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nelliebenner

Iceland , wat ben je coool ⛄️✨🫶🐋

An Icelandic special. Not too rambling I believe.

We start off with TheWorldPursuit which lists 30 hot springs in Iceland (Feb. 4). Instead of Blue Lagoon they say. 

Highly trendy, especially as the Blue Lagoon needed to be evacuated mid-March due to the most recent eruption very nearby. Q&A by Icelandreview (Mar. 18):

'Q: Is the Blue Lagoon in Iceland open after the eruption?

A: No, the Blue Lagoon is currently closed after the volcanic eruption that began at Sundhnúkagígar on March 16. Due to its close proximity to the eruption site, the Blue Lagoon had to evacuate its guests and temporarily close down all facilities. It will remain closed through Tuesday, March 19.

This is the fourth eruption since December 2023 and is, in time of writing, still active'.

More specific alternatives.

National Geographic has a travel article (Feb. 1) on some of the lesser known soaks of Iceland, albeit just Hvammsvík.

'I’m at Hvammsvík. Opened in 2023, it’s the newest addition to Iceland’s impressive collection of hot springs, all of which make use of the country’s abundant geothermal waters'.

Heed the post-script:

'This story was created with support from Hvammsvík, PLAY Airlines and Grandi by Center Hotels'. 

polly_makshein

Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River

#iceland🇮🇸 #iceland #islandia #исландия #island #islandlife #hotsprings #thermal #горячиеисточники #relax #goodday #кайф #travel #travelgram #travelphotography #traveltheworld #travelblogger #travelling #traveling #traveler #lovetravel #travelgirl #river #mountains #góry #горы #nature #podróże

The Reykjavik Grapevine on tour. They head out and report (Mar. 13) on the Forest Lagoon, Akureyri:

'Forest Lagoon, or Skógarböð, opened its doors in May 2022 and has since welcomed more than 200,000 visitors. Natural baths aren’t a new concept in Iceland, in fact, there’s one in almost every corner of the country. But, until Sigríður María Hammer and her husband Finnur Aðalbjörnsson turned their land into a thriving business, providing a haven for both locals and tourists to relax in the region, there wasn’t one in this part of the North.

...

“When they were drilling the tunnel, they found hot water within the mountain that wasn’t supposed to be there. It was quite a surprise,” Sigríður explains.

The discovery of the hot water caused considerable delay for the construction work of the tunnel. “The construction workers were actually working just in speedos, because it was 50 degrees inside,” says Sigríður. “Ever since the tunnel was finished, this water has basically been going into the ocean. Nobody was doing anything with it. What a waste.”

The 50-degree water, rich with oxygen and minerals, wasn’t suitable for heating houses. Finnur, who’s a contractor and has worked on many infrastructure projects in the area, first thought of the idea of building a nature bath. However, the problem was that the hot water vein lay approximately three kilometres from what is now the Forest Lagoon. The project sounded ambitious but very costly.

...

I change into my swimsuit in the shower area, which is equipped with both open public showers and individual shower cabins for those who aren’t used to the Icelandic bathing customs of showering naked. A good shower is essential, highlights Sigríður — the water in Forest Lagoon is free from any chemicals, including chlorine. The only thing Forest Lagoon adds to the water is cold water, exchanging it a few times a day to stay free from bacteria'.

The inevitable, subject wise.

Icelandwithaview on naked showering before bathing in Iceland's mostly hot spring sourced swimming pools (Dec. 8, 2023). Quite something, that you can make an extensive article on something that's actually a non-item.

'Once you overcome the initial shock of having to shower at the pools in Iceland naked, it’s actually quite liberating.

Don’t let it scare you; not only is it an amazing experience, but you also gain a better understanding of the local culture.

I’m not a member of any Iceland naturist community, I swear, but I do think it’s pretty cool!

Thank god we've still got the pictures that soaking in nature in Iceland still exists, phew! 

nomadic_cosmopolitan

When all of Reykjavík has covid, you go on an isolating winter road trip to the west fjords

Blissed

alexastals

Contemplative Silence 🍃✨️

#natura #nature #naturaleza #feelblessed #feelfree #freedom #naturalbeauty #hotsprings #aguastermales #water

Oddly my choice to include wellness news (based on the increasing difficulty of access concerning wild hot springs in Europe and the possible similarities in experience) continues to result in truckloads of articles to share.

But then first the few links that are in hot-spring /soaking  relation.

Indie88 (Jan. 10) on Saturnia (Italy). The lure of nature's health elixir no less. A lot of tips, f.i. come early morning. Or late afternoon.

Public initiatives from Switzerland are the inspiration to a similar call in Aachen, Germany. Thank you Hans for providing the link.

In the center of Burtscheid (a former town in it's own rights but now a suburb of Aachen) the action group Waermkomp.jetzt seek to establish a pop-up small thermally sourced pool for soaking. If you have experienced Baden, you'll have an idea.

TF1 en Auvergne has a report (Feb. 15) concerning the Croizat hot springs (France). 

In this report it is reflected upon how popular taking a soak is. This despite that the local authorities have had a ban on soaking in place since 2016. It seems all happy soakers and the local government not in communication modus.

The report though does elicit feedback (Mar. 11) from the Source Chaude Croizat Facebook page. Which confirms that there have been gendarmes handing out fines. And furthermore, it's shared that EU will probably assist (Mar. 11) in financing the upper Dordogne protection plans (?), which might see the soaking site improved and officially approved. So not all doom and gloom?

The Guardian presents an article (Mar. 12) on Galicia's Ourense and the soaks to be had locally.

“Ourense is the thermal capital of Galicia. Not many people realise, but we have about 70 thermal springs pumping an estimated three million litres of thermal water daily,” Karlos Sanmartín, a local tour guide, tells me

...

Locals, in-the-know expats and a small swell of tourists bathe in Ourense’s hot springs year-round, keen to take advantage of the supposed therapeutic benefits – from easing arthritic pain and soothing skin conditions to aiding circulation and respiratory issues. It’s not as popular as Hungary or Iceland but thermal tourism here isn’t new.

Roman soldiers came almost 2,000 years ago to use the city’s mineral-rich waters as a form of post-battle convalescence. “They used the hot springs as a place of rest, healing, leisure and relaxation, but also as a place of worship,” Karlos says.

...

As closing time approaches, I watch as steam rises and melts into a black sky sprinkled with stars that seem to dance to the trickling sound of water. I whisper a little thanks to Karlos. He was right: moonlit bathing is magical'.

cha_l_heureuse

Découverte de sources chaudes naturelles lors d'une randonnée.. Cette baignade dans une eau à 28 degrés (imprévue par -4 degrés) était magique ! Eaux thermales volcaniques sur un site datant de l'époque Gallo-romaine. Ressourcée, purifiée, recentrée ! Voyager m'avait tellement manqué ! 🙏🏻⛰️

_______________________________

#photodujour #queyras #thermes #sourceschaudes #eauthermale #mountainslovers #naturel_shot #naturelovers #naturephotograpy #hikinglife #natureshot #mountainliving #mountainphotography #hautesalpes #paca_focus_on #serrechevalier #lundi #lundisoir #traveltagged #visitfrance #alpesfrancaises #hautesalpes #regionpaca #natureshooters #discoverworld #wintermood

Community

Onward. 

To sauna culture reflections. 

Reddit on a Therme Erding experience (Feb. 27), though heed, Therme Erding is hot spring sourced:

'Can't recommend Therme Erding highly enough!

One of Germanys larger broadsheets (Frankfurther Algemeiner) looks (Mar. 13) at what's on offer in Berlin. Wellness-wise.
Basically it's the bigger Vabali complex. And the smaller Liquidrome.

TTRWeekly notes (Feb. 20) the website spaseekers reveals what they believe to be 

'... the most popular spa destinations for 2024'. 

Presumptous possibly? Romania is trending, 

'... but spa destinations in China, Nepal, and Vietnam figured in the top 10 list'.

The Sauna Channel adds a video and explanation concerning the Latvian pirts ritual. Closely linked with sauna usage:

'The crackling of the wood-burning stove provides a comforting soundtrack as participants surrender to the warmth, allowing tensions to melt away.

Nauris Zutis, with his wealth of knowledge passed down through generations and refined in the crucible of experience, employs ancient techniques to facilitate the detoxification process. He skillfully utilizes aromatic birch twigs, dipped in water infused with herbs, to enhance the cleansing ritual. The gentle swaying of the twigs against the skin stimulates blood circulation and awakens the senses'.

Emulating the old days in Basel, kollektiv_hotel_regina

Brunnen Gehn /////// So 25.02.24 ////// Merci ////// schön wars

BBC notes (Mar. 3) how the mobile seaside sauna trend is becoming more and more popular. This article with regard to Wales:

'They are more commonly spotted in the corners of gyms and luxury hotels - but saunas are starting to pop up on the Welsh coast.

Swansea's Gower peninsula in winter may seem like a strange place to relax in your swimsuit, but more and more people are visiting, keen to chase away the rainy day blues.

It is the Scandinavian model being followed - where people can move from the cold of the sea, quickly to the warm.

The British Sauna society (BSS) was set up almost 10 years ago with a focus on bringing the authentic sauna to the UK, and said numbers have doubled, with an increasing amount outside.
Starting at a low base, it's not too difficult to double numbers. It also adds:
Gabrielle [Secretary of the BSS] added some people have suggested it is like going into a therapy room, adding: ‘’When you look at what has been happening in the UK - the closing of pubs and community centres - I think it has potential to actually start replacing those things'.’’

