger who looked like a wet da Vinci said the bath here has been long in danger of being closed down, but locals like him have fought to keep it open. Apparently it is one of the few real hot springs left. The spas heat up their water and say it’s natural… but, says he, it ain’t.#sonyphotography#sonyalpha#naturephotography#architecture#romanbaths#hotsprings#travel#travelphoto#travelblog

Plunge
Good news or bad news for Iceland?
Traveller.com notes (Jun. 24) that visitor numbers are down on Iceland:

'Last year, Iceland was named the world's second-worst country for 'overtourism', based on the number of visitors for every local.

But the latest numbers look dire. Visitors plunged 24 per cent in May from the same period last year and the all-important summer season is looking shaky. The central bank last month pulled the emergency lever to cushion the blow and delivered a half a point rate cut, while the government has pledged to boost stimulus if needed'.

Does that mean that those prime soaks are less crowded?

adventureworld.tv soaking near Geysir, south Iceland:

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旅は君の全てを見せてくれる 魔法の空間
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わくわくして 張り切って 躓いて 戸惑って
無理をして 余裕がなくなる 相手に当たって いつの間に消化して
気遣って 知恵を出し合う 寄り添って
協力して 乗り越えて 癒される
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君の全てを受け入れたい
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そんな気持ちになるほどに 全てが見える魔法の空間
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火山の国アイスランドではそこら中に温泉が湧いている♨️ 有名なブルーラグーンとかもとっても魅力的だけど 温泉マップを使って 自分たちだけのプライベート温泉を探すのが私達流
４日もお風呂に入ってなかったから 入れた時の感動と言ったらもぅ！
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夏のアイスランドは白夜なので 昼夜逆転させて動けば
ハイシーズンとか関係なくプライベートですよ♡

The Reykjavik Grapevine (Jul. 12) heads to the Western Fjords and experiences Heydalur hotpot:

'Through the poolhouse door lies an unexpected paradise. The roof is transparent, and the space is lit by the dim midnight sun; birds chirp and fly between the branches and fronds of manifold trees, bushes, flowers and shrubs, thriving and blooming in the warm air. The pool itself is through a corridor of plants; a splash of bright blue in the verdant space. A hot pot sits under some low-hanging branches, steaming invitingly. As we sink into the water, it’s like a vision in a dream.

...

Today, Heydalur has 19 rooms, three well-appointed cabins and a campsite. Working on an eco-friendly basis, the majority of the food that’s served is local, with eggs and vegetables from the farm and trout from the lake. Geothermal water, found through repeated drilling, fills the pool and heats the buildings. Horse riding and kayaking are offered as summer activities'.

There's also a list available of the West Fjords best bathing spots for 2019 (Reykjavik Grapevine, May 29): Krossneslaug as best; Heydalur and Pollurinn as runners up (all structured but quiet affairs).

Getting crazy in the West Fjords (Landbrotalaug), the_great_amour

Water creature. It’s September!...Tag for repost...#travel #wanderlust #instatravel#instagood #watchthisinstagood#adventure #travelgram #vacation#nature #summer #travelphotography#explore #vsco #vscocam #liveauthentic#livefolk #vsconature #vscorussia#vscomoscow #vscobest#neverstopexploring #exploremore#natureaddict #peoplescreatives#exploreeverything #naturelovers#icelandtravel #iceland ..#Repost @dhankin

Of course there are other best of bathing spots that are / have been researched: 

• south (Secret Lagoon (natural hot spring) as best; runners up Sundlaugin and Seljavallalaug, 
• north (Hofsós, runners up Mývatn and Geosea), 
• east (Laugarvalladalur (natural), runners up Selárlaug and Neskaupstaður),
• west (Krauma, runners up Borgarnes and Guðlaug; all in non-natural settings) and 
• Reykjanes peninsula (Blue Lagoon, runners up Grindavik and Vogar; none btw in natural settings).

Not mentioned, but nonetheless a great soak, Hrunalaug, south Iceland:

doralska

Finding solitude#traveladventures#hikingadventures#iceland#hotsprings#icelandhotsprings#outdoorbella#outdooradventures#outdooraddict#islandia#gorąceźródła#inthemiddleodnowhere#inthemiddleoficeland#icelandtravel#girlwhotravels#polishgirlaroundtheworld

Then the Grapevine also made a compilation (Jul. 19) of the nation's best soaks, but focusing only on the commercial run thermal baths:

'Unlike the heavily-chlorinated urban puddles of many mainland European countries and the US, Iceland’s swimming pools run on a constant, plentiful supply of geothermal water, heated by the earth itself. And while even the most humble municipal pool in Iceland is worth a relaxing half-hour visit, here are seven modern Icelandic spas where you’ll want to spend a whole afternoon:

• Blue Lagoon,
• Krauma,
• Sjávarsmiðjan,
• Mývatn,
• GeoSea,
• Bjórböðin and
• Vök'.

Vök? Icelandmonitor (Jul. 9):

'Floating pools, beer brewed with geothermal water, and geothermal tea – all this will be on offer at new nature baths, Vök Baths, by Urriðavatn lake, near Egilsstaðir, East Iceland, set to open next week.

