🍃#filmphotography #35mm #camera #nikon #hotsprings #sunset
I'd very much like to add much more topical info concerning Europe's hot springs, but alas there's little forthcoming.
Worldthermalsprings (Mar. 16) is flying through many Portugese and French hot springs in the last few weeks. Not only are the number of soaks per day impressive, they also are able to enter many of the facilities geared up for medically supervised soaking. An exception from Rennes-les-Bains (Languedoc):
Путешествие по термам Франции, Пиренеи. RENNES LES THERMES. Как я измеряла параметры воды. Горяий источник находится в русле реки на другом берегу реки. Чтобы до него добраться надо перейти реку по порогу или в сапогах или босиком. Вижу молодой хиппи стремится к источнику, где уже принимают горячую ванну его друзья. Я прошу его вернуться, показываю, как сделать замеры и слежу за процессом. Все получилось. Потом из под плиты вылезли его друзья и спрашивали, что такое ppm. А вы знаете? #термальныеисточникимира #термальныеисточники #пиренеи #русскиевофранции #thermalsprings #hotsprings #france
More popularity for Bath's Roman (UK) hot springs complex. Bath Newsroom (Mar. 17)
'Figures released today by the Association for Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) show that the Roman Baths & Pump Room was the 28th most-visited attraction in the UK in 2022, up from 51st in 2021.The historic attraction welcomed 851,854 visitors during 2022, compared to 351,655 in 2021. The Roman Baths was the second most-visited attraction in the South West, after Stonehenge.Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “These figures represent a welcome recovery for the Roman Baths and demonstrate the significance of Bath within the UK tourism industry. To be 28th in a list of such amazing visitor attractions is a tremendous achievement and I am delighted that so many people chose Bath and the Roman Baths as the place to create special memories with their friends and families'.
The Independent (Feb. 25) continues:
'Bath may have been recognised by Unesco as one of Europe’s great spa towns but it is not all about therapeutic soaks. Back in Georgian times, people simply thought that promenading and socialising here would enhance their wellbeing. Bath authorities say they want the city to become the UK’s premier destination for wellness [it already is] and are engaging with architects to reimagine public spaces. With its first wellbeing festival [Re:Balance] looking like a success, the city promises visitors plenty to smile about'.
Mytravelintuscany (Mar. 1) presents an overview of all free and wild hot springs of Tuscany, Italy: six in total.
Not in Tuscany:
🇬🇧belowHeiße Quellen, Berge, Wald und unser schönes Zuhause auf vier Rädern. Was will man mehr. 💥Natural hot springs, mountains, forests and our little home on wheels. Nothing to ask for. 💥
Tierrassinfronteras (Mar. 13) has an article on the Baños de Somogil in Murcia (Spain). A translated snippet:
'The Baños de Somogil are one of the few thermal and natural places that exist in Murcia. It is important to know that despite the fact that the second pool enjoys the filtration of this type of water, it is not absolutely hot, but warm to cold.This thermal characteristic makes it one more incentive to visit the place and enjoy discovering the difference in temperature between the two pools. I personally thought it was a wonderful place to bathe and above all curious'.
More info (also translated):
'Two streams of water converge in the pool: the Hondares stream, from its remote source, provides one of the currents, the colder and more superficial one; and, hand in hand with this current, another emerges, subterranean and hot. born from the depths of an aquifer that maintains a constant temperature of 26º. The access of this current is produced by a fault in the limestone rock. In this way, it is possible to enjoy an amazing natural spa with its two streams of water, one cold and the other hot, outdoors and in an environment of great beauty'.
Warmer and sunnier. And also in Spain:
🌞🫧
Everettpotter (Feb. 23) notes how European spa's are seeking to attract an American clientèle.
'Americans who do travel to experience European spas will discover a world with centuries – even millennia – of tradition, and plenty of science behind the relaxing waters and treatments. The spas of Europe provide their guests with several different levels of treatment and care, falling in the categories of wellness, health and medical....Another keynote speaker [for European Spa Association annual congress in Slovakia] was North American journalist and wellness travel consultant Laura Powell, who told delegates that the pandemic ushered in a new era for the wellness industry in North America. As many people started suffering the effects of chronic stress, they realized that they needed to be more proactive about their health and wellness habits. As a result, wellness tourism skyrocketed, and people started vacationing specifically for their health (both physical and mental).Additionally, for some time, people in the United States in particular have been fed up with a health care system that is expensive and not open to alternative therapies. Therefore, there is a growing market open to looking at overseas destinations to help cure what ails them – and at more affordable prices, to boot'.
