tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23244044946180167032024-03-05T12:27:10.884-06:00Endogenous Mythopoeiacreating real life from the inside out
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-69069568937612237162017-02-15T08:01:00.001-06:002017-02-15T08:02:44.987-06:00Sometimes Starting Isn't GlamorousSometimes you start in the middle of dull winter, with the rind of old snow holding down every edge. Sometimes you don't really have a plan, just a need. Sometimes you start from a jittery kind of internal pressure that's hard to articulate, but sets your feet moving. Sometimes the start of something, maybe even something important, arrives at a walking pace.<br />
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Sometimes you start an adventure from someplace like the Quad Cities; which sounds like a place in a superhero origin story, but is in fact a snug little lichen hugging the crevasses of an intersection of historic travel. It's got that river town once-was grandeur in it's neighborhoods, and that unselfconscious cozy Midwest practicality. A strangely large number of chiropractic schools and excellent antique shops. Exactly one perfect used bookstore. In summertime it's probably got a relaxed bustle to it's multiplied Main Streets, but in winter it's mostly made of turned-up collars.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa9WXINCoCr5tIl6Hit-RREKyG1O2GPRPvD1I4TXfQZDxBbhZMVWEZdfs55ARpir8-k45fCuKfJc5dzq6QyyzfRle28Jea12__YBouroe_cHezTdWkPB74r1kD4lFKquV88EiU86yqRqd/s1600/IMAG0113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa9WXINCoCr5tIl6Hit-RREKyG1O2GPRPvD1I4TXfQZDxBbhZMVWEZdfs55ARpir8-k45fCuKfJc5dzq6QyyzfRle28Jea12__YBouroe_cHezTdWkPB74r1kD4lFKquV88EiU86yqRqd/s320/IMAG0113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The small city patterns of the Quad Cities look very familiar, but it is strung on a lattice of movement. Mighty river branching, major and minor highways crossing -- actually, on reflection, it's a perfect launch pad.<br />
<br />Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-47154653498126357892016-09-20T09:33:00.001-05:002016-09-20T10:48:32.852-05:00Archive: Common Sense Sun Protection<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: molengo; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">In addition to teaching workshops and writing pamphlets at <a href="http://www.communitypharmacy.coop/" style="color: #66cccc; text-decoration: none;">Community Pharmacy</a>, I occasionally had the opportunity to publish articles about conscious consumerism and self health care in their bi-monthly newsletter, <b>Infused</b>. This article is updated from one published in May </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: molengo; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 20.79px;">2012.</i><br />
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Sunshine is wonderful! Every year, we see how sunshine coaxes free the strong grip of Wisconsin winters, urging leaves and flowers to open into the softness of spring. It keeps right shining, heating our lakes and streets into steamy summers. We know that sunshine brings us health, too: converting the skin’s cholesterol into Vitamin D, a powerful antioxidant; synchronizing the body’s internal clock for optimum altertness and sleep; lifting the mood from depressed states like Seasonal Affective Disorder. And, even without looking at the science behind the benefits of sunshine, we know that spending time outdoors in warm weather, bathing in the warmth and light from the sun <i>feels</i> <i>good</i>.<br />
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Idyllic as sunshine can be, it is also this planet's greatest energy and radiation source, and it's possible to overexpose ourselves. Depleted ozone and air pollution create a greater risk for damaging sun exposure, and skin cancer rates are on the rise around the world. That’s no reason to avoid enjoying beautiful weather, but common sense places sun protection as another valid facet of self health care.</div>
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<b>THE SUN & YOU</b></div>
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<b>The Sun</b> is a star at the center of our solar system. It bathes our planet in a spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, including <b>Visible</b> light (sunshine), <b>Infrared</b> rays (accounting for up to 50% of our planet’s heat) and <b>Ultraviolet rays (UVR.)</b> This radiation is vital to life on our planet, utilized in some way by almost every organism.</div>
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<ul>
<li><b>Ultraviolet A (UVA)</b> rays (used in tanning beds) trigger melanin production in the skin without burning. However, studies show that UVA rays deeply penetrate the skin, and can ultimately cause long-term skin damage. UVA rays may also enhance UVB ray cancer-causing potential and suppress the immune system. UVA rays pass through cloud cover and most glass.</li>
<li><b>Ultraviolet B (UVB)</b> rays are the burning and tanning rays, which are generally associated with skin cancer. UVB is filtered out by most glass used in building and car windows.</li>
<li><b>Ultraviolet C (UVC)</b> rays are germicidal, and are largely filtered out by the ozone layer of the atmosphere; relatively little reaches the planet's surface.</li>
</ul>
There are many strategies for protecting ourselves from overexposure to the sun's UV. You may choose to avoid sunlight, especially at peak hours of intensity (usually 10am-2pm.) You may wear clothes that fully cover your skin, and even seek out specifically UV-blocking materials. Many people choose to enjoy sun exposure in moderation, and use a sunscreen lotion to protect their skin from absorbing too much UV. The huge range of sunscreen products can make this a daunting choice. Worse, the sunscreen industry has not done an excellent job explaining how to use their products most effectively. Investigating the labels and ingredients of sunscreens demystifies this overcomplicated products, and improves our ability to look after our wellbeing.<br />
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<b>SPF IS ONLY ABOUT SUNBURN</b></div>
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A sunscreen lotion’s <b>SPF rating only indicates how long the product can protect your skin from UVB</b>, the “sunburn rays.” Most people will see their skin sunburned if they stay out in the sunshine, unprotected, for about 15 minutes (though the skin may not feel sunburned for 2-4 hours, or look burned for up to 24). Multiply that time – the time it takes to get a “sunburning dose” of UV radiation – by your sunscreen’s SPF to get an idea of how long that product can protect you from sunburn. For instance, an SPF 15 sunscreen will give you (if you use it correctly – more on that below) 15 x 15 minutes = 3.75 hours (225 minutes) of safe play time to in the sunshine.</div>
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Sunscreens with extremely high SPF ratings have recently appeared on the market, creating some confusion about the efficacy of common SPF numbers. While it’s possible that these sunscreens could provide protection for a greater length of time if properly applied, you would be hard-pressed to find the 23.5 hours of sunshine for the protection implied in a SPF 95+ sunscreen! Higher SPF ratings do technically mean greater protection (SPF 15 sunscreens usually test at 93-95% protection, while SPF 30 offer 96-97%), but the new trend of extremely high SPFs is more about marketing than it is about offering a higher quality product. Most dermatologists advise people to wear SPF 25-30 for daily protection.</div>
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While UVA doesn't cause sunburns, we know it does damage skin, contributing to skin cancer, oxidation, and wrinkling. The FDA recently revised its expectations of sunscreen labeling to include UVA protection, in addition to the familiar SPF rating. Sunscreens with the phrase '<b>Broad Spectrum</b>' on their labels meet the FDA's standards for UVA protection.</div>
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<b>USE PLENTY OF SUNSCREEN</b></div>
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Sunscreen can only protect the skin it is covering; for your entire body to be protected, your entire body must be covered with sunscreen. In order to offer optimal protection, a sunscreen must be applied liberally, and reapplied often in order to maintain its protective value. For most of us, this means using a lot more sunscreen than we are used to! Industry studies have shown that, <b>for anyone wearing swim trunks or bikini swimsuits, at least 3 Tablespoons (1.5oz.) should be used</b> per application (1 teaspoon of that should be applied to the face and neck)</div>
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<b>REAPPLY OFTEN</b></div>
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Lotions don’t last forever. Once applied to the skin, lotions are generally absorbed, worn or washed off, or evaporate in about two hours. This includes sunscreen lotions. Sunscreens also need to be applied well in advance of sun exposure. For optimal protection, <b>apply sunscreen around 30 minutes before</b> you leave the house. This gives the active ingredients a chance to bind to your skin and establish a protective layer. To maintain the coating of sunscreen necessary to protect the skin, <b>reapply (with another 1.5 ounces!) every 90 minutes</b>. If you are swimming or sweating heavily, you’ll want to reapply more often. Yes, this means you will use up an entire tube of SPF 15 when you go to the beach for the afternoon! Using <b>enough sunscreen in each reapplication</b> is the only way to maintain the full promised protection of your sunscreen.</div>
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<b>CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES</b></div>
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Once you know a bit about the ways sunscreens work, when to use them, and how to make them work most effectively; you get to choose how sunscreening products can best serve you. Do you want to use sunscreen everyday, or just when you are going out for an afternoon in the sunshine? You also get to make decisions about active sunscreen ingredients and lotion base ingredients. It can seem like a complicated choice. Identifying your personal priorities and letting them guide your product choices is a skillful way of becoming a conscious consumer.</div>
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<b>ACTIVE INGREDIENTS</b></div>
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Sunscreens are basically body lotions which contain key ingredients that can either absorb or deflect UV radiation (UVR) in an effort to protect your skin from sun exposure. The most common conventional active ingredients are <b>synthetic</b>, or <b>chemical</b>, compounds which absorb UVR. These have recently been called into question by independent studies. Many chemical sunscreen active ingredients which are now considered photocarcinogens – substances that ironically break down on exposure to sunlight, damaging DNA in the process. Of particular worry are the -benzone and PABA families. The safest chemical active ingredients include the -cinnamate family and ecamsule, which cannot significantly penetrate the skin.</div>
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<ul>
<li><i>Avobenzone</i> – UV absorber, May degrade when significantly exposed to light, Suspected photocarcinogen (has a destructive effect on DNA when exposed to light)</li>
<li><i>Oxybenzone & Dioxybenzone</i> – UV absorber, Suspected photocarcinogic</li>
<li><i>PABA</i> – UV absorber, Increases the formation of a particular DNA defect in human cells, thus increasing the risk of skin cancer</li>
<li><i>Padimate-O</i> – UV absorber, PABA-derivative, suspected photocarcinogen</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b>Mineral</b>, or <b>physical</b>, sunscreen ingredients<b> </b>– which deflect UVR away from the skin – are inherently broad-spectrum protectors, are extremely stable, and come with a minimal risk of causing skin irritations (as they cannot generally penetrate the skin). In the past, mineral sunscreens were notorious for their visible whitening effect when applied to the skin, but current formulas use finely micronized minerals (very small particles), which greatly reduces the products’ opacity as it sets into the skin; these sunscreens should become invisible 10-30 minutes after application.</div>
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All mineral content in skin care formulas is technically “micronized” <i>(</i>another word for powdered.) Recent concern for safety of extremely fine particles (“nanoparticles”) has to do with minerals powdered to such a degree they can actually penetrate the skin. Particles smaller than 70 nanometers can be absorbed by lung aveoli if inhaled (more an issue in cosmetic powders than sunscreen lotions. Particled micronized to smaller than 50 nanometer can be absorbed into cells. Once absorbed, studies show these nanominerals may act as carcinogens in the body.<br />
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<b>SUNSCREEN LOTION BASE</b></div>
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Active ingredients may make the protection, but the majority of our experience of a sunscreen is in the lotion we spread on our skin several times a day. Sunscreen lotions, like body lotions, come in many different densities, scents and ingredients profiles. Some are thick to withstand sweating, some set to a matte finish to improve comfort in warm weather. They come in a range of fragrances; from floral to tropical fruit to deliberately unscented. If you are concerned with skin allergies or chemical sensitivities, you can find sunscreens without synthetic filler ingredients or preservatives. Read labels, try testers, ask the opinions of your friendly neighborhood body care mavens! Choosing a sunscreen with a lotion base you love is key to regular sunscreen use.</div>
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Biodegradable sunscreen products became an important focus of the sunscreen industry as environmental organizations identified common sunscreen ingredients to be a major cause of recent coral reef and aquatic ecosystem degradation. To avoid contributing to this type of pollution, choose sunscreens made without synthetic or petroleum ingredients – particularly preservatives such as -parabens, camphor ingredients, or active ingredients in the -cinnamate and -benzone families.</div>
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<b>GOOD SENSE</b></div>
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Spending time outdoors is good for the body, mind and heart. Using sunscreen is just one way to keep ourselves safe and healthy over the summer season. We can also support our sun-worshipping hours by staying well hydrated and drinking water every day. Well-hydrated cells are more resistant to damage. Eat the summer's harvest of antioxidant-rich fresh veggies and fruits, especially those containing high levels of lycopene like tomatoes, kale and spinach. These can help repair cellular damage from radiation and may protect the skin from burning easily. Eating omega 3-rich foods like wild-caught ocean fish reduces inflammation in the body, and may help the skin heal from sunburn more quickly.</div>
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Navigating the sunscreen industry is complicated by marketing misinformation and frequently evolving research results. Common sense, critical thinking and attentive label reading are the hallmarks of conscious consumers. This summer, the big themes for safety in the sunshine to remember are: liberal use of sunscreen, regular reapplication, and keeping an eye on the active ingredients we choose. And don’t forget the picnic blanket! </div>
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Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-75526136137233360232016-09-19T09:39:00.000-05:002016-09-19T09:39:08.773-05:00Archive: Henna & Mehndi<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 1;">
<i>For
many years I wrote the informational pamphlets at </i><a href="http://www.communitypharmacy.coop/"><span style="color: #66cccc;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><i>Community
Pharmacy</i></span></span></a><i>.
