The Hamam

I had been told by the tour operator to go to the Hamam (Turkish Bath) on the 1st day. I organised a driver (Durali) and made sure he understood that I wanted a women only Hamam. True to his word he took me to one in town where the men go in one side and the women in the other. It was strange to say the least. A tiled Domed room with a huge hot slab in the centre. You undress and they give you a sarong type item. They pour water on the hot slab, water on you and throw the sarong on to the hot slab and then you lie on it for about 20 mins. Very much the feeling of a sauna/steam room. Then a woman who would put Mike Tyson to shame proceeded to rub me down "everywhere" with a rough loofah type glove. Your skin is litterally SCRUBBED off you. Then they use a huge pillow case with holes in it and create an avalanche of bubbles all over your body. Then they rinse you off standing up. They alternate between hot and cold water ....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
Then you are wrapped in a towel and sat in a "chatting" room with all the other ladies (except they just smile at me and talk to each other). I am given apple Tea.
Then they take a pot of grey mud and paint it on my face with a paint brush! I am wondering with trepidation what happens next?? You must bear in mind that no-one is speaking to me, just shoving me here there and everywhere with a smile! Finally, when my body has stopped throbbing I am taken for an oil massage, where Mike Tysons sister proceeds to take me through 10 rounds. All I am prepared to say it was a wonderful experience and I slept like a log that night..... hee hee