40 37.167N 028 57.240E A day at the Baths
Pipedream
Sun 29 May 2011 07:12
Lots of regular guys in there and for only 5 TL. You change shoes to sandals and lock up your valuables in the first room. The second one is more or less a locker room where most of the guys put on swim trunks... then the third chamber all marble... heated slab in the center of the room to sit on and a low marble bench to sit on with two large marble basins to mix your very very hot and cold wash water against the wall. You sit beside the bowl and splash out water with a large Frisbee type bowl. The fourth chamber is again all marble with a deep kiddy pool in the center and lots of large basins around against the walls. Even hotter in number four. After an initial wash you went into the center pool which was really really hot. I felt like I was being scalded at first but I was right on the verge or not being able to stand it. Nothing was going to grow in water this hot... I hope.
Everyone did a series of in and outs washing with soap and shampoo at the basins around the outer wall. The whole thing lasted maybe an hour and a half. Then out to the third chamber to cool down and shoot the breeze with everyone else. I was asked if we have anything like this in America. I told them we had hot tubs which were used mostly privately at home but nothing approaching the communal washing and soaking as in Turkey.
Afterwards we retired to the court yard where I met up again with Katie. We all had cay and rolls while we cooled down outside. Katie reported a similar set up on the women's side only a bit more run down. Tamer told me there has been a hamam on this site for over 1000 years. The hamam at the Bodrum castle museum (now an exhibit) was set up almost the same as this one. I asked how often they did this and Tamer said he came whenever he could get a ride. With all the packed bus rides we have taken in Turkey, I am happy this custom is still thriving.