I loved creating these tiny tri-fold tracts about self-care
strategies and accessible herbalism. This text is modified from two
of those pamphlets, originally self-published for CP's shelves in
2003 and 2011.</i>
</div>
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<b>THE NATURE OF HENNA</b></div>
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<b>Henna </b>(<i>Lawsonia inermis</i>) is a flowering
shrub originally found in Northern Africa, Asia, and Australia, where
it is traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory and dye
properties. Fresh henna leaves have cooling antiseptic qualities and
are used in poultices to treat injury and inflammation. Henna leaves
are also valued for their <b>lawsone </b>pigment content. Dried leaves are
powdered and mixed into a paste which is applied to hair, or skin in
intricate patterns on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet
for cosmetic and ceremonial decoration (known as <b>mehndi</b>.)</div>
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Henna’s lawsone pigment binds to the
keratin in hair and skin cells, leaving a red-brown stain. On your
skin, mehndi designs last 3-6 weeks. On your hair, henna permanently
dyes the keratin in hair strands, but may lose intensity and the
protein shine after 3-12 weeks. Henna is a very forgiving dye, adding
color and shine to your hair (it cannot lighten hair color) without
damage. Henna is nontoxic and unlikely to cause allergic reactions.
Since the pigments in the henna plant can only leave a red-brown
stain, other ingredients are often added to henna hair dyes (even
truly natural ones) to achieve lighter or darker tones. In dried
henna products, henna powder is often mixed with other herbs (for
example indigo for darker colors, cassia for lighter) to create a
range of natural hair dyes. These blended herb powder dyes are also
non-toxic and applied in the same manner as henna.</div>
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<b>HOW TO APPLY HENNA TO HAIR</b></div>
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Begin with damp hair (no need to wash).
Apply petroleum jelly or a similarly protective salve around your
hairline and ears to avoid unintentional dyeing. Since henna can
easily dye cloth, floors, and skin, wear latex/vinyl gloves to
prevent extra staining. Work in small sections, spreading the henna
paste evenly from the roots to the ends. Work the paste onto your
hair thoroughly, pile or twist atop your head, and cover with any
leftover henna at the end. Cover your hair with plastic wrap or a
plastic bag, and wrap in a towel or cover with a knit cap to keep the
henna warm. (Keep your head warm extra warm with a heating pad to
intensify the dye.) Leave the henna paste on for 30 minutes (for gray
or light hair) to 2 hours (for dark hair) to 8 hours or overnight
(for very strong color). Rinse your head thoroughly with warm water,
and let air dry. For best results, do not shampoo for 24 hours.
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<b>HOW MUCH HENNA TO USE</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>EAR-LENGTH HAIR: 2-3 oz. henna</li>
<li>SHOULDER-LENGTH HAIR: 4-5 oz. henna</li>
<li>LONGER: Add 2 oz. henna for every 4
inches of hair</li>
</ul>
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TIPS: The color of hennaed hair will
change and mellow during the first few days, don’t worry if at
first it seems brassy! It is always wise to do a patch test on a few
strands of hair (especially if you have fair or gray hair) or on a
small patch of skin for mehndi. If you have a commercial chemical dye
or a perm in your hair, consider waiting at least three months
before using henna; the henna may react unpredictably and cause
inconsistent or unexpected coloring.</div>
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<b>WATER AND HEAT METHOD</b> (from <a href="http://www.motherearthliving.com/natural-beauty/a-walk-on-the-wild-side.aspx">RosemaryGladstar</a>)</div>
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In a glass or ceramic bowl, using
nonmetal utensils, mix henna powder with boiling water to make a
paste the consistency of pancake batter. Let cool for ~20 minutes
while the paste sets up and thickens to the consistency of thick
yogurt. Apply the henna paste while it is still very warn. For extra
conditioning use herbal infusions instead of water to mix your henna:</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>BLONDE: calendula, chamomile, lemon
peel</li>
<li>RED: hibiscus, calendula, cinnamon</li>
<li>BRUNETTE: clove, lavender, rosemary,
sage</li>
</ul>
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<b>ACIDIC LIQUID METHOD</b> (from <a href="http://www.hennaforhair.com/">CatherineCartwright-Jones</a>)</div>
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The day before you want to dye your
hair, mix the henna with enough lemon juice (bottled works as well as
fresh) or red wine to make a paste the consistency of oatmeal. Cover
with plastic and let sit in a warm room (70’) overnight. In the
morning, stir in more lemon juice or wine to make the paste the
consistency of thick yogurt. Apply the paste while cool.</div>
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TIPS: For bolder color, add essential
oils (2-5 drops per ounce of henna, mixed into the paste before
applying) that will act as a mordant (dye-absorption aid) and nourish
your hair and scalp: rosemary, cedar, cypress, eucalyptus, or tea
tree.</div>
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<b>HOW TO DYE SKIN WITH HENNA</b></div>
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MEHNDI PASTE RECIPE:</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>1 oz. mehndi-quality henna</li>
<li>2 cups strong DYE TEA (see below)</li>
<li>1 teaspoon tea tree essential oil</li>
</ul>
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GLAZE RECIPE (PER HAND/FOOT):</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>1 lemon’s fresh juice</li>
<li>2 tablespoons of sugar</li>
<li>2 garlic cloves (pressed)</li>
</ul>
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ALSO NEEDED:</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>100% cotton balls (unrolled) or gauze</li>
<li>jacquard bottles or cake decorating
tube with a tiny aperture tip</li>
<li>olive oil</li>
</ul>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Begin with high-quality (“body
quality”) all-henna powder (in most commercially available henna
brands, all-henna powders will be the most basic “red” shade.) Most henna sold
in stores is “hair quality” and will need to be thoroughly sifted
(through a gold mesh coffee filter or yogurt strainer) before using
to make a finely textured mehndi paste.</div>
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A day in advance, brew your DYE TEA.
Into 4 cups of water, add 2 tablespoons loose black tea. Boil down
this mixture until 2 cups remain. Let steep overnight. In the
morning, add the juice of one lemon, strain thoroughly and reheat but
do not boil.
</div>
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</div>
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Make the MEHNDI PASTE by adding 1
teaspoon tea tree essential oil to the sifted henna powder. Mix in
enough hot DYE TEA to make a paste the consistency of cake icing.
Make the MEHNDI PASTE and GLAZE fresh the day they are used. MEHNDI
PASTE can be applied by squeezing from plastic cones or jacquard
bottles fitted with fine metal tips. As your mehndi progresses, keep
it moist by sponging the GLAZE onto the completed portions with a
cotton ball. When your design is complete, wrap it carefully in
unrolled cotton balls or gauze, then in plastic wrap and a warm sock
or mitten, and leave on overnight. In the morning, scrape off the dried
paste with a butter knife. Moisturize your skin with olive oil. For
best results, do not wash your hands with soap for 12 hours.</div>
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</div>
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TIPS: A full hand or foot mehndi
design may take over an hour to complete, so make sure you are in a
comfortable place and position! Heat activates the henna dye as well
as acidity, so apply your mehndi in a warm room for the deepest
stain.</div>
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<b>A NOTE ABOUT “BLACK HENNA” &
SYNTHETIC DYES</b></div>
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Henna and mehndi go through waves of
popularity in American consumer culture. Conventional hair dye
manufacturers have started including henna in their liquid dye lines,
and “henna tattoo” booths have been springing up street fairs,
and tourist sites which sport body dyes in black, blue, green, and
purple. If you are looking for a truly natural hair dye skin
decoration, be sure to read the ingredients label carefully for
synthetic ingredients before buying a pre-made “henna” dye. The
two issues to consider critically are the specific colors of lawsone
pigment, and the impermanence of plant dyes.
</div>
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In commercial pre-made hair and skin
dyes, even if the product packaging references henna, the colorant is
almost always a synthetic dye ingredient. One particularly worrisome
common synthetic dye is p-<b>Phenylenediamine</b> (<b>PPD</b>), a petrochemical
that leaves a deep black stain on skin and hair. PPD is readily
absorbed into the bloodstream, and can damage the liver and kidneys.
Exposure to PPD can lead to cancer of these organs. PPD can also
cause severe skin irritation and allergic reaction, resulting in
chemical burns and scarring.</div>
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</div>
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Like all truly natural body and hair
care treatments, henna is meant to be used fresh, not kept on a shelf
for months. Once activated by liquid, henna lawsone maintains its dye
potency for only a few days, guaranteeing that liquid products rely
on other/synthetic colorants. Beware buying pre-mixed henna paste
unless you know it is freshly made; imported and sealed paste tubes
are sure to contain chemical dyes. (Freshly mixed henna paste for
hair dye and mehndi can be frozen, however, and will still give a
good stain if used within 6 months.)
</div>
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</div>
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Most salons or fair booths offering
henna hair dye or mehndi are staffed by skilled henna artists. But
keep yourself safe: If the decoration or dye promised is any other
color than red-brown, if it takes just an hour to stain or lasts only
a week; the main dye ingredient is NOT henna! Before receiving a
mehndi design or henna treatment, ask artists about the henna they
use. Good henna artists will likely be very willing to talk about
their ingredients, their designs and techniques, and how they learned
the art of henna!</div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-80070822920287589142016-09-18T15:10:00.000-05:002016-09-18T15:10:09.512-05:00Archive: I Love Love ,,, and Crafts!<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>While many of my workshops at <a href="http://www.communitypharmacy.coop/">Community Pharmacy</a> were oriented towards holiday gift-making, I also taught about DIY body care, women's health, chemical sensitivities, and aromatic herbalism. Here is an article in the spirit of those workshops, which was originally published in CP's newsletter, <b>Infused</b>, in </i><i>Feb. 2010.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Valentine’s Day is my second-favorite
holiday, a fact that most of my friends find eye-rollingly silly. Even though it may have originated as a greeting-card marketing
scheme, Valentine’s has become the one day every year when we
are all encouraged to think about love, and sensory pleasure. Think about it: an entire holiday for contemplating the infinite variety of loving expression in our lives. Whether
you are happily relating or happily single, emotional wellbeing and
sensuality are a part of a healthy life.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If our brains are our largest erogenous
zones, then intentions are our strongest aphrodisiac. When we take
the time to infuse oil with fragrant herbs, or flavor a honey with
delicious spices, we spend time attending to our wellbeing. This
attention, and time, helps us not only to slow down and focus on the
important things in our lives, but also to create a durable niche in
our lives for those important things. And just as there are many
healthy ways to express emotions and explore sensuality, there are
many delightful and daring delicacies for all your senses.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Herbs traditionally used in aphrodisiac
formulas are gentle and effective, offering subtle fragrances,
delicate flavors and unique medicinal nourishment. These herbs may
calm the nervous system, stimulate the circulatory system and tone
the adrenal system; each in their own ways soothing or exciting the
body so it can more easily find pleasure. Getting to know these
herbs, and the ways they benefit your individual physiology, is
another exploration in sensuality.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i>Relaxing </i></b>herbal aphrodisiacs
calm the mind, lift the mood and alleviate any tension or anxiety
which may be interfering with libido: Catnip, Fennel, Jasmine, Lemon Balm, Oatstraw, Rose, Vanilla</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Flirting Tisane</b> – <i>a fragrant,
floral and feisty hot drink</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<ul>
<li>1/2 C rose petals</li>
<li>1/4 C damiana</li>
<li>1/4 C catnip</li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">honey to taste</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> Steep 1
tablespoon tisane blend in 1 cup boiling water, covered, for 10-20
minutes, and strain before enjoying.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<b>Pillow Talk Infused Body Oil</b> - <i>a sweet and fresh skin oil</i><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">2 C almond oil</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">1 C catnip leaves</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">1 C damiana leaves</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> Combine herbs in
a quart jar and cover with oil. Place jar in a pan of simmering water
and heat in this double boiler for 2-3 hours. Remove from heat,
strain and discard herbs. Store in dark glass and use for
moisturizing, massage or as a base for salve and lip balm.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i>Stimulating </i></b>herbal aphrodisiacs
increase circulation throughout the body and raise energy levels and
alertness. While strong stimulants (horny goat weed, yohimbe) should
only be used occasionally and on a short term basis, gentle
stimulants may be used on a regular basis: black pepper, cardamom,
cinnamon, cocoa, coffee, damiana, ginger, maca, ylang-ylang</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><b>Sun’s Spices
Honey</b> - <i>a warming, stimulating sweet treat</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<ul>
<li>1 C raw honey</li>
<li>½ T powdered ginseng root</li>
<li>1/2 T powdered ginger root</li>
<li>1 T powdered maca root</li>
<li>1 t powdered cinnamon bark</li>
<li>1 t powdered cardamom seeds</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Combine all ingredients in a tempered bowl placed
in a pan of simmering water. Stir constantly, till honey melts and
the herb powder is incorporated, then heat for another 30 minutes.
Remove honey from heat and transfer to a clean glass jar with a tight
lid. Allow the honey to further infuse in a sunny spot for 2 weeks
before enjoying. Drizzle 1 teaspoon into your favorite tea, onto
fruit salads, or a friend!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Spice Garden Aromatherapy Body Oil</b> - <i>floral with a kick</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<ul>
<li>1 C almond oil</li>
<li>35 drops lavender eo</li>
<li>25 drops cardamom eo</li>
<li>10 drops bergamot eo</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Combine essential oils in a dark
glass bottle, then add almond oil. Shake well. Let steep for 7-10
days to allow scent to mature before using as a moisturizer or
massage oil.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i>Tonic </i></b>herbal aphrodisiacs are
used regularly to maintain good health and improve strength, stamina
and vitality: Basil, Dong Quai, Ginger, Lycii, Maca, Oatstraw, Sandalwood, Sarsaparilla (for men), Shatavari (for women), Vetiver</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Bright Eyes, Big Smile Body Oil</b>
– <i>a sunny, come-hither moisturizer</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<ul>
<li>3 oz almond oil</li>
<li>1 oz calendula-infused oil</li>
<li>12 drops bergamot eo</li>
<li>8 drops ylang-ylang eo</li>
<li>4 drops sandalwood or cedar eo</li>
<li>4 drops vetiver eo</li>
<li>2 drops ginger eo</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Combine essential oils in a dark
glass, 4-oz bottle. Add infused and almond oils, shake well. Letting
steep for 3-7 days will allow scent to mature. Use after bathing, or
for massage.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Daily Delight Tisane</b> – <i>a
long-steep tisane to drink every day for ongoing stress relief and
deep reservoirs of wellbeing</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<ul>
<li>½ C oat straw</li>
<li>½ C lemon balm leaves</li>
<li>2 T rose petals</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Combine herbs in a quart mason jar,
fill with boiling water. Cap tightly and let steep 8 hours or
overnight. Drink 1-4 cups per day, warm or chilled.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Essential oils (eo) are the
concentrated distillations of aromatic herbs prized for their
therapeutic scents. In aromatherapy, there are two families of scents
that are classically romantic in many people's minds: florals and
sweet spices. Just as roses are a symbol of love,
essential oils distilled from flowers offer us the aromas of
beautiful bouquets and have nerve-calming, mood-lifting
benefits. Essential oils distilled from sweet spices offer us cozy,
comforting aromas with body- and heart-warming effects! Through the aromas of beautiful blooms and comforting kitchens, many people easily find feelings of affection, joy and intimacy. Using essential oils from these families in perfumes,
massage oils or room scenting can be and an ideal way to invite aroma
into a sensory feast for yourself and your home. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Silk Sheets Aromatherapy Spray</b> - a <i>warm, sweet, spicy and deep bedroom scent</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<ul>
<li>3 oz distilled water</li>
<li>1 oz 100+ proof vodka</li>
<li><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">10 drops rose
geranium eo</span></li>
<li>5 drops cinnamon eo</li>
<li>5 drops clove eo</li>
<li>3 drops patchouli eo</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Combine in a spray bottle, let steep 3-7 days for scent to mature. Shake
well before spraying anywhere.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Hothouse Flower Aromatherapy
Perfume</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<ul>
<li>2 t jojoba oil</li>
<li>35 drops petigrain eo</li>
<li>20 drops ylang-ylang eo</li>
<li>5 drops vetiver eo</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Combine essential oils in a 1/3 oz
roller vial, then add jojoba oil. Letting steep for 3-7 days will
allow scent to mature. Apply as desired.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Making your own Personal Lubricants can be an excellent alternative to commercially available lubricants, which are often made with synthetic ingredients that may upset delicate skin, contributing to irritation and infection. These simple recipes are made with food-grade ingredients. They are intended to be made and used fresh; having no preservatives they will only stay good for a week or so.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Flax Seed Lube</b> – <i>a totally organic
mid-weight lube</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<ul>
<li>1/2 C organic flax seeds</li>
<li>3 C distilled water</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Boil water in a non-reactive saucepan.
Rinse flax seeds in warm water. Add seeds to water and reduce heat.
Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat, cover and
steep another 5 minutes. Immediately strain liquid thoroughly
(through a mesh strainer and 3 layers of cheesecloth). Discard seeds
and store in a very clean bottle. Latex-friendly. Makes approx.
2 cups.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Lube of the Future</b> – <i>a light,
superslick, nontoxic lube</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<ul>
<li>1 t xanthan gum powder</li>
<li>1 t sea salt</li>
<li>2 C distilled water</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Combine salt and xanthan gum in a
non-reactive saucepan. Whisk in water, a few tablespoons at a time.
Bring water to a boil, stirring constantly while formula thickens.
Remove from heat and strain immediately through a mesh strainer.
