Hammam - Oh my! - Sarah

I can't imagine a better fırst day!

However, for me at least it got off to a bumpy start-- new travel alarms should be tested once before you use it! I was very embarrassed but my host family was gracious.

The brekky was amaziıng-- cheeses, olives, meats, vegetables, and much much more! And try to tell a Turk you are full-- it takes a LOT of convincing! :)

After breakfast, Vivian and Erin and their host families joined us for our very first Turkish coffees before we all met up with Katy and Dave et al next to Sapanca Lake. We enjoyed a beautiful, sunny Sunday as we had even more tea and coffee while getting to know everyone's host families.

Next, it was time for quite a treat! We went to Güral Sapanca-- an AMAZING fıve star hotel and spa. It ıs owned by the same people that make the famous Kütahya Porselen. We were instantly surrounded by beautiful tea sets and tiles-- it did not take long for us to figure out how these stunning and intricate designs earned their reputation!

Just when we thought it could not get any better, we left for the spa area! While the hotel is among several of the best five star resorts, the spa is rated #1 in ALL of Turkey-- how lucky are we?!

Like the rest of the hotel, the spa was opulent, stylish and visually amazing-- but it was the treatment that really blew us away!

First we went to a large, sunlit pool with every type of jet imaginable. There were bubble jets for your back, feet, calves, shoulders, whole body and so on! There were even two waterfalls that you could stand under and let the splash massage your neck, scalp, head and shoulders.

Next-- HAMMAM-- the Turkish Bath!!!!!

You start by going into a warm room and rinsing yourself with pans of warm water. The room is hot and steamy as well and your muscles ınstantly begin to feel better. I have not felt this tension free in years!

Next, you lay on a warm marble platform with your head and feet elevated. An attendant begins by again rinsing and splashing hot water all over your body.

Next, they exfolıate you with a hand mitt and scrub and massage your entire body. Ahhh.

Now it's time for the bubble pillow! It looks like a towel and the attendant flips it through the air like filling a pillowcase with air. The entire puff is actually rich, luxuriant bubbles that they then squeeze off the towel onto your body-- it feels like foamy silk!

Again, the attendant washes and massages your body--paying attention to every single muscle: even fıngers, toes, forehead and stomach. Soooooo nice!

Finally, they wash your hair and massage your scalp and face again.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.................................

The relaxation is so deep and complete there are no words to do it justice!

After some time relaxing and lounging in the anteroom in large, fluffy towels we decided to be adventurous and experiment with the other treatments. There were:

Adventure Showers: sound, light, smells, varying temperatures and water pressures-- always a surprise!

Shock Showers: Pouring a bucket of icy water all over yourself.

Fınnish Bath: A sauna- complete with window to the heavenly grounds and aromatherapy steam.

Ice Rain: Ice that rains and collects ın a stand for you to rub on your body- brrr!

To end the perfect day, we went to a BBQ at Katy's host famıly's house-- complete with all our family and friends. What a feast! All the families brought delicious dishes-- spectacular Turkish food!

We tried everything including Raki-- the (in)famous national drink!

Finally, it was time to head home-- tired and blissful. :)