Scrub a dub dub- it's loz in a Turkish tub!

Hello friends and family, and welcome to this squeaky clean blog post. After a fabulous time rambling around Athens we boarded a plane and zoomed across the sea to turkey. I was super excited to come to Istanbul because I had heard such wonderful things about the place, and I was curious to visit a city that has a population the size of Australia (in excess of 20 million people all in the one city!).

On arrival we weren't disappointed- the drive from the airport to our accommodation took us along the water and past groups of high rise apartments that stretched to the horizon, bazaars full with all manner of fabulous things for sale and people absolutely everywhere. We dropped our bags in our room and immediately set out to explore and our wanderings took us to the blue mosque which is absolutely beautiful- so elegant and grand. We spent the rest of our first evening getting lost among the hustle and bustle- it wasn't hard to do but proved very enjoyable!

One of the things I have been most looking forward to about of our visit to Istanbul was a trip to a turkish bath house. I didn't really know much about what was exactly involved but had heard a lot of people say they were worth a visit so I figured I couldn't go home without experiencing one. I asked at the reception desk where a bath house was that Turkish people actually go to, rather than one set up just for tourists (nothing against tourists- I am after all one myself, I just fancied the more authentic experience). I got myself a driver and we headed across town to the gedikpasa bathhouse. The building was constructed in 1475 ( because aren't all bathrooms?!?) so simply being in a building that old was pretty cool. The building was a large domed one with stained glass windows in the roof allowing the sunlight to stream through. Very impressive indeed.

Upon entering I was taken to the female area of the building (the bathhouse is strictly sex segregated) and to my own little room with a bed and chest of draws and told to strip naked and wrap a pestemal (sarong type of wrap) around me. I must admit not being brave enough to strip entirely naked- I left my bonds undies in situ but otherwise followed the lady's instructions to the letter. From my little dressing room I was led into the main bath house chamber which was a very large room, the floors and walls made entirely of marble. Along the edge of the walls, spaced about 5 meters apart were deep marble basins full of warm water which was constantly flowing into the basins from taps, the water then overflowing onto the floor and draining through grates in the floor- was very cool to behold. In the centre of the room was a very large raised square of marble which I was told was heated from below and was where I would receive my wash and massage. The whole room was one big, wet and shiny regal bathroom. There were about 4 other customers in the room each being washed/massaged by their own attendant.

To start with I was led to one of the basins and thoroughly doused with warm water, head to toe. Then I was led to a door which led to a sauna where I steamed for a while, a rather glorious sensation after a long and cold winter!!

After I was well and truly toasty from the sauna I went to the big raised marble square in the centre of the room, laid down and my attendant proceeded to exfoliate me within an inch of my life. She had a rough exfoliating mitt that she proceeded to rub me harder than I thought was strictly necessary, though it did feel nice. She exfoliated everywhere- even places that I didn't know were your typical exfoliation zones, like under my chin, behind my ears and my stomach- oh well- when in turkey I suppose! 

I was then led back to the basin and doused again in the warm water then led again back to the big square stone and then the washing began. My attendant had a massive bowl of bubbly soap suds which she proceeded to fluff up even further with a cloth/towel thing and then dumped the whole bowl of bubbles unceremoniously on my back. I actually got the giggles at this stage because if you could have seen me all you could have made out was two eyes and a ponytail sticking out of the biggest pile of bubbles this earth has ever seen. I then had the bubbles scrubbed and rubbed all over- a rather odd experience really. I had never really taken the time to think about it but I don't think that since I was an infant I have ever been washed by anyone else- it's such a personal and habitual ritual , but when someone else is washing your feet, back, armpits and everything in between you really gain an appreciation for what is involved in the bathing process!!!

After I was suitably soaped I was again rinsed at the basins and led for the third time back to the square stone and massaged with all manner of oils. My attendant was very passionate about her work, and really gave my back a good rub, but it was a tad awkward being as she was naked (oh yes- did i mention before that of the 4 other women bathing and each of their attendants all were naked?!?) I was acutely aware of her breasts, stomach and goodness knows what else touching my back as I was being massaged- again giggles ensured!!

I was then doused down with water for the last time and taken this time to a small plunge pool filled with COLD water- a rather rude shock after such a long time being surrounded by lovely warm marble surfaces and water- but I plunged in then promptly made my way back to the sauna for a tad longer in the glorious warmth, before being given a lovely warm towel and being returned to my change room. The whole process took about one hour and 45 minutes and I'll tell you what- excessive amounts of large Turkish woman's flesh touching aside, I have never felt so clean or relaxed in my life! A very different but fabulous experience especially after such a long time backpacking, it was glorious to have a session of pure indulgence and luxury- a must for anyone visiting turkey!!
Love
Lauren the luxurious bather