Discard any remaining solids and store in a very clean bottle. Latex
friendly. Makes approx. 2 cups. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-12472245292973419692015-12-03T07:35:00.001-06:002015-12-03T07:35:21.570-06:00The Working CuteI love the diaphramic lift I feel when I look at truly cute things, I enjoy advertising, and I'm delighted by the combination of the two!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxH8EI3PBTY_a6WfYUItZtOcxuNN02c3qMX-F7tBf1djA4ei4lBsnBgk1MhkN6PQJ-cwY5Xkx3CBuDfdvRwEG0rKB6sqkxiy3MeecV5IHPmLQ0S7DWuRaIACRxnGeZclXA10dqF-0Dtav/s1600/6thWeekViennaBudapest+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxH8EI3PBTY_a6WfYUItZtOcxuNN02c3qMX-F7tBf1djA4ei4lBsnBgk1MhkN6PQJ-cwY5Xkx3CBuDfdvRwEG0rKB6sqkxiy3MeecV5IHPmLQ0S7DWuRaIACRxnGeZclXA10dqF-0Dtav/s320/6thWeekViennaBudapest+009.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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In autumn, hedgehogs update their laptops. Budapest, Hungary</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttUZLrML0ucqCC1xCTcTwqyqxy_IZMpQwQ-RawuxjaiD8UCopWeMmbDXXVL-ZvxL5s1eBCqkawDgRHbbfDineKsvHzNQK41OJu0IrP1dd6vxbiT8VlvMi4U7sELWU5bRy72eb5jSJtFK6/s1600/6thWeekViennaBudapest+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttUZLrML0ucqCC1xCTcTwqyqxy_IZMpQwQ-RawuxjaiD8UCopWeMmbDXXVL-ZvxL5s1eBCqkawDgRHbbfDineKsvHzNQK41OJu0IrP1dd6vxbiT8VlvMi4U7sELWU5bRy72eb5jSJtFK6/s320/6thWeekViennaBudapest+029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Almond-filled pastry pet. Vienna, Austria</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMJqKk17nMloIXPdmhFQWSuePnhPLC3FYVFOdswvCpC2mAmB33PVV8UlfdxHwJHYF8yyBd2b7pxOfRI-2VSTNYpf8sJwUVqbpWHXnkea_DmM0J2jL60TJ-FhJMuPEb9D6Q5XvMHc-4cAj/s1600/6thWeekViennaBudapest+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMJqKk17nMloIXPdmhFQWSuePnhPLC3FYVFOdswvCpC2mAmB33PVV8UlfdxHwJHYF8yyBd2b7pxOfRI-2VSTNYpf8sJwUVqbpWHXnkea_DmM0J2jL60TJ-FhJMuPEb9D6Q5XvMHc-4cAj/s320/6thWeekViennaBudapest+028.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's nice when the puns you made as a child finally come true. Vienna, Austria</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bNCKl3pffNei-55wqrDYQ1g73bU33nMT3m-YMs1XyojgFYtIEy6s5wfTR8atxsuhyEXp2vyZjDIWldYZHp8zdJe6rxq43PglNSYcXqBIDiYC2FO9HE8vqk5ZG5xH6WHTDs08GyQxzPNO/s1600/7th8th9thWeekMarsta+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bNCKl3pffNei-55wqrDYQ1g73bU33nMT3m-YMs1XyojgFYtIEy6s5wfTR8atxsuhyEXp2vyZjDIWldYZHp8zdJe6rxq43PglNSYcXqBIDiYC2FO9HE8vqk5ZG5xH6WHTDs08GyQxzPNO/s320/7th8th9thWeekMarsta+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tele2 spokesheep, <a href="https://www.tele2.no/frank.html">Frank</a>, is also apparently a killing machine from the future. Stockholm, Sweden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-13474229871008340622015-12-03T07:32:00.000-06:002015-12-03T07:32:19.595-06:00Food, Hilarious Food<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
A wise and clever foodie once assured me she starts learning any new language with food and kitchen words. I love food, I enjoy advertising, and I love humor in translation, especially when I can't tell if it's intentional!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zYEp-8indkYa9lZDQNEKeqfzvOq38Wmz3HadJLlHKOUUvPDgBDCMxtvnnIkp-b3aYVFetMQjukKGal3A51pZ8mYWyq8Gn_k8FAikZXCL_SavTNP1VPwOKb0fDHMxkdGS_tESwWxE5oGb/s1600/5thWeekBerlin+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zYEp-8indkYa9lZDQNEKeqfzvOq38Wmz3HadJLlHKOUUvPDgBDCMxtvnnIkp-b3aYVFetMQjukKGal3A51pZ8mYWyq8Gn_k8FAikZXCL_SavTNP1VPwOKb0fDHMxkdGS_tESwWxE5oGb/s320/5thWeekBerlin+027.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Angry Korean Fried Chicken ... So, So Angry" in Berlin, Germany</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJRGm2qA2kGI5Hkv5HQqKE-o7pQtEeLpEHdwCZtCvnRssQxsJtY0U8_0xFuSe_WAMTQaZj9zNst-vsd2iZSMuTqR2ZrFRhkpeylD-0MhaCQWUzaEwUnJJWClITcYdyFZ4kHsvO48ePW3q/s1600/6thWeekViennaBudapest+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJRGm2qA2kGI5Hkv5HQqKE-o7pQtEeLpEHdwCZtCvnRssQxsJtY0U8_0xFuSe_WAMTQaZj9zNst-vsd2iZSMuTqR2ZrFRhkpeylD-0MhaCQWUzaEwUnJJWClITcYdyFZ4kHsvO48ePW3q/s320/6thWeekViennaBudapest+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Kakast<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">ö</span>ke
P<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">örkött</span> ... Rooster Testicle Stew" in Budapest, Hungary</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5rywnGuyjs6V6kYFNBzNZAvyBiExFYa2gnYkc7HspExGo7FMaPAp_BdvlUyK9yvGHstYPl7Thkj9cZ2HF-KGPk9hTsvPtoQNemOkymj0ZLsODpCALbSGsr0sw8fuQDYm5Z2myBtSG3mT/s1600/7th8th9thWeekMarsta+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5rywnGuyjs6V6kYFNBzNZAvyBiExFYa2gnYkc7HspExGo7FMaPAp_BdvlUyK9yvGHstYPl7Thkj9cZ2HF-KGPk9hTsvPtoQNemOkymj0ZLsODpCALbSGsr0sw8fuQDYm5Z2myBtSG3mT/s320/7th8th9thWeekMarsta+047.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Holy Monkey! ... Tea & Dumplings" in Stockholm, Sweden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DYUncwgSxYzF6s4qizX9Rkcw7uJOjweXUDz5yp9k0EyjFQvhePdw_kjxXEQ3zi4tBTbtnpPJwbhpsqJQiKizb9QawU9VW5kPCjb4vojdqtyR57mw1FknpRTCPIc9uXYqMO4BLDXr3iGI/s1600/10thWeekOstersund+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DYUncwgSxYzF6s4qizX9Rkcw7uJOjweXUDz5yp9k0EyjFQvhePdw_kjxXEQ3zi4tBTbtnpPJwbhpsqJQiKizb9QawU9VW5kPCjb4vojdqtyR57mw1FknpRTCPIc9uXYqMO4BLDXr3iGI/s320/10thWeekOstersund+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Lovely Toffee Muffin ... Lovely Strawberry Muffin" in <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Ö</span>stersund, Sweden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QGWfuR36roCr1iHK2G5_cJZhKFi6y_MI1u-c66jpW3AZgH7KWC8HzNH_Kv6WvzJYOm0bZBqqOSgeBY-fEyZCgUhNrVkYoi3tBjq6xn7ftqcp4cxgKZboBcoDT8RajGYkO1uAA2ovWG7E/s1600/10thWeekOstersund+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QGWfuR36roCr1iHK2G5_cJZhKFi6y_MI1u-c66jpW3AZgH7KWC8HzNH_Kv6WvzJYOm0bZBqqOSgeBY-fEyZCgUhNrVkYoi3tBjq6xn7ftqcp4cxgKZboBcoDT8RajGYkO1uAA2ovWG7E/s320/10thWeekOstersund+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Daffy's Junkfood House" in <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Ö</span>stersund, Sweden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpmM1ZU0YzS7cyGyIpNSiHh59PCc-MoOeTyI6cgR7uPzBr_muCp8AwoOyDtUVquZdDijv_aOUZjCOMrs7kFRrta0ndEDSTXhHNwMXJj2auu63hJc_EsTfu0lm__JZcczSYUD2CNYaQms-/s1600/10thWeekOstersund+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpmM1ZU0YzS7cyGyIpNSiHh59PCc-MoOeTyI6cgR7uPzBr_muCp8AwoOyDtUVquZdDijv_aOUZjCOMrs7kFRrta0ndEDSTXhHNwMXJj2auu63hJc_EsTfu0lm__JZcczSYUD2CNYaQms-/s320/10thWeekOstersund+016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Godstransporter" Restaurant pager at Daffy's in <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Ö</span>stersund -- OK, I know it translates to "freight,"<br />
and that's perfectly reasonable for one of those vibratey alert pucks they give you at restaurants,<br />
but wouldn't it be better if it was a kind of divine Trek-transporter device? Yes, it would.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-80874626648462642532015-11-22T19:09:00.000-06:002015-11-22T19:09:15.782-06:00Still Making Gifts<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Teaching the annual holiday craft workshop series "Get Crafty" was one of my favorite projects at <a href="http://www.communitypharmacy.coop/">Community Pharmacy</a>. I loved developing new recipes that set a scentscape for a particular year, and building a gameplan for the workshop that was equal parts skill-raising discussion and hands-on play. Here is an article in the spirit of those workshops, which was originally published in CP's newsletter, <b>Infused</b>, in Nov. 2014.</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><u>Get Crafty for Healthful Homemade
Holidays!</u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
With a few weeks remaining til the
holiday season is in full swing, now is a perfect time to create the
fresh and fragrant homemade gifts you will bring to this season's
potlucks, parties, and homecomings. It's a time for gratitude and
celebration – of family, food, and good health!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Holiday Party Mocktail Syrups</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The complex flavors and digestive
benefits of craft cocktails are also an open invitation to those of
us who look for unleaded beverages. Homemade bitters and flavored
sugars can take weeks to infuse, but herbal syrups can be brewed in
an afternoon. Blended into sparkling water, fruit juices, hot
herbal teas or coffee, they transform dull draughts into drinkable
delicacies. You may want to make a double-batch – every time I
bring these to holiday potlucks, I come home with empty bottles!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>Rosemary Tangerine Syrup</u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
4 tangerine's worth of zest (I
carefully use a vegetable-peeler)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 6-inch sprigs of fresh rosemary</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 C water</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 C sugar</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Add zest and sprigs to the water in a
non-reactive pot over medium-high heat. When the water begins
boiling, add sugar and stir until it is dissolved and the syrup
begins to thicken. Remove from heat, cover, and steep 2 hours. Strain
out the solids and store in a clean bottle. Makes 1 quart. Try 1-2
tablespoons in a glass of sparkling water or fruit seltzer.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>Rose
& Spice Syrup</u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
¼ C cardamom pods (slightly crushed)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 cinnamon sticks</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
6 cloves</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
½ C rose petals</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 C water</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 C sugar</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Add the spices to the water in a
non-reactive pot over medium-high heat. When the water begins
boiling, add sugar and stir until it is dissolved and the syrup
begins to thicken. Remove from heat, cover, and steep 1 hour, then
add the roses, and steep another ½ hour. Strain out the solids and
store in a clean bottle. Makes 1 quart. Try 1-2 tablespoons in a cup
of coffee or black tea.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Home Aromatherapy Sprays and
Diffusion</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Walking into a good-smelling house is
always a pleasure, and especially so when the smells remind us of
holiday celebrations! These essential oil (eo) blends smell beautiful, are
antimicrobial to help clear the air during cold & flu season, and
inspire good cheer. Each of these recipes will make 1 milliliter of
aromatherapy blend, which can be used for scenting any number of
formulas! For diffusion, add 10 drops of your aromatherapy blend to
the water reservoir of a nebulizer and run 30-60 minutes, per room. To make
a home scent spray, add 20 drops of your blend to 2 ounces of
distilled water in a spray bottle made of dark (amber or cobalt)
glass.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>Deep Breath Aromatherapy Blend</u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
12 drops douglas fir eo (<i>Pseudotsuga menziesii/douglasii</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
8 drops eucalyptus radiata eo (<i>Eucalyptus radiata</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 drops peppermint eo (<i>Mentha piperita</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
8 drops spike lavender eo (<i>Lavendula spica</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>Holiday Health Aromatherapy Blend</u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
4 drops cinnamon leaf eo (<i>Cinnamomum zeylanicum</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
8 drops clove bud eo (<i>Eugenia carophyllata</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
6 drops oregano eo (<i>Origanum vulgare</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
10 drops sweet orange eo (<i>Citrus sinensis</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Gifts of Glowing Skin</b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Homemade body care gifts are my
favorites to give, they are the perfect practical luxury – fresh,
useful, and custom-created for those you love. Cleansing shower scrubs are
an excellent gift for our dry Midwest winters. Scrubs help keep your
skin soft with nourishing oils that protect from overdrying, while
detoxifying salts and exfoliants polish away dry skin. Keep your
friends and family in mind while you mix!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>Squeaky Clean Scrub</u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 C fine sea salt</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1/2 C almond oil</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1/8 C unscented liquid castile soap</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
4 drops lemongrass eo (<i>Cymbopogon flexuosus</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
4 drops tea tree eo (<i>Melaleuca alternafolia</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Combine salt and oil, mix well. Then
add soap and essential oils, blend gently to prevent clumping or
froth. This scrub is gently antimicrobial, making it it perfect for
cold & flu season. It rinses cleanly away and is very
moisturizing – try it in the shower, or beside the sink as a
hand-wash. Makes 12 oz.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>Everything Nice Scrub</u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 C fine sea salt
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 C sugar</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 T grapeseed oil</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
3 drops vanilla absolute <span style="text-indent: 48px;">(</span><i style="text-indent: 48px;">Vanilla planifolia</i><span style="text-indent: 48px;">)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
7 drops lemon eo (<i>Citrus limon</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
2 drops cinnamon leaf eo (<i>Cinnamomum zeylanicum</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 drop ylang-ylang eo (<i>Canaga odorata</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and
mix well, store in a jar with a tight lid to preserve the scents.