These final comments were then promoted on the BBC Facebook page. This post then garners nearly 100 comments. Reading these comments, it's quite surprising to see the ignorance of sauna culture (no, it doesn't mean you drink in the sauna), still a long way to go there in the UK.

BSS has actually an updated directory of all UK 

"Public Authentic Sauna's' 

with annotations when these are by any body of water.

A find. The Sauna Project. It is dedicated to 

'artistic research on Finnish sauna culture'. 

With stories, films, photography, exhibitions and the possibility to sign up to sauna trips in Finland.

Confide

How then to navigate the respective sauna cultures in Europe?

Creating a storm. On Facebook. 

Asanti (one of Belgiums older wellness destinations) has announced (Feb. 17) the possibility to come on over, but in bathers (if needy), though only on the Tuesdays. Forthcoming, the Tuesday will be clothing optional. 

The storm: 175 reactions. 

Nudity is the equalizer. Shifting from this opens up voyeurism potentials, possibly resulting in lower body confidence to the non-bathers users. And using the facilities is about being zen.

Owners see it differently: possible new clientele can find their way here and get used to sauna's and take a next step towards the unclothed usage.

My point would be: if we agree that bathers are unhygienic, how then does this play out? Are the sauna's scrubbed more, does the added chlorine (from bathing close / possible inceased use in water) shoot up? 

Anyway, the owners are looking for ways to attract more and possibly more satisfied clients. As from the discussion that may mean losing others. 

Maybe owners have learnt a thing or two in the process.

 

Are we pro or con? Thermae.com for the Belgium spa's Thermae Boetfort & Thermae Grimbergen (Belgium):

Immerse yourself in luxury. Our Jacuzzis are the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. 🌿💧

More on Euro sauna culture, but now from the US point of view. 

None other than New York Times (Feb. 26). Highlighting the clothing rules:

'Had I ever seen so much bare flesh in one room? Naked in a mixed-gender Austrian sauna, I sat opposite two dozen other nude people on wooden benches. Even after more than a year of living in Europe, as an American, I still felt a little uncomfortable sitting there in nothing but my own skin'.

It's as if North Americans defend themselves because their genetics are different. They're not, it's all socially constructed.
The author describes in detail the Aufguss process, but still seems to be hung up on certain issues:

'For some Americans, including me, nudity, especially in a mixed-gender environment, can initially feel extremely uncomfortable. Keon West, a professor of social psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, explained that cultural standards often affect what level of nudity people find tolerable: In some places, seeing women with their hair uncovered might feel racy, while in others, stripping down on a public beach is perfectly acceptable.

“You might think the Germans are a bit risqué, whereas they think they’re normal, and you’re a bit silly,” Dr. West said.

...

In a number of studies, Dr. West and his team have found that being naked around others can increase self-confidence and life satisfaction [really?]. “If you go to a naturist event, you see a lot of normal people, people who aren’t airbrushed and aren’t Beyoncé, and you realize you don’t look bad compared to the average person,” Dr. West said. “And you spend time naked in their company and nothing bad happens. No one says anything bad to you, no one laughs at you.”

Some Americans have found that the discomfort of being nude in the sauna is fleeting and has a worthwhile payoff.

The article elicits 500 comments no less! Most in the line of: nudity means nothing. Others feeling more uncomfortable, because what the article implies is that US culture is the lesser of European culture, and we are the US of A? Very little comment on the sauna culture itself ... Can resist this share:

'But actually, again, having those hangups is very North American. There's no reason why you couldn't go into a European spa with a mastectomy. It's not like it'd be in the US, with people gawking and judging. I've been to a fair number of European spas and walked through FKK beaches and it's not about having a perfect body to show off. Different mindset, more about health'.

Airmailnews shares another (typical?) US experience (Mar. 1) of the open sauna culture of central / west Europe:

'But the nudity—total, stark, unignorable—scared me senseless. Is it because I’m an American or just too literal that I associate it with sex? According to my Viennese friend Karin, who invited us here, “That is not a very Austrian way of thinking.” Unlike me, these Europeans don’t have to suppress a snort when they see random genitals. Here, the sauna is a centerpiece of community life, a municipal institution on par with the public library. Karin’s octogenarian mother, who lives in the countryside, frequents hers several times a week. When she needs a break from the heat, she plays cards and drinks tea in her towel.

The women around me, walking and chatting from tub to sauna, didn’t seem the least bit self-conscious. I wish I could say the same. On my first dip in the outdoor pool, I was halfway submerged before I flung my caftan toward a lounge chair. Most days, I really like my body, but apparently not enough to parade around in the nude altogether.

...