Plunged
The Economist (Mar. 16) goes out of it's way to highlight what they believe is Britain's newest fad. Public baths are out (apparently) and community sauna's are in:
'Gabrielle Reason of the British Sauna Society reckons there are now 53 “authentic saunas” across Britain, a number which has doubled every year since 2018. Half of them are on the coast, where visitors can plunge into the sea and then return to the heat'.
Very authentic (from Finland):
Tack för en magisk firande kära vänner och speciellt @harscecilia & @taigatrashGott nytt år allihopa, önskar det kommer med många gemensamma äventyrer!
Oddish news (BBC, Mar. 17) concerning the Turkish baths of Harrogate (UK):
'Naked bathing has been banned at Harrogate's famous Turkish Baths after an incident of inappropriate behaviour was reported to police.The historic baths on Parliament Street holds single-sex sessions for men and women where swimwear is optional.Harrogate Borough Council, which runs the baths, said swimwear must now be worn at all times until further notice....The Turkish Baths is housed in a Grade II-listed building, which has been described as "the most fully-restored" Turkish bath in Britain.It opened in 1897 and has been managed by the council since the late 1990s'.
It's a pity no details are included.
It seems at odds that whole nations in Europe have no issues concerning the swimwear-free side of things (see following), let alone there being incidents (though this does seem more commonplace in swimwear-compulsory places ...).
Also note that same council had previously planned to shelve the swimwear-free sessions last year (BBC, Apr. 21) citing:
'However, covering up could be made compulsory because the authority said it would reflect greater "equality" in the modern world'.
Maybe UK is just behind the curve when it comes to human evolution.
On what seems the other side of the universe, German swimmers / bathers in public facilties are slowly arriving in the 21st century in which we all are equal.
A few cities have already come around to the conclusion that requiring all-others-but-men to dress up more than what is allowed for males is inherently discrimination.
Berlin now follows, so reports Taz (Mar. 8):
'In Berlins öffentlichen Bädern darf „oben ohne“ geschwommen werden. Für Sommer- wie Hallenbäder gilt das gleichermaßen. Das teilte die Pressestelle der Berliner Bäder-Betriebe (BBB) am Dienstag auf taz-Anfrage mit. Dass die Nachricht gerade jetzt publik wird, darf man als Hommage an den Frauentag am 8. März verstehen, der in der Hauptstadt ein gesetzlicher Feiertag ist'.
Apparently it was never against the rules, but society failed to observe these rights to equality; now all are in know, especially authorities.
For some unknown reason the news went worldwide, giving the chance to media to inform their own citizens, oblivious to this kind of progress. For instance, BBC (Mar. 9):
'Foreign visitors to Germany are often surprised - and sometimes downright disconcerted - by the sight of naked Germans frolicking in its lakes, snoring in its parks, or sweating in its saunas'.
Kudo's to the lady who was brave enough to bring this to the attention of authorities and put up with the hassle. And still waiting for apology. And currently is being attacked by those opposed (rbb24):
'Die "Oben-ohne"-Aktivistin Lotte Mies ist eigenen Angaben zufolge Anfeindungen und Drohungen ausgesetzt. Unter anderem drohten ihr Menschen in persönlichen Nachrichten mit Vergewaltigung ...'.
Finally, Businessinsider (Mar. 15) seems to have found content which might interest their readers and filed under careers:
'Felix Kühn manages the sauna at a "textile-free" spa in Berlin, Germany.This means guests must be naked to access its pool and sauna'.
Thnx for the explanation.
The article though is quite sensible / informative:
'It took two weeks for me to get used to nudity – not with the guests in the sauna, but with my colleagues as we changed in front of each other.But nudity is not a big deal here, especially as there are nude beaches in East Germany. My parents come from there, so I know that cultural identity. It's just natural and we approach each other as human beings: "This is my body, this is your body," we think.It's enjoyable to be around each other without any judgment. It's totally normal for me'.
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