This is a sweetly scented, lightly moisturizing scrub that can be
used in the shower or the bathtub. Makes 16 oz. Will keep 6 months in
a sealed jar.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u>Solstice Morning Circulation Scrub</u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
3 /4 C. oats</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1/2 C. kaolin clay</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 / 2 C fine sea salt</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1/4 C. almonds</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1/2 C dried orange peel</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1/2 C dried ginger root (or ¼ C
powder)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1 T cinnamon bark (or 2 tsp powder)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Grind the herbs and oats together and
mix thoroughly with the clay. Store in a glass jar with a tight lid
to preserve the fragrance of the herbs. To use, mix 1/2 cup of the
scrub mixture with enough water to make a paste. Massage into your
skin in the shower or bath, and rinse with warm water. This oil-free
scrub leaves the skin silky soft and is perfect for those with itchy
winter skin, but please be mindful of nut allergies when giving this
gift. Makes 5 applications.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Seasonal Perfumes</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In addition to smelling fantastic and
keeping seasonal bugs at bay, the aromatherapy of essential oils can
lift our emotions, boost our confidence and put a smile on our faces.
Positive scent-associations help build strong happy memories, and can
help us be more fully present to moments of joy and caring. Wreathe
yourself in beautiful scents, and carry the holiday spirit with you!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Chocolate
Box Perfume Oil</u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">12
drops cocoa absolute (<i>Theobroma cacao</i>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">10
drops vanilla absolute (<i>Vanilla planifolia</i>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">12
drops atlas cedar wood eo (<i>Cedrus atlantica</i>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">12
drops rose geranium eo (<i>Cymbopogon martinii</i>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">6
drops sandalwood eo (<i>Santalum spicatum</i>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">8
drops clove eo (<i>Eugenia carophyllata</i>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">2 tsp
jojoba oil</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> This is a sensuous sugar &
spice perfume for anyone with a serious sweet tooth. Combine
essential oils in a 1/3 oz (10 ml) glass bottle, preferably one with
a roller-ball applicator tip. Fill with jojoba oil, shake well. Let
infuse for 3-7 days for the scents to mature, then apply to pulse
points and enjoy!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Woodland
Spirit Cologne</u></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">2
drops patchouli eo (<i>Pogostemon cablin</i>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> 8 drops atlas cedar wood
eo </span><span style="text-indent: 48px;">(</span><i style="text-indent: 48px;">Cedrus atlantica</i><span style="text-indent: 48px;">)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> 6 drops douglas fir eo </span>(<i>Pseudotsuga menziesii/douglasii</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> 6 drops wild scotch pine
eo (<i>Pinus sylvestris</i>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> 4 drops cinnamon leaf eo </span>(<i>Cinnamomum zeylanicum</i>)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> 3 T (1 ½ oz) 100 proof
vodka</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> distilled water</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> This is a fresh and
wild-scented spray perfume for magical creatures of
all kinds; male, female and all other shades. Combine essential oils in a 2 oz (60 ml) spray bottle made
of amber or dark blue glass. Add vodka, cap tightly and shake, then
top off with distilled water. Let infuse 3-7 days for scent to
mature. Shake well before spraying onto pulse points.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Happy Holidays – may
your skin stay soft and your home always smell wonderful!</span></div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-56430271529088943902015-11-22T09:43:00.000-06:002015-11-22T09:43:44.198-06:00More to SharePartly because I'm in a good place. Balanced in dynamic emotion. Eager for movement, content in my position. Full to the brim of new ideas, feelings, plans, wants. Looking forward to what will grab me, when I reach out my hands.<br />
<br />
Partly because I don't really know what I look like these days. Content-driven, food-motivated, high-verbal, overactive imagination. Highly experienced, building new skills, stretching boundaries, embodying new comfort zones. Compassionate confrontation, emergence, sanctuary. And I'd like to see it all laid out, playing out, in front of me.<br />
<br />
Mostly because I want to connect, and this is one way I know how to open.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipayzcJZyhaaRgfoK4Y1ZPs6np9UpyFXwcXgjebld6nzrr0GDRfTcgdT3TFte0fJZwhsG0_x4BcI0uOk1dhfaIPjz42bGD7IcCIVjTrQjG0PHQIAkHmFMReL0Dl29NGaQNmLOo_Y3kxUrc/s1600/IMG_20151122_093805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipayzcJZyhaaRgfoK4Y1ZPs6np9UpyFXwcXgjebld6nzrr0GDRfTcgdT3TFte0fJZwhsG0_x4BcI0uOk1dhfaIPjz42bGD7IcCIVjTrQjG0PHQIAkHmFMReL0Dl29NGaQNmLOo_Y3kxUrc/s320/IMG_20151122_093805.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-70650618993297453282013-01-07T04:02:00.000-06:002013-01-07T04:03:03.630-06:00Thermae #2: Friedrichsbad<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrs6RsXJTAD4lWMBcJJ-_4vSXkyYTCnknNk4iyQqEqIKTpye8LxE_J2uW3HP1zFuVjedXspRrzHNS7KdP95pGauh41Wy2PTWreMFDubbRpNrDBRVYrOcVu47bcXCuxQkFIoP5kuSHhfMe/s1600/5thWeekBadenBaden+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrs6RsXJTAD4lWMBcJJ-_4vSXkyYTCnknNk4iyQqEqIKTpye8LxE_J2uW3HP1zFuVjedXspRrzHNS7KdP95pGauh41Wy2PTWreMFDubbRpNrDBRVYrOcVu47bcXCuxQkFIoP5kuSHhfMe/s320/5thWeekBadenBaden+005.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">As
soon as I began planning this adventure, Friedrichsbad stood out as
the pinnacle of my pilgrimage. Actually, it inspired the notion of
this being a pilgrimage, rather than 'just' a theme-vacation or
business-plan-inspiring-research. Someone out there still calling
their bathhouse a Bathing Temple. I have visited many lovely
bathhouses, and sat in many powerful places of worship. I didn't know
if anywhere in our modern world would truly be able to merge the two,
but I knew I needed to be there.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">As
you've probably heard me enthuse, a supplicant to the Bathing Temple
follows 17 steps of ablution and relaxation, for a total of 4 ritual
hours, including the attentions of 3 varieties of masseuse. Upon
leaving, one is guaranteed not only to win any contest of
cleanliness, but also to be at least 1 fathom closer to
enlightenment. According to autogenic legend, one's skin will take on a
pearlescent sheen, one's gaze will remain clear and softly focused
for 72 hours, and one's feet will not actually touch firmament for at
least 24. All of this is true.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnPkOJmcHGP0rMECwSZsDjIvu8DsepVO-xYJfkyg_VfXb-2USjDaLuhyphenhyphen4UwUNEFKQcy5FiVj-BSMPw7JGcIKK3vjeAoQrrzqnJwtjjDFcK2BNP2Dzn3eCVCEcrvV_nS-EFAGYxjGj_gxE/s1600/5thWeekBadenBaden+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnPkOJmcHGP0rMECwSZsDjIvu8DsepVO-xYJfkyg_VfXb-2USjDaLuhyphenhyphen4UwUNEFKQcy5FiVj-BSMPw7JGcIKK3vjeAoQrrzqnJwtjjDFcK2BNP2Dzn3eCVCEcrvV_nS-EFAGYxjGj_gxE/s320/5thWeekBadenBaden+006.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
ceremony unfolds thusly:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
1.</b> Shower. (3min) (And right from the get-go, allow me to assure you
that ALL the water, beginning with the showers and including the
bubblers, flows from the famed local healing mineral springs.)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
2.</b> Warm-air Bath. (54 ° C, 15min) Every surface in this room glows
with gentle convection warmth, from the floors to the wooden lounge
chairs. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
3.</b> Hot-air Bath. (68 °, 5min) From a glow to a steady toast in a
smaller oven.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
4.</b> Shower. (1min)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
5.</b> Soap and Brush Massages. (8min) Taken in turn, the vigorous soft
bristles and creamy soap bubbles shed the last bits of whatever you
were doing before you entered Friedrichsbad.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
6.</b> Shower. (1min)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
7.</b> Thermal Steam Bath. (45 °, 10 min) In a marble filled with clouds
of soft mineral-scented steam, a square pyramid of steps faces two
golden hives of calcinated fountains rolling with raw hotspring.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
8.</b> Thermal Steam Bath. (69 °, 5 min) On the top step of the marble
pyramid, closer to the sweet heat.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
9.</b> Thermal Full Bath. (36 °, 10min) A long cool pool to stretch
warmed muscles and open skin.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
10.</b> Thermal Whirlpool Bath. (34 °, 15min) Smaller, bubblier, cooler,
a massage by tiny naiads.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
11.</b> Thermal Kinotherapeutic Bath. (28 °, 5min) At the center of the
bath, like a crown glowing 17 meters above the pool, is a golden
frescoed dome that draws your eyes up marble columns and gilded
alcoves, tucking the last of your words away, while you float in
mineral broth.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
12</b>. Shower. (3min)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
13.</b> Cold-water Bath. (18 °) A quick (breath-stealingly quick)
submersion in cold (breath-stealingly cold) water. Toes numb and skin
very awake after.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(Clever
mathematicians will have noticed that this does not yet fill the
quota of devotional hours. At this point, the supplicant is allowed,
in a near-sleeping-kitten-like quiecience, to roam freely through the
Temple revisiting her favorite rooms at leisure for several REM
cycles.)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
14.</b> Drying Off. (with warm towels). (4min) Bed-sheet-sized warmed
towels.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
15.</b> Application of Moisturizing Cream. (8min) Expertly applied in
handfuls til you are evenly frosted with a dense fragrant cream; it's
not meant to soak in yet.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
16</b>. Resting Room. (30min) In which you are rolled into warm blankets
and tucked into one of maybe 3 dozen beds filling a huge, dim,
rose-colored dome of a room, to nap.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Step
17.</b> Reading Room (30min) In which the lounging continues in a more
sentient vein, with time to more fully comprehend the miles one's
life has just traveled towards true happiness, and have tea.</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
will admit; I remember the practicals, but after step 5, my sense of
analytical self, and a goodly portion of my vocabulary, washed down
the drain with the suds. (They were good practicals, though: soft
cotton sheets to wind in while lounging and traversing, traded for
clean sitting pads before the steam room; a dozen pairs of bath
sandals in different sizes, and disinfectant-dunk, before the hot
rooms; clocks without numbers to help you keep the time without
worrying you about time...) The further I wandered into the bathing
temple, the deeper I sank into pure corporeal awareness, and solid
visceral bliss. The light was always muted and murmuring, the air a
burned-velvet pattern of steam and refraction. Every room was
decorated with unique painted tiles and mosaics of art nouveau flora,
aquatic fauna, or abstract color. The giggle of falling, splashing,
running water echoed everywhere. The air never warm and never still,
the other bathers never close or stiff, and the staff singularly kind
and cognizant of the beautiful healing collapse prompted by the
place.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">There
is a Mark Twain quote cited in every single description anywhere of
Baden-Baden's historic Irish-Roman Bathing Temple, and I would
probably have my travelog licence revoked if I didn't repeat it for
you here, “At Friedrichsbad, you
lose track of time within 10 minutes and track of the world within
20…” And as much as I hate to ride even the
wittiest of coattails, I agree – if you are someone who pays a lot
of attention to your watch, I expect Friedrichsbad is very much like
that. For me, though, I'll say Friedrichsbad glows at the sunny
crossroads between the Brigadoon of my bones and the Oz of my bliss,
and leave it at that.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.carasana.de/en/friedrichsbad/historic-bathing-temple/">Friedrichsbad</a>: Historic Bathing Temple </span></span>
</div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-62240047470354214742013-01-06T08:14:00.000-06:002013-01-06T08:14:47.432-06:00So Bath They Named It Twice<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQONsS-tCuC-EKlyhm4Yf6EQiEL_23Q-q20awu37CGxnj26nz-xsfUkF7bEm6mnEaUj0oP3VqGYyNttJ3p4uXuOliwNOSITnRf5uFTZ7aHn5o84hZk7eWv04KOeQO1bINHadeUBFPX_CEG/s1600/5thWeekBadenBaden+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQONsS-tCuC-EKlyhm4Yf6EQiEL_23Q-q20awu37CGxnj26nz-xsfUkF7bEm6mnEaUj0oP3VqGYyNttJ3p4uXuOliwNOSITnRf5uFTZ7aHn5o84hZk7eWv04KOeQO1bINHadeUBFPX_CEG/s320/5thWeekBadenBaden+003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Baden-Baden is built on magic, has
celebrated several millenia of birthdays spinning, winding and
handing out this magic, and is completely conscious of it. You can be
sure, though I have found no mention in our post-Imperial literature,
that people of all fur, feathers, and feet have been bathing in the
springs of this valley since the beginning of the world. It's too
beautiful, too protected, altogether too perfect to have not threaded
its magic into all organic history. The Romans made it official with
stone, however, and Baden-Baden has been in the business of bathing
ever since. I wandered over some of its 54 sq. miles of Black Forest
river valley, through falling snows and along the river Oos, in a
kind of steamy trance. An Entire City Devoted to Bathing. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiVXRWuBJ-tLeSuyK9iKqJOZ1BKc6hawdk5D_q4lJKyz5ikUcQSaTTDl_br8rRsf7gJzVzD4OHWoh7TgOH2Zl3DIR4pPFWFyOvjqyI7SMj80sgTqaDXXUVIa55EwwyXk84uDE3QsRnOPq/s1600/5thWeekBadenBaden+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiVXRWuBJ-tLeSuyK9iKqJOZ1BKc6hawdk5D_q4lJKyz5ikUcQSaTTDl_br8rRsf7gJzVzD4OHWoh7TgOH2Zl3DIR4pPFWFyOvjqyI7SMj80sgTqaDXXUVIa55EwwyXk84uDE3QsRnOPq/s320/5thWeekBadenBaden+017.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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And casinos. </div>
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But who cares about casinos?</div>
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I don't know if I've ever shared this
with you, but I'm a sucker for bathhouse t-shirts. I don't really
understand it either, and it's not like most bathhouses sell t-shirts
(but the ones that do are awesome!) It might be some bath-geek
equivalent of sport team support. Or maybe it's just poorly
translated enthusiasm. I don't usually wear clothes with logos, or
words. I don't often wear band t-shirts. They make me feel shy and
unprepared for coolness. But somehow I'm totally charmed by the
thought of someone designing a t-shirt to talk up a place filled with
hot water and naked people. I think it's fabulous. And wearing them
makes me feel like an underground superhero.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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So I keep my eye out for bathhouse
paraphernalia. And on my last day in Baden-Baden I found myself in a
situation I had never encountered before – desirous of a "I <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">♥</span>
Baden-Baden" t-shirt. You know exactly the one I'm thinking of, it's
the same shirt hanging in every eye-rollingly touristy souvenir shop
on the planet. (My only defense is that I do have an awful lot of
enthusiasm, even if it is poorly translated.) I looked high and low,
everywhere from the shops where they sell postcards to the train
station newsstand to the Christmas market to the supermarket. I found
silver-plated Baden-Baden spoons, and enamel-painted Baden-Baden
plates, and even swarovski-crystal-bedazzled Baden-Baden totebags.
After going through a dozen bewildered shopkeepers in a dozen
different shops, I am forced to concede that Baden-Baden, city of
historically relevant baths and big old money, is simply not mundane enough to make tacky tourist t-shirts. </div>
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And, for the life of me, I
don't know whether to be annoyed or relieved.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nRI0_o03dQZ5ah_OKmtmrvXcPHCXOhaI4auWzbN54LDEEYqvxtdJye0xHujgJlZfMD8BqRrFR78zpRbsD9-4qQCMbLfl6NWxq3Eb9CgMJkBikPZenSjOnquepPLKjzcvpW2LpEi4jaqd/s1600/5thWeekBadenBaden+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nRI0_o03dQZ5ah_OKmtmrvXcPHCXOhaI4auWzbN54LDEEYqvxtdJye0xHujgJlZfMD8BqRrFR78zpRbsD9-4qQCMbLfl6NWxq3Eb9CgMJkBikPZenSjOnquepPLKjzcvpW2LpEi4jaqd/s320/5thWeekBadenBaden+014.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-74464014029680308042012-12-30T08:49:00.002-06:002012-12-30T08:49:43.404-06:00Wasa: We're Doing It Wrong!<br />
My friends, I've made a discovery. I have realized the errors of my ways and am humbled before Foodstuffs. It was an honest mistake, though possibly shameful that I have persisted in it for 3 decades. I was misguided, or perhaps unguided.. Left to my own devices in pantries and grocery coop aisles, I admit, I thought they were simply Bad Crackers.<br />
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Crackers the culinary equivalent of particleboard; too fibrous for fun, too dry to be interesting, and always (I thought) subtly threatening to leave splinters in my soft palate. Overpowering in their sheer granular density to all but the sharpest of cheddars, insufferably hard even with soup, and requiring way, way too much chewing . No matter which flavor I tried – from the burnt sienna rye to that weird wafer stuff, the multigrain rainbow in between – I just couldn't like them. Maybe, if you were “raised by hippies,” like I was (that's not a slight, Mom & Dad, it's just a cultural signifier – you were feeding us tofu and dressing us in veleur for too long to deny it, and I love you for it), or if you've ever (like me) grocery shopped with only change in your pockets, or (like me) have more sense of adventure than good sense, you've had similar collisions with Wasa. And lived with the regret.</div>
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But friends, as I stand before you today (sit on a hostel bed typing from several thousand miles away), I can assure you; We Just Got It All Wrong. Wasa isn't the enemy. We weren't even making bad choices, we just weren't operating the cracker correctly! I have seen the true and benevolent face of Wasa, and I can share with you the secret: <i>They're For Breakfast</i>!</div>
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Listen, this changes everything. Wasa is quite possibly <i>the </i>road to morning-eating success for anyone (like me) who simply cannot deal with waking up to clingy, doughy, sweet food. Wasa is a clean, near-neutral canvas upon which to paint your most delicious breakfast dreams (near-neutrality is key, there's truly no point in eating beige). Particularly well-suited to the savory breakfast (as all reasonable and benevolent foodstuffs ought to be), Wasa's deep grain flavors provide the kinds of bass notes often missing in early-morning meals. These are the foundation for fantasy open-faced sandwiches, for breakfast! They are made Hard On Purpose, so they can be piled high with any/all your favorite cheeses/meats/vegetables/dairy-based semi-solids, becoming a veritable Edible Plate. (Which is good, because for those of us with morning-impaired manual dexterity, forks and knives are an unnecessary danger.) (Also, seriously, Pile Up. One swipe of cream cheese means nothing to Wasa. These things can still taste like performance-art food if you don't show some ambition.) They are made Indefatigably Crunchy a) so even if you do apply a solid inch of semi-solid dairy-things, you still get to chew something and b) because contrasting food texture is neat. Texture wakes up your mouth. And those splinters, they aren't endangering your gums, they're optimizing your dental hygiene routine like the little cleaner-fish that hang out in the mouths of resting sharks.</div>
