Its funny. More and more I found myself at the loss of words and I didn’t want to hear other people talking either. Their conversations seems false and empty. I prefer look at the mountains, which say nothing and never make you feel alone. ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖Podvečer sme nasli mini hot spring kde sme si omočili nožky. A ritky. Voda ma okolo 35 -40 stupnov a kamienky naspodku su uplne žerave. Ved sopka. Ked chodite okolo po lavovej zemi, akoby vas odrazala na gumke naspat a citite sa ako na trampoline. What a nature!...#iceland #icelandtravel #iceland🇮🇸 #nature#hotsprings #woman #love#moments #feels#blonde #muscle #slovakgirl #vulcano#monday #morning#summer #fit #sport
Dotted with many a photo, let's catch up with some recent bits of news from geothermal Europe.
Above you'll notice Iceland's Landbrotalaug, following below a snitch of news from here.
But we're starting off in France. Les balades de Lison visits (Mar. 25) hot springs around Fontpedrouse:
'Chauds et sauvages, bien sûr...
...
A bath in wild waters is not idyllic, you have to deal with unsavory elements: rather repulsive algae, mud that sits at the bottom, embellished with a stock of dead leaves that the slightest movement agitates, and movements it must be done!'
elmargallo enjoying Fontpedrouse's Prats-Balaguer hot spring:
Gaudint de la natura. #aiguestermals al sud de la france. #paseslafronteraicomençaeuropa#hotsprings #pachamama
Another blogger, It's time to explore, heads for Granada's (Andalusia, Spain) hot springs (Mar. 3), located near the town of Santa Fé:
'Just half an hour outside the city and you can find natural hot springs (las termas calientes). Where else but in the middle of an olive grove surrounded by a small community of hippies and nomadic travelers?
There are several hot springs that are all connected, so take a walk around and choose the right one for you. The further you go from the water source the cooler it gets. There is a really big pool a bit further down that has clay mud walls, which is great for your skin if you want to make a mud mask while you bathe in the hot springs! At certain times of the year you can also pick figs from the trees that naturally grow alongside the spring.
FYI – Most people go to the hot springs naked. Of course you can wear a bikini or shorts, but if you are looking for a bit of freedom, you can definitely let loose here!
Make sure to respect other people while you are there and give people privacy by not taking photos (only of you and your friends)'.
Naked yoga at las terma de Santa Fe en Granada #aerialyoga#suspension #waterfall #hotspringwaterfall #🌊🦋☀️
Every body
People bathing in hot water spring near Homolje mountains on the side of the road. Serbia, 2018.#serbia #streetphotography #streetlife#everybodystreet #everydayeverywhere#everydayeasterneurope #balkancollective#balkan #reportagespotlight #gettyreportage#storytelling #magnumphotos #lensculture#lensculturestreets #burnmagazine#burnmyeye #capturestreets#myfeatureshoot #rurallife #bathing#hotsprings #somewheremagazine#photojournalism #documentary#documentaryphotography #35mm #life#people #hartcollective #myspc17@noorimages @magnumphotos @lensculture
A couple of photo's from around the continent.
Above from the not often noticed Serbia, following Azerbaijan (I think / believe) and Austria's seasonal flows at Maibachl.
#hotsprings#johnnyjaipasmonmaillot #capiquelecul
#austria #kärnten #carinthia#villach #365austria #aroundtheworld#reisen #instatravel #warmbad#discoveraustria #wochenendtrip#hotsprings #travelphotographer #instatravel#discoverearth #immerunterwegs#weltenbummlerin #hotspring #austria_love#traveltheworld #rirareisende#soulful_moments #happyday #maibachl#naturpool #outdoor #naturgenießen#naturalswimmingpool #bluelagoon
Fears
annd one more for the road:) bye #iceland! it’s been surreal 🌄🏞🌋💦🌊🌧🐑🐑🐑🐎🏇🐂🐋🐧 🦄🐉🌓 #hotsprings #hotspring #hotpot#hrunalaug #nudism #nudist #nudist4life #nude #nudeinnature #nudeisnotlewd#decriminalizenudity #nudeback #nudemodel #backpose #bornthisway#bornnaked #iwishthiswaseveryday #nature #naturist #naturephotography#nudeisnatural #nudeisnormal #clothesareoverrated #bodyfreedom#bodypositive #justananimal #getyourassintonature #❤️
A large part of this update is dedicated to Iceland.
Reykjavik Grapevine (Apr. 9) starts us off with a focus on tourism in general on the island, focusing on natural hot springs:
'According to a new report presented to Parliament by Minister for Tourism, Industry and Innovation Þórdís Kolbrún Gylfadóttir, some of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland have long reached their tolerance limit for tourists and are now in grave danger.
...
A week ago, the popular hiking trail to Reykjadalur [hot stream] was deemed too damaged by over-tourism to be open to further traffic, and was therefore closed by the Environment Agency'.
Suits optional when you’re hiking the hot spring river at 2am alone! One of my greatest recommendations for Iceland: go in late spring/ summer when the sun never sets, embrace jet lag, and do everything at night! Seriously, almost all of my hikes I did in the middle of the night! One, because my sleep schedule was way off but two, um hello screw giant crowds of tourists! The hike was so indescribably beautiful, three kilometers up the mountains behind the little town of Hveragerdi. Even in the low light and fog, the hills and valleys around me were breathtaking! Of course I couldn’t help but wonder while hiking this alone in the middle of the night in a foreign country, is this a bad idea?? I mean this waaaas just day two of a solo trip overseas… looking back though, I can’t imagine missing this experience because of a battle with doubt and feelings of fear. Face your fears and get after it! 🇮🇸💪🏼⛰☁️ #Iceland #IcelandRingRoad#HotSpringRiver #2amHike #BackpackIceland #RoadTripIceland#SkinnyDippin #MidnightSun #JetLag
'According to a statement issued by the Environment Agency of Iceland, a recent evaluation of the Reykjadalur Valley has deemed the area too damaged to be open to the public.
The Agency had already decided to close the valley at the end of March because of extensive damage due to a combination of muddy paths and a high foot traffic.
...
When the Agency made their decision, they expected to open the area again two weeks later. The recent evaluation, however, did not prove to be satisfying enough. Thus, the Agency announced on their Facebook page that the Reykjadalur Valley will be closed for at least another four weeks. It will be only be opened once the area is recovered and ready to receive guests without any further damage to the soil and vegetation'.
Bright
Lighter news, the Reykjavik Grapevine (May 9) visits Laugarvatn hot springs. A nice overview of the experience. Of course with the now nearly obligatory explanation of geothermal bread.
Heading for Tálknafjörður? Reykjavik Grapevine (May 30) looks at the main sites:
'Bathe: PollurinnA few kilometres out of town you’ll find this idyllic fjordside bathing spot. With geothermal water piped in from nearby, there are three small concrete hot pots of varying temperature, painted the same bright blue you’ll find in municipal pools. There are basic but recently renovated changing rooms, a hot shower, and an unforgettable view over the surrounding mountains. It’s one of the nicest bathing spots you’ll find anywhere in Iceland'.
Questioned
Then some controversy.
Instagram model Sara Underwood visits Iceland for some pictures to boost her account. She posts a photo (May 11) from Icelands Landbrotalaug with this caption:
'saraunderwood
S✨W✨I✨P✨EEnjoying nature’s natural hot spring, the way it should be enjoyed, au naturel.
Speaking of natural, I have a question - Why is it that the female nipple is so offensive and must be censored or it’s rated R, and the male nipple is not? It feels quite repressive 🤔. Anyways, I photoshopped my nipple out of the second photo because GOD FORBID!
.
#iceland #ourplanetdaily#beautifuldestinations #getoutandexplore#neverstopexploring #adventuretime#hotsprings'
This is what the original looks like (source), great one for spot the difference.
More nipple news from Iceland, just as a background to the above, as the country seems a bit more progressive than all those others who toe the line. The Reykjavik Grapevine (Jun. 4):
'Following their company policy against female nipples, Facebook recently deleted a video posted online in occasion of a Reykjavik Arts Festival exhibit showing topless young women, RÚV reports.
...
In a country famous for its SlutWalks and #freethenipple campaign, Instagram and Facebook’s policy has prompted a heated debate on why male nipples are considered acceptable, whereas female nipples are considered unacceptable'.
Strange this 21st century.
Meanwhile in Reykjadalur, another case of censorship?
ICELAND DAY SEVEN 🇮🇸I. Scandalous photo, skinny dipping at Reykjadalur thermal riverII. Haetta! Hunnid °III. Gotta hike 1.5 hrs to get to this spotIV. New fwends at SeljalandsfossV. Skógafoss, as seen in yr favourite cinemaVI. Free live jazz jams at Húrra on MondaysVII. Checking out of Oddsson hostel, big sadVIII. Too bad Iceland lost to Nigeria today, forever rooting for the underdog.IX. Monky X. See ya next year, Iceland!.....#icelandic #icelandtravel #iceland🇮🇸#skinnydip #hotsprings#thermal#reykjadalur #seljalandsfoss #skogafoss#improv #livejazz #hurra#hostel #monky#worldcup2018 #postcards
Or a flashback (Seljavallalaug hot spring):
Stella Briem Fokk hvað ég elska að sjá konur taka stand gegn þessu. The movement is just beginning. #freethenipple #freethenipplemovement
Hell
Thermal baths and blue sky. Thanks @b.naylor for another beautiful photo and day. 😘 #weareperfect #wildatheart #girlswithink#phoenixadventuremoments #solotravel #freedom #girlswhotravel #waterbaby#sardegna #beyourself
Gonews.it reports on Petriolo hot springs (Mar. 29). The gis: development will reverse degradation.
Unfortunately development is not an answer to perceived degradation. Basically it's a transfer of public access to a private source possibly augmenting a local communal financial flow chart at the same time. But overall a loss to public interests.
The NZ Herald focuses on sulphurous springs in Italy (Apr. 21):
'Italy boasts the world's most "hellish" natural thermal baths. They're dotted around the country, and for centuries, they've been likened to hell. Some were even banned, with the all-powerful Vatican wary of their powers. But today the sites celebrate their links to the devil's lair, with thousands visiting every year'.
With 3 examples.
Then a couple of photo's to wrap up this post.
Romania (below), followed by Bulgaria and Armenia as the last.
Soup #iphone7plus #thermal #bath#human #romania #baileherculane#herculane #nature #hotspring #vulcano#pool #water #redbikini #lifeonearth#mothernature #instagood #today#portraits_mf #portraitpage #portrait_vision#friends #documentaryphotography
#bulgaria is #hot #blickinsfreie #hotsprings #outdoors
Armenian geiser! There is always somethink to explore 😉 We love hikes to natural hotsprings like this one 😁 #armenia #travelphotography #landscapephotography #mountain #discoverearth #wilderness #discoverearth #nikon_cz_sk #natgeo #natgeotravelphoto #natgeoyourshots #hotspring #naturephotography #caucasus #asia
