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elisagudmundsd 

🌙.........#iceland #summer #roadtrip #travelphotography #travel #hiking #flowers #bathing #naturepool #skinnydippin #seljavallalaug #vsco #vscocam #snapseed #friends #swimming

A summery special, none the more exemplified by the above summer solstice celebrations, soaking at Seljavallaug (southern Iceland).

As well as summer, we've seen quite a bit of the private soaking places and assorted closed due to Covid-19 regulations. But at this moment of writing most seem to be dabbing their toes in their new found freedom. 
The wild and free springs of Europe have hardly closed, though soaking there was not always socially acceptable.

There's quite a bit to report on, so I've put the Icelandic news in another posting. Upcoming. But I do have a couple of photo's from Iceland to share:

gotstrength at Haganesvík (?), let's say north Iceland:

In case u need a smile tonight 😂 #tbt #iceland #hotsprings @rjmcruising

lusi_jir at Landbrotalaug (?):

Uprostřed lávového pole, přímo pod sopkou jsme našli krásný přírodní bazének, kde jsme postavili stan a zdál se mi velice živý sen, kdy jsem slyšela dětské hlasy a táhli mě se spacákem pryč. Měla bych si dát pauzu od hororů, Sabriny, Hill Ville a dokumentů o vyšetřování vražd 🙈😂
In the middle of a lava field, right under the volcano, we found a beautiful natural pool, where we pitched a tent and I had a very vivid dream when I heard children's voices and dragged me away with a sleeping bag. I should take a break from horror movies, Sabrina, Ville house and murder investigation documents.🙈😂#iceland#volcano#lava#nature#adventure#camping#vegan#swim#hotpools#horror#nightmare#sunset#river#natural#water

Saved

That's Iceland taken care of. Let's look at other topical items.

Something new to discover, the Banya Journal. Just a few postings up, might be interesting.

Pan-Europe or Trans Europe? Anyway, saveatrain (Jun 18) introduces:

'We are naming our 5 Best Natural Hot Springs In Europe that are more than worth a visit'.

Their list: Aix les Bains (France), Saturnia (Italy), Acqua Dome (Austria), Spa  (Belgium) and Gellert (Hungary). Mostly privately owned, but all reachable by train.

vanlifevikings at Prats Balaguer (south of France):

Our all time favourite way of bathing 👆 We've said this before but one of the few things we miss from Iceland are our many great hot springs so every time we find one abroad we are super happy (somewhat like kids on Christmas happy) 😁⁣We can't wait to visit some we've heard of here in Northern Spain!⁣Follow the hashtag #vanlifevikings to make sure you never miss out on our adventures 👫🏼💛🚐⁣#journey#lífiðernúna #hotsprings #vanlifers #lifeisnow #lifeontheroad #exploringalternatives #lifewontwait #getoutstayout #optoutside #outdoors #withgalaxy #outbackcollective #landscape_captures #exploretocreate #visitfrance #hotspring #outdoors #moodgrams #wildernessculture #outdoors_project #travelligtheworld #beautifuldestinations #letsgoeverywhere #campingcollective #campingvibes #ourcamplife #outdoorsy #lifehappensoutdoors

The Guardian (Jun. 22) comes with an interesting article. Why has wellness become a lifestyle choice as it's origins are in medical treatment?

'This isn’t too far away from what the multibillion-dollar wellness industry would like us to believe. Whether we are being told by Gwyneth Paltrow or Instagram influencers, the message is: you are the master of your own health! Choose wellness, not because you need to, but because it’ll make you feel great and look better. Wellness is an aesthetic shaped by primarily young, slender, white women in stylish leggings, usually standing in front of clifftops or inside gyms. It is an unnerving abundance of recipes for pancakes that are secretly made with bananas (#NomNom #CheatDay). It is a petite woman performing a handstand above the caption “Committed to nothing but love!”, in a photo tagging a sportswear brand and the yoga-cardio class available on her new app (link in bio, #namaste).
It is a seductive illusion. Unlike the grandeur of the sanatorium, wellness is supposed to look effortless: anyone can have it if they are willing to make the right choices and dream big. Wellness appears so easily attainable that actual illness doesn’t always compute for those who encourage the idea that health, joy and spiritual gain are things you can buy.
And while wellness booms, vital complementary health services are becoming less and less attainable. Where many European countries use inpatient hydrotherapy to treat rheumatic patients, almost all of the NHS hydrotherapy pools in London have closed. A pool at Guy’s Hospital remains open by renting its services to private patients at £70 a pop. The Budapest facility I attended, part of a group of health hotels, has survived by straddling this complex divide – simultaneously marketing itself as a health necessity and a lifestyle choice. Its vital and more intrusive medical services, such as underwater massage baths, painful muscle treatments, ice-cold cream packs for swollen joints, are screened off in cold, utilitarian back rooms, behind the layers of opulence.
...
Presenting wellness as a “lifestyle choice”, in the face of so much structural inequality, perpetuates the dehumanisation of our most marginalised communities. And this is all the more insulting when you consider how often wellness culture’s hottest commodities – yoga, fasting, acupuncture, CBD treatments – have been appropriated, whitewashed and repackaged for profit'.