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Breakfast revolution <i>and </i>shark similes. Let the healing begin!</div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-86482751482785804042012-12-29T15:39:00.001-06:002012-12-29T15:39:31.825-06:00Some Baths That Aren't YetMost of the baths I've visited have had historic precident, gracing their cities as original facilities if they were not actual founding reasons for putting a bit of civilization a particular where. When new baths come along, they are made from equal parts inspiration and obsession. Some borrow from history and culture, some forge ahead, but all are intentionally reinvesting in bathing. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yRl61V1f62EFGxSPRrNCaOg45jyIg3Eegfv0sn6CpUs5efWAsVu4KxcI-OTGRHvRrJjxJq0TB283qpacC513d32CWrOr0hNTruMJX9gxio1_Q67W7-ELtNnCUf5kVsXQPjzHJP6BVwYN/s1600/5thWeekBerlin+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yRl61V1f62EFGxSPRrNCaOg45jyIg3Eegfv0sn6CpUs5efWAsVu4KxcI-OTGRHvRrJjxJq0TB283qpacC513d32CWrOr0hNTruMJX9gxio1_Q67W7-ELtNnCUf5kVsXQPjzHJP6BVwYN/s320/5thWeekBerlin+024.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKziESnygycmX7d0m-0CI7b6bFdz803JzwvUsaV6pTpBXmoq4au4nC34kTArvVEjGJkPDZ8SFgYQkxFS2z3Fcm81COSpJbkPeHP2qlJIUOu1YeZtGWKdzwXaro5d209F62oVOPCAUF9N9o/s1600/5thWeekBerlin+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKziESnygycmX7d0m-0CI7b6bFdz803JzwvUsaV6pTpBXmoq4au4nC34kTArvVEjGJkPDZ8SFgYQkxFS2z3Fcm81COSpJbkPeHP2qlJIUOu1YeZtGWKdzwXaro5d209F62oVOPCAUF9N9o/s320/5thWeekBerlin+022.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Berlin's once-and-future <a href="http://gls-campus-berlin.de/en/stadtbad-oderberger">Stadtbad Oderberger</a> thrives during renovation as a venue for concerts, conferences and locally-made craft markets.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrxTqfGjOMCgpvBaBXAHKx-ripg65sPfMjYoobhIQJa8ElvG_IBO0_SyNgVpE6Zk6nNXgJMrMRYBFq5LkkW4yGpWOKMDJQrpAhyphenhyphenR38Pjo_IQTlj560zm0X19MtkKGA4DoN4exoygxPjI6/s1600/3rdWeekHelsinki+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrxTqfGjOMCgpvBaBXAHKx-ripg65sPfMjYoobhIQJa8ElvG_IBO0_SyNgVpE6Zk6nNXgJMrMRYBFq5LkkW4yGpWOKMDJQrpAhyphenhyphenR38Pjo_IQTlj560zm0X19MtkKGA4DoN4exoygxPjI6/s320/3rdWeekHelsinki+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wdchelsinki2012.fi/en/program/2011-11-06/kulttuurisauna">Kultuurisauna </a>is being built as part of Helsinki's year of recognition as a World Design Capitol, with goals of sustainable design and materials-use, and intentional revitalization of sauna culture.<br />
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Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-54408700234304144462012-12-24T13:21:00.000-06:002012-12-24T13:21:07.266-06:00Some Baths That Aren't AnymoreSearching out venerable thermae, traditional neighbohood saunas, and the brand-new soaking spots, the word for Bath is the first I'm learning when I enter a new country. My eyes and ears are constantly casually scanning for signs of bathing. Probably I imagine baths more often than they exist (though honestly, what else is going on in a backyard shed with a chimney?), but I've been impressed that almost every Scandinavian town has a Sauna-something Street, and at how many Germanic placenames end with -Bad.<br />
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So there are many places I come across where I don't bathe, where nobody bathes anymore; but maybe there's a commemorative plaque, or an epithet in stone, or a bit of historical mention in a travel book.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVw6jErj4Vf9Bmp_5QcvqHeVPRks-ZrmLbks9_QAARqFa7T7xIOS_jKoxrrMzPypfCcVLbtgcG5m37X2lyJXbv7aSdf8z4V0jq1fDUGhc5mZH-H2Qy-dQBePf5lNXjv1aTK7y3JIzL5MI/s1600/5thWeekBerlin+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVw6jErj4Vf9Bmp_5QcvqHeVPRks-ZrmLbks9_QAARqFa7T7xIOS_jKoxrrMzPypfCcVLbtgcG5m37X2lyJXbv7aSdf8z4V0jq1fDUGhc5mZH-H2Qy-dQBePf5lNXjv1aTK7y3JIzL5MI/s320/5thWeekBerlin+002.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The People's Bathhouse on Oderberger Strasse, in Berlin. A once-and-future-bathhouse, long neglected but being restored...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuyqTuGF299ZJgLAUhIiuAGEVRFXkkbh6__6FTLSUg9nFPkI3PcHLBJKw7oVmeQdwTydLjjajqXbZlI6yXL93j2sVylpsxdXAddY98J4bLrZJCSm6xNIOLC8fixp6FKtOs7-5d3NsJd22/s320/3rdWeekEstonia+026.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Tallinn's Old Town there is still a Sauna St, and a historical stop in their self-guided walking tour.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9MK051WU2mdnaB3krcL3oCl1B8mJfT7CT-wr6IAGtK3q2oiwF8Oiv_-ErdjOZwA2Qu1Bar1y6ronwDVN8SuSWXt8_tJ60C7yABWsTJ4zH7zixaR1CF2RKshFy_yq6lV-oQTaJwubKCNj/s1600/5thWeekBadenBaden+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9MK051WU2mdnaB3krcL3oCl1B8mJfT7CT-wr6IAGtK3q2oiwF8Oiv_-ErdjOZwA2Qu1Bar1y6ronwDVN8SuSWXt8_tJ60C7yABWsTJ4zH7zixaR1CF2RKshFy_yq6lV-oQTaJwubKCNj/s320/5thWeekBadenBaden+007.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the original spring sites in a cliff embedded in Baden-Baden.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRxJmoqOleWAq07XwKDzQg76D9hZA9ECaowxIDQM7yDZDrL8adsbNwFESulFduyibLTL_IZUXNxqYECPiRCpnjoflPUIycW-DG3CLilCBDJZe2_aC9HMKaqigznGxpVhrD8_tbyALX9Mu/s1600/5thWeekBadenBaden+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRxJmoqOleWAq07XwKDzQg76D9hZA9ECaowxIDQM7yDZDrL8adsbNwFESulFduyibLTL_IZUXNxqYECPiRCpnjoflPUIycW-DG3CLilCBDJZe2_aC9HMKaqigznGxpVhrD8_tbyALX9Mu/s320/5thWeekBadenBaden+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under the Friedrichsbad Bathing Temple in Baden-Baden is the ruins of a Roman soldier's bathhouse, locked safely away all winter long.</td></tr>
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<br />Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-89801420670921904642012-12-17T15:41:00.001-06:002012-12-17T15:41:54.647-06:00Land Is Land<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
One thing I've noticed, traveling
around this planet of our as much as I've been able, is that
everywhere I go, the landscape is home. Surely, different parts of
the world wear different colors, and sometimes the shapes and scale
are unique and surprising. There is always something new to see,
around the corner, if you are curious enough. But the land is brown
and green. The sky is blue and white. The sun shines yellow and pink.
The stars and moon glow silvery against black and purple. Traveling
through winter, the land faded to sketch and monochrome, every tree
is shadow-brown, all small plants are in their quiet tan pajamas, and
everything else is dusty white. I could be skirting Chicagoland,
nearing the foothills of the Rockies, crossing upstate New York. But I am
racing though Bavarian countryside, and this blizzard could have
followed me from Stockholm, or it could be a stranger from Russia. I
haven't done much traveling in the winter (some part of me has always
been too skeptical to allow for possible frostbite on a lonely train
station) until now. I love the spherical intimacy of it, the land in
focus only nearby, the colors subtle. From a train, snug and
speeding, the familiarity of the landscape has a special magic all
its own.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijns_z9EDKIuR9-DTEquQGDBGyfsO2u2oD3MHNVtKof6ErmFIZEcmO0HQuTWaklNF9QGg-Pkcl-H_4KfM-7y3Rm1yHBnT-M5t9y7CvKmn_OVVE5M5RJYXAAFgRvgILeiaMFIPOHhCS88aO/s1600/5thWeekBadenBaden+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijns_z9EDKIuR9-DTEquQGDBGyfsO2u2oD3MHNVtKof6ErmFIZEcmO0HQuTWaklNF9QGg-Pkcl-H_4KfM-7y3Rm1yHBnT-M5t9y7CvKmn_OVVE5M5RJYXAAFgRvgILeiaMFIPOHhCS88aO/s320/5thWeekBadenBaden+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's only when we cross into the
acreage of civilization that shapes begin to look Foreign. The
different ways different people use hills, or roofs, or the edge of
their claims. The little towns crowded into Black Forest valleys,
vertical like a tapestry painted on silk, never minding perspective.
Switchback roads and yellow faces and linear yards of crenelated
edging, mirroring the pines above and causal river below. Steep tiled
roofs in drainage undulation or dragon scale. Tight and idyllic,
efficiently antiplanned, like a bird's nest.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CYJQuVIw6fFygZBbPi71zJGu2a7pQPeQVdPf9TfoI7sjjdRUpDwrrfTx03zYcnXccsfECgyG8dHwKabHcF-rufY-C7xXEBPCmADKUAUCMMYSB1P5NQeuiLu15yJRQFNWTqbtvwnqFpqX/s1600/5thWeekBadenBaden+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CYJQuVIw6fFygZBbPi71zJGu2a7pQPeQVdPf9TfoI7sjjdRUpDwrrfTx03zYcnXccsfECgyG8dHwKabHcF-rufY-C7xXEBPCmADKUAUCMMYSB1P5NQeuiLu15yJRQFNWTqbtvwnqFpqX/s320/5thWeekBadenBaden+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And around the bigger cities, where we
might have a Fitchburg or an Urban Sacrifice Zone, there are summer
gardens. Little plots of land where urbanites, missing nature but
unendowed with a summer home, can tend a bit of earth and fly a flag.
Which I guess is another kind of sacrifice. The cute crowds of small
fenced yards and sheds are always along railroad corridors, so I'm
not sure what they garden. Summer memories. Even in winter, they look
tidy and happy, some terraced and some wreathed in years of wisteria
vines. Miniature national/natural dream colonies. Every bit of land
is a door to all of Earth.</div>
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<br />Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-64033032269091283202012-12-17T04:18:00.001-06:002012-12-17T04:18:31.570-06:00Thermae #1: Liquidrom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUPuwQhSmTQEVp3kM6kl0STs1tIg6GZ2qP4CTXAtI0vLiUegh0z72qihXmIw6gFrPPXGaY_kdtGAG92lcGztwl-PWKTIPLXXBEZ4d1fGGSNTHL3nXh1PC3BQsaPxwGE6LZZaWClDZqFiu/s1600/5thWeekBerlin+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUPuwQhSmTQEVp3kM6kl0STs1tIg6GZ2qP4CTXAtI0vLiUegh0z72qihXmIw6gFrPPXGaY_kdtGAG92lcGztwl-PWKTIPLXXBEZ4d1fGGSNTHL3nXh1PC3BQsaPxwGE6LZZaWClDZqFiu/s320/5thWeekBerlin+019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Liquidrom is a rare bathhouse; newly
arrived but singing with quality, totally modern with a great deal of
soul. It definitely caters to a contemporary crowd –
multigenerational but skewed towards the professional – the folks
you'd see at a swank club or an artsy cirques review. (That crown
topping the building in the photo? That's the Tempodrom on the other
side of the building, a swanky big venue.) Liquidrom is outfitted in
concrete walls and raw slate floors, but it doesn't ever feel cold or
Bloc. The stone lines are graceful, often curved, proportions
generous. Iron-caged mysig candles
and sculptural flora line the halls, on the walls hang the kind of
modern pop art inspired by the circles that inspired mandala-makers.
There's soft electronica piped through invisible speakers, vaguely
new-age-holiday. Liquidrom knows what it's doing. Liquidrom wants to
be cool, and it is cool.</div>
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The changing rooms are large and
gym-like, if your neighborhood gym goes in for mahogany paneling and
shiny black tile. Lockers are secured with a rather complicated
key-chip-bracelet, and because this is Germany (home of the Free Body
Culture dreaded by Scandinavians) the locker rooms are coed, the
bathhouse is coed and largely clothing-discouraged, except for at the
bar and in the big pool. Yeah, there's a bar, and a free glass of
prosecco the night I visited, and nightly live music, which ranges
from jazz to bossa nova to cinematic downbeat. In between sweating
and soaking, there are generous resting rooms (indoor and out –
where in December you can watch steam curl off your skin) filled with
comfortable lounge chairs to cool off and sip whatever.
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Lining the minimalist half-wall
corridors are nearly a dozen different rooms in which to sweat or
soak. 4 different saunas, each a different temperature (from 65 to
90), some featuring aromatic steams or walls of pink Himalayan salt.
