Hot Springs: Where People Get Naked!
Written: Nov 11 '00 (Updated Feb 22 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Extremely relaxing, very affordable
Cons: Some may be uncomfortable getting their gear off in front of others
The Bottom Line: I highly recommend a visit to Hot Springs and a trip to the baths. Your body and soul will thank you for it.
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| Nathanael73's Full Review: Hot Springs National Park |
This is the second-half of a two-part review. The first half is entitled A Mecca For Sensual Delights.
People have been going to Hot Springs for well over a hundred years to "take the baths". Located in the beautiful Ouachita Mountains, the city of Hot Springs sprung-up for one reason only - steaming hot natural spring waters bubble out of the ground at an average temperature of 129 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the therapeutic effects of these waters, 47 or so of the springs were tapped and resorts and hotels built atop of them, and sore and tired souls came from long distances to be healed, or at the least, relax a little.
My wife and I ventured to Hot Springs for our first anniversary, as those of you who have read the first part of this review know. I have already talked about our hotel and some of the attractions, so now onward to the main event.
We arrived at the Arlington Hotel on a Sunday morning for our 9.30 appointment. We had opted to take the baths, but not get a massage, as we would be doing that the next day. It cost us $16.50 each to take the baths. We deposited our valuables in a safety-deposit box at the front counter then headed through separate doors marked "Ladies" and "Gentlemen."
I found myself in a large white room with tiled floors and a number of beds on which men lay wrapped in white sheets. An attendant ushered me into a change room and instructed me to remove all my clothes. I did so, and emerged in all my naked glory to be wrapped in a large white sheet, Caesar-style. Feeling quite regal, I padded across the floor in his wake to a private room containing a very large white bath. I was told to hand him the sheet and step in to the bath. At the far end of the bath a large device looking suspiciously like an outboard motor began to churn up the water. My attendant then turned on the taps and filled the bath with steaming hot spring water, and passed me a cup of the water to drink. Sipping hot water is not something I usually do, but it was surprisingly refreshing. The attendant instructed me to stretch out and relax and said he would check on me in a few minutes.
So, I stretched out and enjoyed the hot spa. I especially enjoyed the size of the bath. Being quite tall, I had never before been able to stretch out in a bath. Usually I have to sit with my knees up around my ears. I relaxed so thoroughly that when the attendant returned and spoke my name I almost jumped out of the bath! He was armed with a loofa mitt and preceded to scrub my back and then my legs. It felt fantastic, though I was a little uncomfortable being scrubbed by another male. He was very professional though.
After another ten minutes in the bath, I was given a towel to wrap around my Adonis-like body, and preceded to phase two - the sauna. A couple of other guys were sitting in there already, with towels over their heads. My attendant handed me a second towel, and I too took my place on the wooden bench and donned the strange headgear. I soon found that it made breathing a lot easier. The sauna was too hot for me, and I was relieved when I was summoned again about five minutes later.
Phase three was to be wrapped in a white sheet like a mummy, have hot towels place under my lower back, and another around my neck. I then lay back on the bed for about twenty minutes. It was incredibly relaxing. I could have happily stayed there for the rest of my life. But alas, I had to move on to phase four, the needle shower.
While it may sound painful, the needle shower is anything but. Instead of the water coming out of a showerhead located above one's head, or in my case, somewhere behind my back, the water shoots out of little nozzles on all sides between knee and shoulder height. The water was cool, intended to revive one after all the relaxation of phase three.
Stepping out of the shower I was instructed to sit on a bench with a towel over my family jewels. My attendant then gave me a thorough rubdown with dry towels. At this point one could either proceed to the massage table or get dressed. I had opted to end the experience at this point, so I got dressed, collected my valuables, and ducked back in to the bath area to tip my attendant, which is expected and deserved.
My wife informed me that she had the same treatment, with the exception that the sauna was substituted for a sitz bath, which basically consists of placing one's rear-end in steaming hot water for a few minutes. She decided that if wasn't for her.
The next day we took the baths again at our hotel, the Downtowner Hotel and Spa. The procedure was exactly the same. The baths were a little smaller however, and the facilities visibly less well maintained. This time I opted for the massage. It was a full body massage, which means they rub everything but you know what! It was my first time, and it was wonderful. I would do it everyday if I could. My masseuse, William, was remarkably strong. At times he slapped me so hard that I struggled for breath, but it felt surprisingly good.
If you decide to take the baths, I recommend the Arlington Hotel. It is a bargain for $16.50. A massage will run you an extra $25.
In conclusion, I highly recommend a visit to Hot Springs and a trip to the baths. Your body and soul will thank you for it.
Recommended:
Yes
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Nathanael73
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Location: Michigan
Reviews written: 85
Trusted by: 89 members
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