And it is here, every day at 6 P.M., where the Krallerhof’s guests gather for the traditional aufguss ceremony, in which a saunameister pours water, often infused with essential oils, onto the hot stones and then circulates the vapor through the air using a large fan or towel. At first, I resisted the idea of squishing my hips against a stranger’s in such conditions, but I suppressed all instincts to flee. Out of national pride, I hung my robe on a peg, smoothed my towel on the bench, and took a seat, rounding my back and crossing my legs in an attempt to disappear.

In the clothed world, we are bankers, lawyers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and parents, burdened with a variety of complexes and complexities. But without our daily costumes, we were more alike than different. I tried not to look, but I’m a journalist. I wasn’t going to miss the rare opportunity to study this mishmash of humanity in all its glory.

We’re just bodies, after all. We have stretch marks, patchy bits of hair, soft arms, softer bellies, freckles, veins, and scars. We droop and sag; we look inelegant when we walk. And yet, together, what would be flaws seem to lose their power. It’s one thing to know that penises and breasts come in all shapes and sizes; it’s another to witness 50 of them at once, as individualized as characters in a Tom Stoppard play. It’s all so real that it can’t help but be beautiful.

...

Eventually, I gathered the fortitude to join them. By the end of our week at the Krallerhof, I was spending more time in the sauna than on the slopes. It began to work its magic on my mind; I became less self-conscious, less self-critical, less prudish. I’m older now than I’ve ever been—that’s the way time works—and yet floating there in that cold plunge, I felt as fresh as a newborn. And I was even able to start looking at all those bodies—and myself—directly in the eyes'.

banya_lovers

Что делать , если работа не отпускает практически никогда ? Когда уже вышел с работы , но думаешь о задачах? Когда выходной день с близкими людьми, но в голове задачи...задачи...

Когда праздник, радоваться можно , отдыхать, а в голове проекты...

Я знаю способ !

Взять индивидуальную баню на 1-2 человек

Вчера я парил двух классных парней, предприниматели, но, работа не покидает их практически никогда...

В таком процессе , я стараюсь направлять внимание на отвлекающие моменты, а именно , места , где человеку классно когда то было, ощущения в теле, чувства

Я провел два коллективных прогрева , с бубном, с глюкофоном, но парни сидят в голове и работе

Идём дальше...

Поочередно беру их в работу, отмечая их особенности мысленного восприятия, медленно прогреваю вениками , контраст в парной, очередной нагрев, заставляю нырять в ледяную купель, кричать там , дабы дать выплеснуть эмоции

В какой то момент замечаю, что Сергей слегка прикорнул на диване , расслабившись...процесс запущен

Баня- легальный кайф❤️ Берите на заметку

Парни сказали огромное спасибо, что наконец отвлеклись 🙏

Благодарю их за доверие🥰

Нужна помощь в активации Здесь и сейчас? Камон🤗

We're not there yet. But nearly. 

Paul and Marina share (Jun. 9) with you the ultimate (?) German sauna rules. As you can imagine (= wrong word?) it's a long read:

'Saunas are a safe place where people from all walks of life, from all over the world meet. You will find teenagers there with their parents, 60 – something couples, 30 – something groups of boys and girls and 90-year-old male and female sauna veterans.

People are courteous and mind their own business most of the time, but you can get into a friendly chat with other sauna visitors.

People walk around nude without swimming wear. Some people have a towel wrapped around their body or waist, others like to move about in robes.

Sauna visitors usually sit on a towel on the wooden benches, some lie on it to take a nap in the sauna room.

Your upper and lower body will be exposed, just try to sit comfortably but in a normal fashion and in time you will get the flow and forget that everyone else is nude as well.

Mobile phones are not allowed, you can't take pictures or film in a sauna. If you see someone doing this, you can report them to the sauna master.

...

No body shaming!

Be courteous and keep other people in mind at all times.

Behave like an adult. Yes, there are nude people running around, it's normal and ok.

Don't yell around, don't speak too loud with your friends in a sauna room. You are not alone and there are other people using this public facility'.

Even German speakers can learn a thing or two:

'Don't reserve a sun bed if you are not going to use it. You can reserve a bed for an extra fee at certain spas'.

It comes complete with German sauna vernacular.

the_swallow_escapes

[ Les bains romains ]

En Espagne, vous trouverez encore de nombreuses ruines des bains thermaux construits par les romains. Certains sont accessibles toutes l'année, d'autres plus mystérieux, n'apparaissent que quelques mois dans l'année lorsque les réservoirs d'eau sont à sec, laissant la place à des résurgences d'eaux chaudes au milieu de ruines.

#hotspring #spain #travel #secretspain #bainsromains #eauxthermales #aguacaliente #girlwhotravel #vanlife #roamtravels #igersspain