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hamam
A Visit to a Turkish Hamam.
I have visited several hamams over the years, both in Turkey and elsewhere. All had been an ‘experience’ but not always one I would rush to repeat!
Here in Kaş a visiting friend strongly recommended the hamam at the Hera Hotel. Feeling the need for a good back massage, I went along, albeit with the usual insecurities associated with such an experience:- would my Turkish be sufficient for me to understand what was going on? what should I wear? would the massage be too strong and damage my back? would there be men in the hamam? etc.
I need not have worried. First of all the hamam room itself is attractive, spacious and clean, offering plenty of space to sit and sluice yourself with water or whatever else you might want to do. Esme, the wife of the manager, and in charge of the hamam, is experienced, professional and efficient. She is blessed with an open friendly manner that immediately put me at my ease as she took charge and led me through the process – ex-foliation, delicious soapy massage and a thorough dousing afterwards. She immediately spotted the tension in my shoulders and recommended a ‘sert’ (hard) massage after the hamam.
It was agreed that her husband, Işmail, would massage my back, which he did very professionally. I felt an immediate improvement in the shoulder tension I had been experiencing, and, as advised, returned for several more treatments, after which I felt like a new woman!!
The atmosphere in this particular hamam is welcoming and relaxed. Cups of tea and a chat are always on offer! The staff are friendly and professional. The clients are a mixture of locals and visitors – men and women, although on the occasions I have visited, I have never ‘shared’ the hamam with a man and I have often had it exclusively to myself! I have taken several friends along – usually it has been their first visit to a hamam, and they have all thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
I visit fairly regularly for a back massage to keep my shoulder tension ‘under control’. The massage itself takes around half an hour, although with cups of tea and a chat, the visit often lasts longer!!
If I am feeling like spoiling myself, or if I have a friend visiting, I will go for the full treatment – 60TL well spent, if you ask me!!!
Kate
Toope Kaş -