A good article for new insights. I suspect that selling soaking works much better by signifying it's ability to discern between the rich and the paupers; thus wellness. I personally believe in soaking as an individual spiritual journey with added health benefits. Rather than curing. But with open social entrance, not the behind high gates stuff to limit the riff-raff. Or the posers ...

chassandra_ at Baños de la Hedionda (Andalusia):

I think I'm gonna visit this place more often...such good qualities in that water for the skin ❤️...#visitspain #naturebathing #bluewater

Flocks
More on Hungary.

OffbeatBudapest  (Apr. 20) has a list of 7 of Budapest's best thermal baths:

'Budapest has a total of nine medicinal baths today (and 123 hot springs). While the water’s mineral content is similar across the baths, each venue is unique in terms of its size, architecture, amenities, and the type of visitors it draws. Tourists mainly flock to Széchenyi, Gellért, and Rudas — they're the most stunning — which in turn is driving locals away to quieter locations with lower admission fees.
...
Like it or not, nudity is no longer accepted'. 

Hmm.
National Geographic highlights Hungary's geothermal treats (but did I miss the original time of publication?):

'The landlocked nation is teeming with thermal water springs—more than 1,300, with 123 in Budapest alone—which bring infinite opportunities for year-round bathing in spas all over the country'.

twor__ at Benje Permet

#morning #hotsprings #albania

GoNomad has been to Georgia's Tbilisi and has a primer (Jun. 25) on soaking in nation's capital's sulphur baths:

'One of the most culturally informative—and corporally restorative—activities in Tbilisi is spending an afternoon at one of the ancient bathhouses in the city. Especially in the wintertime, a good soak in the bathhouse is as integral a part of Georgian culture as vinting homemade wine or cleansing the soul in one of the city’s numerous, hauntingly-beautiful cathedrals, like the Church of 100,000 Martyrs'.

More on Tbilisi. Wanderlush (May 10) has a report on a visit to one of the thermal springs:

'Going for a soak and a scrub down at the sulfur baths is as much of a Tbilisi tradition as eating a plate of khinkali. It’s one of the most memorable things to do in Georgia’s capital.
The baths here are very different to those in Istanbul, Budapest, or anywhere else really. To make the most of it (and avoid embarrassment), it’s essential to brush up on some basic bath etiquette before you go.
...
In this post, I’ll cover the top 5 bathhouses in Tbilisi, plus provide an extremely detailed guide to using the baths – including etiquette, do’s and don’ts, and exactly what happens during a bath treatment. At the end, you’ll find an account of my first visit to Gulo’s Thermal Spa, one of my most absurd, fun and embarrassing travel memories of all time.
...
The first thing to note is that Tbilisi’s sulfur baths are bathhouses, not spas. In the past, the main objective here was to get clean, not to be pampered.
...
Some of the baths have been ‘touristified’ and turned into spas. But they are still primarily functional, and not as fancy as bathhouses elsewhere'.

A very extensive and informative article with a personal experience to share.

rainbowsontheroad at Rupite (Bulgaria):

Hot SpringsOur first stop in Bulgaria was these lovely hot springs which were actually HOT. We found them thanks to @fromrusttoroadtrip who have an extensive and very informative hot spring guide on their website. Lots of different pools to try out with varying temperatures and mud with healing properties so of course we had to cover ourselves in it.There are some separate pools behind a wall that you have to pay for but we were happy with the free ones.A few strays live here which was sometimes problematic walking Roy as they could be quite persistent at following us and wanting to play with Roy which of course he wanted to do too; but not knowing their temperament it’s always a bit dodgy.We stayed for a few days and enjoyed some sunshine and some cold wet weather (which didn’t stop Carly from going in the springs - even in light snow!) When we left we didn’t know we’d be back within 24 hours, next post we’ll talk about why.