“What distinguishes us is the floating pools, which are the first and the only ones of their kind in Iceland,” Heiður Vigfúsdóttir, CEO of Vök Baths, tells Morgunblaðið.

She explains that what sparked the idea for the resort was the holes which used to form in the ice of Urriðavatn lake, due to 75° C (167° F) geothermal water at its bottom, now used to heat houses in Egilsstaðir and vicinity. The word vök means a hole in the ice'.

Note: only opened on July 27.

Words

A short snippet lifted from Insight into Ukraine's instagram page:

'Ukraine is famous not only for its fast rivers, crystal lakes, stunningly beautiful ponds and waterfalls, but also healing, thermal springs🌡 Underground, hot water, with a temperature of +20 degrees and above, has unique, healing properties. Thermal springs have a positive effect on the human body, help to cope with ailments and improve immunity.Where to find such sources?🤔 We will tell you! Here is TOP-3 best hot springs of Ukraine.😉___
1. Hot springs of Kosino is a full-fledged health resort, where there is everything for pleasant family weekends and for having fun with friends. There are three thermal pools for adults and one pool for children, where the water temperature reaches + 40-42 ° С.
2. Beregovo is a small town in the western part of Ukraine that has preserved the atmosphere and culture of old Hungary on its streets and houses. Beregovo is one of the most unique thermal SPAs in our country. The equal springs could be found only in the New Zealand or Iceland.
3. Velyatino is another popular resort of Zakarpatia. It is famous, first of all, for its unique healing waters with a high content of iodine and bromine - namely, bromine has powerful sedative properties that are so necessary for all of us after weary working days'.

Worth more research?
What research should look like:

two_vanlifers

Baile Herculanea was a nice adventure 😂#baileherculane #hotsprings #climbing#herkulesbad #romania #travelling#travellerslife

Secludedtime (Jun. 16) reports on how they were brought to the soaking site of Vani by local Georgian police. Alas for the Anglophiles, quotes are in German:

'Da – genau im richtigen Moment – erscheinen sie am Horizont: Unsere strahlenden Retter in Polizeiuniform! Was macht die Polizei denn hier, fragen wir uns. Es ist erstmal doch ein wenig befremdlich, wenn auf einem Feldweg nahe des abgelegensten Ort Georgiens plötzlich ein Jeep voller Polizisten auftaucht. Zunächst haben wir die Befürchtung, dass wir hier vielleicht nicht unterwegs sein dürfen. Weit gefehlt! Die sympathischen, georgischen Polizisten wollen nur wissen, ob sie uns irgendwie helfen können.

Wahrscheinlich sind sie genauso überrascht uns zu treffen, wie wir darüber sie zu sehen. Auch unsere Jeepfahrenden Polizisten können kein Wort Englisch und scheinen die Quelle auf dem Bild nicht zu erkennen. Statt sich schnell zu verabschieden und uns unserem Suchen zu überlassen, heißt es, wir können gerne bei ihnen mitfahren und sie helfen uns suchen. Das geht zwar leider nicht, weil wir unseren Ford nicht mitten im Nichts stehen lassen können.

Wir bilden wir eine Fahrzeugkolonne. Gemeinsam folgen wir den Feldweg zurück zur Straße. Auf einmal bleibt der Polizei-Jeep stehen. Sie bedeuten einem vorbeifahrenden Auto stehen zu bleiben und beginnen ein hitziges Gespräch. Ist der etwa zu schnell gefahren? Als sie sich allerdings herzlich verabschieden und die Polizisten uns andeuten ihnen zu folgen, wird uns alles klar. Sie haben nach dem Weg zu der Quelle gefragt. Der Feldweg, den wir auserkoren hatten, ist wohl auch tatsächlich der richtige gewesen.

Also drehen wir alle wieder um. Ohne viel Gefackel preschen die Polizisten durch die Mega-Pfütze. Die haben ja auch einen Jeep – im Gegensatz zu uns. Uns bleibt nicht viel anderes übrig als nachzuziehen. Die Pfütze ist überraschenderweise gar nicht so tief wie erwartet.

Einige Minuten geht die Fahrt durch die grüne Landschaft. Da ein kleiner Hügel, ein verlassener Bauernhof rechts und noch einige Meter weiter. Endlich sind wir am Ziel. Auch die Polizisten klettern aus ihrem Gefährt und erkunden mit uns diesen wundersamen Ort. Von ihnen war bisher keiner an diesen stinkenden und wahnsinnig beeindruckenden Wasserbecken.

Nachdem alle Polizisten genügend Bilder mit sich und der Quelle haben, müssen sie wieder los und ihrem Dienst weiter verfolgen. Mehrere Handschläge und umfassender Dank geht an unsere Retter und schon sind wir also alleine an dem Ort, den wir stundenlang gesucht haben.

