Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Bathing-Bathing in Baden-Baden


Living in Germany has broadened my horizons in such a way that I now found myself trying things that would have never interested me before. I'm more of a risk-taker now than I have ever been. I guess that when everything around you is brand new you either face life with an open mind or sink. So, when I read about Baden-Baden (literally, bathing-bathing), a spa town built on top of thermal springs in  southern Germany, I only hesitated briefly before booking. This is not the type of trip that would have appealed to me before I became a pseudo-European. However, now that I've discovered the lavishness involved in spas here, I had my bags packed early.

Baden-Baden resembles a Somerset Mall minus the roof. Perfectly manicured and brimming with uber-expensive shopping, it is the former playground for the German and Russian elite. It is small, yet elegant and although many steps outside our norm, Baden-Baden was a fantastic experience.

We reached the city by train in the evening. Reg's suggestion to take a detour from dropping our bags at the hotel to go straight to the spa was well received by me. We had a thirty-minute window to reach the spa from the train before they admitted their last guests for the night. We made it with three minutes to spare.



Welcome to Caracalla Therme: a big, refreshing glass of relaxation--with a splash of spring break. Caracalla is a palace of warm and hot pools, saunas, damp baths, and relaxed folks. It's laid back and comfortable and our three-hour limit expired far too soon.



Caracalla's big brother, Freidrichsbad, stands handsomely 100 meters from Caracalla. It is the more mature, no nonsense brother. There is no spring break mixed in this stately glass of relaxation. Just the water, you, and your past.


Friedrichsbad proves its mature nature with its superior organization. Where Caracalla is essentially a free-for-all, your time at Friedrichsbad is segmented into stations.



These are the first of 17 stations. They include multiple showers, both warm and cold, saunas, pools, whirlpools, and soap-brush massages. I've never felt so clean. The final two stations allow you to lather yourself up with lotion and be wrapped into a warm-blanket coccoon by an attendant and relax as long as you choose, just you and your happy thoughts. I choose forever. Bliss.


Although the baths alone warrant a trip to Baden-Baden, it is equally as famous for its casino.

A coat and tie are mandatory in this prestigious 150-year old playing hall. I watched the subdued high roller scene for a bit and then wandered around to find the real action--dime slots.

Elegant and stately Baden-Baden served to be a perfect relaxation spot...until the 7:15am train back to Frankfurt. Auf wiedersehen, baths...Guten morgen, real world.

 
















3 comments:

  1. Sold!! How soon can I come?? It sounds like it would be a bit out of my comfort zone, but the pictures and your review makes it sound like something I could surely get used to. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey, this brings back memories... I totally remember that exact same menu with all the times and water temperatures... and I remember the last part when I was all rolled up I fell asleep and woke up to a big German woman shaking me awake. Glad you guys got to enjoy it! Love you! -Kris

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am so glad you guys are enjoying your time in Germany! It sounds as though each place is more fabulous than the last. I am so impressed with your eye for photography and of course your writing is amazing! I love and miss you guys. oxxo

    Jen

    ReplyDelete