Turkish baths. Two historic baths in old city, Cemberlitads and Cagaloglu (separate, identical sections for men and women) are used to catering to foreign tourist Near the bazarre. Wonderful experience, $45. My husband and I both enjoyed a bath.
Towels hanging over railing in men's area.
My experience started at a large, round marble slab (heated) which was under enormous stained-glass skylight. I laid naked on it for 20 minutes. Ancient fountains around outside.
Young woman wearing only thong threw buckets of warm water on me. Said, “Flip”. I flipped and got a bucket on my front side.
She scrubbed me with a loufa and a mud mixture, under arms, everywhere. Then more buckets of water, more flipping.
All this water came from the fountains around the outside of the room.
Then she washed me with suds. I was covered in three feet of suds. She continued saying, “Flip”; Pulled my arms up and washed some more.
Buckets and buckets of cold water, warm water, hot water. Then she washed my hair.
All this while I was lying on the marble slab. There were two other women on the slab getting the same treatment. I knew what to expect because they were about five minutes ahead of me. I just followed their lead.
Then 45 minutes on a massage table getting oil massage. My newly clean hair quickly became drenched in oil.
This heavenly experience lasted over two hours.
I showered, dressed and crawled out too weak and relaxed to stand. My husband’s experience was similar. We quickly hopped on the streetcar and went back to hotel for nap.
Outside of building was slum-like. We would never have entered if it had not been recommended in many books.
Pictures from the Cemberlitas Turkish Bath brochure:
