Turkish Delight

I've spent the morning reminiscing about my trip to Europe in July/August of 2012.  I cannot believe it was 18 months ago I was travelling with my friend Gaby and enjoying the delights and sights of so much around UK, Europe, Istanbul, The Greek Islands and - at the end - a few days in Qatar before flying home.  

Karen and Gaby at Athens Airport heading to Qatar

I want to do it all AGAIN!!!  Travelling is so good for the soul - it really shows you what 'stuff' you are made of and gives you so many gifts on so many levels: history, art, culture, experience, breathtaking views, amazing architecture; the list goes on and on and on.  

Blue Mosque

One of those life experiences we were told we MUST do when we got to Istanbul was to book in for a Turkish Bath. Like the good little Australian Tourists we were, Gaby and I sought out a fabulous Turkish Bath Spa near the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia . We found AyaSofya and booked our much anticipated
afternoon of pampering for day 2 in Istanbul.  We had NO idea what we were letting ourselves in for or what we were about to experience!!

Day 2 dawned with much excitement as we had a planned to visit the Grand Bazaar that morning.  What an amazing, overwhelming place it is. You know it's bad when a serial shopper like me thinks, "get me out of here there is too much to choose from I can't choose!" 

Grand Bazzar Istanbul

At the entrance of the Grand Bazaar

We then lunched near the Hagia Sophia, enjoying the busy surrounds, people watching the masses milling between there and the Blue Mosque, killing time till our Turkish Bath appointment at 3 p.m. 

Lunch spot near Hagia Sofia

We arrived at AyaSofya, were given our spa packs, pointed towards the wooden changing rooms, asked to get changed and to wait for our beauty therapist to arrive.  Gaby asked where the ladies room was as I went to the changing rooms and when she returned, said... "Karen, I think we have to get naked, I just saw women from 20's t0 90's in there all butt naked having their treatments."  

AyaSofya Spa

We both looked at each other in silent amazement, then burst out laughing.  Now if you know my mate Gaby she is body beautiful and has not a lump or bump on her body that she needs to worry about - however, she is VERY shy and self conscious.  Me on the other hand.. well, while I am not shy, I do have lots of lumps, bumps, curves and wobbly bits that I was not quite sure I wanted to be on display to all and sundry in a Turkish Spa Bath surrounded by strangers!! 

Where we waited for our therapists and poured water on our bodies 

That being the case, like a couple of giggling teenagers, we asked the reception ladies if it was alright for us to leave our knickers on.  Laughing they said of course and asked if it was our first time! Feeling a LITTLE better, we followed a therapist through to the marble bathing area.  We were told to sit in one of the many alcoves that had two lovely sink areas with cool water and given a bowl with which to pour the water from the sinks over our bodies.  We did as we were told, trying very hard not to go into fits of giggles again. Then came our therapists.  Oh my word there was NO way we could contain the laughter now.  

Bathing Area 

Moving us through to another bathing area they at first sat us on a marble bench and promptly started throwing buckets of water over our heads and bodies; washing us from top to bottom - 
getting under our arms, 
boobs, under the belly, in 
between the thighs - you name it they just scrubbed haha!!  

Next it was head to toe exfoliation time!!  I've never had gritty exfoliator soap in so many hidden body places in my life before. We were then asked to stand up and put our arms out to the sides, like a crucifix stance, while we were rinsed off.  Even the therapists were laughing at our nervous laughter, talking between themselves, realising we were newbies on the Turkish Bath scene.  Once the therapist was satisfied that every layer of dead skin was off our legs, feet, butt, stomach, chest, back, arms and face they took us through to what I call the Butchers Block. 

Butchers Block

The Butchers Block was a massive marble stone in the middle of a large marble room that we had to lie down on our backs naked as a jaybird and wait for the next treatment which was a GODSEND. 

Love them Bubbles!!

The GODSEND came in the form of a pillow case full of bubbles  that covered our entire front bodies up to our neck. Not one centimetre of nakedness on show anymore, however the scrubbing of every nook and cranny on my body had to be experienced to believe it.  I almost squealed when she got to between my thighs!!  Time to turn over for another pillow case of bubbles on our back side to repeat the process. 

Another trip back to the bathing area to have our hair washed and conditioned, more gaspingly COLD water thrown over us, then we were handed a very welcome big bath towel and taken to massage rooms for our full body massage.  At last some privacy!  

By the end of this 2 hour extravaganza our bodies and my nooks and crannies were the shiniest and most vibrant they'd ever been.  We were positively glowing!

The fact that we were like lambs led to the slaughter in this travel experience made it all the more funny to talk about later. We were so surprised and impressed at the comfort and ease with which the Turkish ladies handled being totally naked in front of each other.   Apparently it is run of the mill normality for them to have a Turkish bath at LEAST once a week!  Not quite sure if I could cope with that many, but I certainly did enjoy the benefits of baby soft, glowing skin and a totally cleansed, relaxed body afterwards.  

Hagia Sofia

If you ever find yourself in Istanbul, you MUST get a Turkish Bath at the AyaSofya Spa - but now at least you are forewarned! Check out their website and choose your treatment: Aya Sofya Spa, Istanbul