You are here: sauna-temple

The problem is, I should be doing this every day.

Since Verona (and I haven't even blogged about that experience yet!) I've been in a few other places on the map, both literal and figurative/virtual. London, for example. And Upper Lusatia. That's where I experienced the following....and not for the first time...

Aufguss 
or Getting Naked and Very Hot with Strangers

As I was saying, I spent some time in Upper Lusatia recently (the English makes it sound sooo exotic) and enjoyed the pleasures of an extensive spa area or "wellness temple" as it was called in our hotel. In fact the central area was constructed to look like the Parthenon with a glassed-in central window. That was as far as the temple similarities went--unless you count the fireplace which maybe recalls eternal flames burning for some god or goddess or other. I may be wrong, but I don't think the temples of the ancient world were equipped with so many and varied upholstered surfaces for lolling about and recovering between rounds in the sauna. 

Avid sauneurs, we requested (or prayed to the gods for) an Aufguss. Our prayer was answered, and at the sound of a gong (really) we were summoned to the altar (Finnish sauna). So were some other people, the strangers I mentioned above. The "priest" (I don't know the word for the one who performs the "ceremony," but in my experience it has always been a man) was very young, a sort of Ganymede, his loins draped with a madras cloth. We, the worshipers, lounged on benches, loincloth-less. And then the fun began: Ganymede dips his ladle in citrus-scented water and sprinkles the sauna stones which sizzle and steam. He then whips out his....damp towel and wields it lasso-style above his head. I don't know what else he does with it because I've closed my eyes as steamy vapor descends on me in hot waves. I do know he then flaps the open towel multiple times in front of each of us--more hot-wave action--sending you into a full, pouring sweat. A bucket of crushed ice is passed around, rubbed on skin, held to the backs of necks and the whole procedure is repeated. After the second round we go out on the patio briefly for fresh air, then reenter the sauna for the third and last round. Followed up with a cool glass of citrus water. And a shower, of course. Cleansing. Delightful.