Der ganze Aufwand hat sich gelohnt. Die Schönheit dieses Ortes ist kaum in Worte zu fassen. Mitten in einer grünen Oase liegen drei Becken und laufen mit heißem, türkisfarbenen Wasser voll. Das warme Nass sprudelt aus einer Erhebung in der Mitte und erhitzt die umliegenden Becken unterschiedlich stark'.

 99.5599435616 at Vani.

A new find? Devin, Bulgaria. According to Tourism Bulgaria:

'Devin is mostly famous for its mineral springs whose temperatures vary from 16º to 76 ºС. The mineral springs at Beden Village, 12 km away from Devin, issue their waters at a temperature of 76° С. 4.5 l/sec. from its outflow are redirected to Devin by a hot water system. The small sulphur spring with a temperature of 16° С lies in the western part of Devin. The mineral spring with a temperature of 37° С in Posestra Area is situated in the valley of Vacha River, 6-7 km away from Devin.

The water is sulphatic, hydrocarbonic-sodium. There are several other springs in Devin Region that vary in temperature and volume of discharge.

The mineral baths are suitable for active and prophylactic treatment of many diseases. The water is applied externally for the treatment of musculoskeletal system diseases, nervous system diseases, reproductive system diseases, and skin diseases. When drunk, it treats gastrointestinal diseases, gallbladder-liver diseases, kidney and urologic diseases, and metabolic and endocrine diseases. It has positive effects on respiratory diseases as well.

Attracted by the healing powers of the mineral water, the Thracians settled in the region at the end of the 14th century BC and lived there up until late Antiquity (4th century AD). Many Thracian mounds were discovered near the villages of Borino, Yagodina, and Trigrad. The Ottomans started the invasion of the Rhodopes in 1371. Devin and the region were liberated from the Ottoman rule in 1912'.

paivin.oma at Devin:

H O T. S P R I N G. 👙#hotspring #bathing #chilling #bulgaria

When looking up more info I came across Andrey Andreev's

'list of spa resorts in Bulgaria with hot mineral pools for the winter season'. 

A great source of more or less developed hot springs.

barborczek at Bulgaria's Rupite:

#nocnekupanie#hotsprings#steambath

Getting entry to Budapest's Spa party's made easier by Spartybookings.

Dailynewshungary (Apr. 19) reports on the nations geothermal industry:

'Profits at Budapest’s baths have increased by nearly 20% in the first quarter, which is at a higher rate than the increase in the number of visitors. The increase in revenue is attributed to the growth of additional services and the sale of branded products. Nearly 1 million guests visited the 11 Budapest baths that were open in the first quarter, a figure which is 67,500 more than the record set last year. This is a 7.4% growth in the number of visitors, while revenue from sales was valued at nearly €12 million between January and March – 18.9% more than for the same period last year, as stated by Szilvia Czinege, the sales and marketing director of Budapest Gyógyfürdői és Hévízei Zrt. (BGYH).

...

it is estimated that 60% of visitors from outside of Hungary went to one of Budapest’s baths'.

Enlighted

Tierrassinfrontera's visits (Jun. 9) the mud baths of Murcia's Mar Manor at San Pedro del Pinatar:

'Here is the largest space of free medicinal mud baths in Europe.

So, if you are one of the people who take care of your health, you like to enjoy therapeutic spaces in nature and you dream of discovering a different place, possibly this is your place.

...

The muds of San Pedro del Pinatar are characterized by their high content of cations, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sulphates ... In addition, they are very fine sands, considered really effective and with healing properties'.

albachirili at Termas de Prexigueiro (Galicia, Spain):

Relax🌸🦋#nature #relax #termas #peace #silence#green #Galicia #ourensemola #igers#inspiration

A cascade of articles from central Italy's Viterbo, where the hot water war has heated up.

Lamiacittanews (May 1 and 2) reports back on the re-opening of the Bullicame public hot spring, which despite not having sufficient hot water attracted much local interest.

Then on May 11, in a google translation Lamiacittanews reports:

'This morning we went to BULLICAME and we discovered with great surprise that it is closed again.We ask the mayor Giovanni Arena for enlightenment because he had promised us he would no longer close it'. 

A recent (6 weeks old) photo of Bullicame terme:

fabiola.delsa

💦🌴Detox (1/3)#neverstopexploring#volgolazio#bullicame#nature#eljoy

Then, the Lamiacittanews (May 14) notes that the division of the Viterbo thermal waters will be settled in court, in the coming days especially with reference to San Sisto soaks.

Lamiacittanews (Jun. 16) reports on the re-opening of Bullicame hot spring, the free and publicly managed hot spring. 

Lamiacittanews (Jun. 28) mentions that authorities have closed La Masse de San Sisto thermal area; it meant the pump stopped working and it seems the source has run dry.

It seems a victory for the general public; San Sisto had been operating as a company without license for years on end. Now closed, waters are running again at the free Bullicame.

Finishing off with a soaking in southern France's Font-Pedrouse:

_martyta

“Desnuda, que la naturaleza no se equivoca y si te hubiese querido vestida, vestida habrías nacido” Ricardo Arjona#2noviembre#quiendijofrio#bañosnaturales#felicidadenestadopuro