Strip
Wandering Carol (Jun. 16) heads to Bad Kreuznach (Germany's Rheinland-Pfalz) and takes a brine bath. Besides bathing there's quite a bit of active pursuits to be had while staying here. On the main Baderhaus:

'The Baderhaus is a grand classical building in the Spa Quarter so of course I had to go. The thing is, you can’t go to a bonafide sauna in Germany without accepting that you are going to have to strip down to complete nakedness, so I chose to go on Ladies Day, which is every Monday'.

ThinkGeoenergy (May 22) notes that a geothermal project may well get up and ready on Milos (Greece), though it's all still in it's infancy. Let's hope that they don't spoil the many natural soaks on the island.

vagelis.drivas at Loutra Eleftheron (Macedonia, Greece):

"If you wanna move on and change, you have to re-read your lifebook from the start!".....#hotsprings #hotspingsgreece #nature #hotwater #mountains #summer2020 #relaxed #enjoylife #tattoo #tattooedmen #tattoed #loutraeleftheron #friends #kavala #man #picoftheday #body #poleman #psychologist #psychotherapist #policeman #me #instagood #instamood #instadaily

Chains

Siviaggi (May 31) highlights what they reckon as one of Italy's most beautiful free spa's.

In Italy's hotbed of Tuscany, there seems some disturbance concerning the (free) hot springs of Petriolo.
Stamptoscane (July 1) note that the adjacent formal soaking site is publicly owned and seems to be on sale with price the only differential criteria of the bidding process.
Opposition has been organised. Il Tirreno reports (Jul. 5; translated):

'The Friends of Bagni di Petriolo, in collaboration with Italia Nostra ([civil society organisation] Tuscany, Grosseto and Civitella Paganico section) celebrated the "funeral" of the Petriolo spa on Friday evening, the establishment in the Farma valley, in the municipality of Monticiano, just beyond the border with the province of Siena, owned by the public-private company Terme Antica Querciolaia.
The flash mob, complete with a coffin, laurel wreath, lighted candles and a false officiating priest, wanted to draw attention to the delicate situation that the Terme del Petriolo are experiencing'.

They contend that the management of bathing facilities are being in the process of privatisation with possibly water cut to the free baths nearby.

duuraacel at Piscine Carletti (near Viterbo):

Km 4.377#viterbo #terme #naturali #libere #notte #giorno #lastday #lastspliffs #relax #hot #natural #free #springs #portarait #35mm #sonyalpha6000

South of Toscane, at Viterbo (Lazio), the enduring battle between public and private interests in soaking continues. Tusciaup (Jun. 19, translated):

'On Sunday 21 June at 11.00 am, at the pedestrian gate of the Bullicame Park, Giovanni Faperdue (former president of the Il Bullicame Association) in close collaboration with Franco Marinelli (former spa therapist) and the Association of Town Solidarity, will chain themselves at the park's entrance gate. del Bullicame, in protest, against the current stalemate in the Bullicame spa sector'.

Dedication.

Melts

Bowing out with a couple of photo's. Morocco (Fask, Guelmin), Spain (Yesa thermal mud, Navarra / Alto Aragon) and Azores (Termas da Ferraria - Sao Miguel).

mikedeemyers

Thank you Morocco 🇲🇦 and to my friend, @norbertglobetrotter for inviting me on this trip. Thank you to @larouahassan and his family for treating me with such kindness and hospitality. It was such a pleasure. I had so many first-time experiences, and ate so much food!! Unfortunately I didn’t take pics of the food because I was too busy eating lol, but here are a few extra pics.

anasash

Melting into the mud#yesa #pantanodeyesa #hotspring #barro #mud #navarra #nature #pachamama

ioaninaninanaaa

• Quando una settimana fa ero bella in forma. Nostalgie di un fisico bestiale 😂#hotsprings #azzorreisland #natural #milomanara #summerneeded #islandlife #atlanticocean #beautiful #life