TURKISH BATH (HAMAN)

 

The tradition of the Turkish Bath extends far back, to a time before Turks had reached Anatolia. When the Turks arrived in Anatolia, they brought with them one bathing tradition, and were confronted with another, that of Romans and Byzantines, with certain local variants. The traditions merged, and with the addition of the Moslem concern for cleanliness and its concomitant respect for the uses of water, there arose an entirely new concept, that of the Turkish Bath. In time it became an institution, with its system of ineradicable customs..

One of the truly unmissable experiences of a trip to Turkey is a visit to a hamam. So what happens in a Hamam? Let us explain you this enjoyable process.. Traditional Turkish baths have separate sections for women and men, or have different visiting times or days for women and men. Women attend to women and men attend to men unless a mixed group rents the whole bath. Upon entering a Hamam, you will be in the hall called Camekan, where refreshments are available. Small changing rooms generally surround this central area of relaxation. There may also be a marble fountain. You will be provided with a towel and a "Pestemal" which is a large fringed garment, normally striped or checked and made of cotton that you wrap around your body. In traditional baths the Pestemal is normally worn during the whole bathing process, but there may be nudity especially in the women's section. Those who are particularly modest should bring a bathing suit. You will be also provided a safe box to leave your valuables, the key of which you can put on your wrist or round your ankle and keep with you throughout the bath. Then you continue through a pair of increasingly hotter rooms. The first, known as the sogukluk (cold room), has showers and toilets and is used for cooling down at the end of your session. Next is the hararet (hot room), a steamy and softly lit room with marble washbasins along the sides. You can douse yourself by scooping water up from one of the basins with a copper bowl. In the middle of the room is the göbektasi, a marble platform heated by furnaces below and usually covered with reclining bodies. This is where, if you decide to take your chances, a traditional Turkish massage will be "administered."
The bath attendant (known as a natır in a women’s bath and a tellak in the male establishment), will first scrub you down with a rough, loofa-like sponge known as a kese. Be prepared to lose several layers of dead skin. Once you're scrubbed, the masseur will soap you up into a frothy lather, rinse you off, and then conduct what will probably be the most vigorous massage you'll ever receive. Speak up if you want your masseuse to ease up. Once you've been worked over, you can relax (and recover) on the göbektasi before you have your last shower. Then you are given fresh towels and again brought to Soğukluk (the cool room) to rest, dry off, drink tea, coffee or refreshments and socialize with other "Hamamers".
You may stay in the hamam as long as you like, but generally an hour is enough. Make sure that you get plenty of fluids and let yourself cool down before going outside.
You will be driven back to your hotel after that great experience…
The rate for the Hamam experience is 25 Euro per person, the rate includes the entrance fee, scrub and massage services and the round trip transfers.


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