Each is labeled with bathing information and expectations (wash your
seat in the steam room, in the saunas you must have a towel under
your butt and feet, etc.) Besides the large pool, there are several
soaking pools, each filled with salty thermal water. None reach
jacuzzi-heat, but the outdoor pool is warm under the snowflakes, and
one pool is so salinated your body floats effortlessly. In between
these are cold plunges and huge-headed showers, and passing trays of
cold fruit juice and warmed honey for self-massage carried by
beautiful waitrons.</div>
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The largest pool in Liquidrom is a
centerpiece of atmospheric modulation. The ceilings are domed in
wide, loomingly post-deco arches; the kind of pool where city elite
might swim, deep under Fritz Lang's Metropolis. The salty warm water
glows with colored light, refraction patterns ripple over everything.
The electronica is piped here too, echoing weirdly off so many
curves, but is even more impressively heard Underwater, where the
music hollows and billows like whalesong from submarine speakers. So
after a hour perusing a plethora of little steams and sweats and
soaks, after your senses are relaxed by the wandering of sensorial
slowness in a realm of remarkably quiet architecture, imagine lying
just covered with warm water somehow holding you afloat, while
colored light wafts across your eyelids and shadowy rhythms nod in
your ears. When the night's visiting 12-string guitar began picking
its silvery way through the waves, my mind joined my muscles in
relaxation and I drifted, balanced in a luminous place.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.liquidrom-berlin.de/en/index.php">LIQUIDROM</a>: Urban Bathing-Culture</div>
</div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-67708693548960722332012-12-15T15:58:00.001-06:002012-12-17T04:24:07.627-06:00Hammam #1: Hamam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauPEYTzocdCXMb-7LeT7W6vBO0X_z6nu-woKtU4_rMGf5y4Mkzz_iC4u_resvLXMW-OyG7ejGBOumlXammonC_yxZVG_Y3le5PCYKHVPDBlNVFNMJ_3niIGATuDDpAjVOuchSg8uWR7IV/s1600/5thWeekBerlin+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauPEYTzocdCXMb-7LeT7W6vBO0X_z6nu-woKtU4_rMGf5y4Mkzz_iC4u_resvLXMW-OyG7ejGBOumlXammonC_yxZVG_Y3le5PCYKHVPDBlNVFNMJ_3niIGATuDDpAjVOuchSg8uWR7IV/s320/5thWeekBerlin+026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In Berlin, I met my first modern
bathhouses, places created intentionally for this generation, the
daughters of those cultural edifices reaching out to us from
Tradition. Intercultural lovestories and our modern access to
everything actually can, I'm grateful to say, create spaces of beauty
and healing. Berlin shines in my mind as a hopeful answer from many
directions.</div>
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Hamam is a women's bathhouse, embedded
in a larger women's community center, all of which is housed in what
used to be a chocolate factory just to the east of the Wall. The
neighborhood is lively and human-scale, though the architecture is
made of bland Bloc blocks. As I walked from the train station, the temperature dropped by degrees, and powdery snow fell. Down a alley into a courtyard used in the
warm months for sunning and sipping, Hamam already feels tucked away
and special. I rang a blue doorbell and was welcomed into a jeweled
oasis, and by far the sweetest bathhouse I have ever relaxed in.</div>
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It's beautiful inside, warm light,
white plaster arches and the scent of honey and tea. A theme of
couches and pillows begins in the welcome room and is repeated in
every part of the hamam that isn't actively wet. The walls are
studded with colored glass lamps, reproductions of romantic-era hamam
paintings and photographs of modern hamams in action. In the upper
lounge, there is a large bookshelf for browsing, and a counter with
astringent tea and oranges to buy and massages to schedule. The
changing room is a logistical afterthought, lockers in a curtained
hallway. Everyone after is wrapped in huge fluffy towels, their own
robes or pestemals (soft plaid fabric worn like a sarong, or Indian
lungi.) Women carry their potions and tools in duffel bags or
baskets. Carpeted stairs wind down to curtained glass doors and the
baths.Within the hamam itself the air is warm and lights softer, and
the ceiling hung with glowing fabrics. The couches, deep as twin
beds, are upholstered in vinyl, piled with pillows, and every few
feet supplied with throw blankets. Women sit and doze and read and
chat softly, rosy from bathing and relaxed.
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Past the resting room, narrow halls
decorated with tile mosaic branch to massage rooms, sauna and cold
shower, and the beating heart of the hamam: the bellystone room.
Little bells of falling water ring off</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
the raw marble walls from the deep
marble sinks set into alcoves. The air is dim and warm and carries
light scents of lemon and rose. The domed ceiling holds a
gold-flecked floral mosaic rosette in blues and greens, and round
frosted skylights. The bellystone, an octagonal slab of polished
marble and bigger than a king-sized bed, fills the space at
knee-height. I lay my towel on the stone and lay myself on the towel,
and warmth began pouring into my skin. The bellystone is not hot, but
warm like an electric blanket, enough to prompt sweat but also enough
to provoke absolute contentment. After a very few moments I was
drifting, melted like butter.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Eventually, I wandered to an alcove,
filled a sink with warm water, and used a silver bowl and soft cloth
to douse and polish myself clean. I was visiting Hamam on “children's
day” (it was also my birthday) and for the first time, I got to see
what babies think of bathhouses. Giggling and splashing, shining
pinkly after their bath, curled napping between reclining women on
the bellystone, melted like little pats of butter. In no particular
order, and with as much repetition as desired, the activities of the
bellystone room seem to rotate around this dousing and dosing, and as
the hours slip by, all bodies ease into a languid, liquid comfort. I
did visit the sauna down the hall (small and wooden in classic
Finnish homage, 80 degrees and filled with heavy lemongrass steam)
but stayed only long enough to admire the efficient layout. The pace
of the hamam was so contrary to extremes, I didn't miss sweating at
all.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hamam offers its tickets in 3-hour increments. I usually find I'm done with my bathing routines somewhere around 2 hours, and then I bounce or slide out of the bathhouse feeling rejuvenated and fresh. At Hamam, I spent a post-bath hour curled up on their magnificent couches, sipping tea and looking at the pictures in German magazines. During the extra time relaxing, the warmth and softness from the bellystone worked its way deeper under my skin, releasing tension and resolving my body into balance. When I finally left, snow was sticking, and it was colder still, but I was completely warm. I was warm for hours after.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hamamberlin.de/index2.htm">Hamam</a>: Bathing in the Chocolate Factory Women's Center</div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-54338591113255030102012-12-12T05:07:00.000-06:002012-12-12T05:07:27.350-06:00The Berlin Wall Is An Almost Perfect Synaesthetic Experience<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0p4dkGxJkNQwDry2OmJJxHamplUi1n2OXXW0ZfXoXsBY_bTiksaey12mN159NzHMHIelyuzGNbNt3eyJUQcVcB0Y4XR2My7SgiJ5cJEvGEA9YllK6w0CYMDKbGMEdamP_enbGubOBtX9b/s1600/5thWeekBerlin+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0p4dkGxJkNQwDry2OmJJxHamplUi1n2OXXW0ZfXoXsBY_bTiksaey12mN159NzHMHIelyuzGNbNt3eyJUQcVcB0Y4XR2My7SgiJ5cJEvGEA9YllK6w0CYMDKbGMEdamP_enbGubOBtX9b/s320/5thWeekBerlin+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It stands in front of you. It's so
tall. And so thin. Hesitantly thin, stage-prop thin. You think, I
could be the one to push it over, I could take this wall down with
one good shove. Heat blooms in your chest, your cheeks, smelling of
raw carrot. But it looms over you -- The Wall -- stormclouds with
silvery barbed-wire lining, and even though it is fragile and
swaying, it's nailbed is under your feet. It pulls you into its
shadow with a roar nearly subsonic and tangy with rust. You think
about it holding in decades, holding back hope, holding down the city
in the unstretching tug of a long scar down your back.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiN32nMDexLQ9Sm-pHGnrvcYnxTSmyKNFr9U4r4pEPinWI7rZVOr4-kh5K_C_d-X3agj7GWt1LfulA7rvjVltOjzJQWtNzxE60JszQSjdszeW-4lnUfk6zLYrHYR-UPS7_4WPtXbVsBPC/s1600/5thWeekBerlin+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgiN32nMDexLQ9Sm-pHGnrvcYnxTSmyKNFr9U4r4pEPinWI7rZVOr4-kh5K_C_d-X3agj7GWt1LfulA7rvjVltOjzJQWtNzxE60JszQSjdszeW-4lnUfk6zLYrHYR-UPS7_4WPtXbVsBPC/s320/5thWeekBerlin+003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgg0N5lE5b3dyCVrW7G-popQ-Pxvj4aGkjmMG5qM7OLln4V0JQA1swlcUX2_K_cn-2PHF87OQKxwQ5OU9s_xjjtN6v-htOEeIjqrb82KrVUrmhFDeG16Ne6Eyf55Zy-Jotw9QxVKtwsrJ/s1600/5thWeekBerlin+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgg0N5lE5b3dyCVrW7G-popQ-Pxvj4aGkjmMG5qM7OLln4V0JQA1swlcUX2_K_cn-2PHF87OQKxwQ5OU9s_xjjtN6v-htOEeIjqrb82KrVUrmhFDeG16Ne6Eyf55Zy-Jotw9QxVKtwsrJ/s320/5thWeekBerlin+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Wall swells before you, absorbing
light and doubt. The dignity of the Wall rears over you, equal parts
stubborn pride and clear glaring humility, dense as wool felt and
welcoming. The Wall says, You have pushed me over hundreds of times,
and I hope you will destroy me hundreds more times, everywhere you
want to grow. And then it shows you how. The Wall fluffs out its
feathers, a million billowing layers of gilt and angst, the million
prayers and curses rubbed onto its surface. The color rises, fills
your vision as a holy mountain, coats your tongue with opals and
justice. Nettle infusion and the heat off birthday candles. A winged
kitten, all downy fur and needle claws and wide skylight eyes, begins
raging and playing in your chest. You know you will say no untrue
thing the rest of the day. You know you are in the right place.</div>
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Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-23938663168078759732012-12-11T07:52:00.002-06:002012-12-11T07:53:54.137-06:00Still Assimilating, More Gracefully<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcC6457Dgv6O0NKdNo7F0GogLWhFiMl9kzlBP1pUxDwlNWcFzuOv70SPvqiy6jIz0WmBddiUa_kdbn5f4whwhXVqHIyEA4ehFgmLdRxwJPRGjCHP4VR_dX8dm3JqYGCn0c-KIs2Yqv2rN/s1600/3rdWeekHelsinki+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcC6457Dgv6O0NKdNo7F0GogLWhFiMl9kzlBP1pUxDwlNWcFzuOv70SPvqiy6jIz0WmBddiUa_kdbn5f4whwhXVqHIyEA4ehFgmLdRxwJPRGjCHP4VR_dX8dm3JqYGCn0c-KIs2Yqv2rN/s320/3rdWeekHelsinki+013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I like Helsinki! Coming back to it after visiting Tallinn was a treat, feeling like I knew a place, like it was already mine. I had places I knew, a hostel I liked, more trust in the trains, favorite saunas to revisit. I could spend more time looking around, less time scabbling for balance. It was shinier.</div>
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The architecture in Helsinki is very self-confident, this lovely mash-up of all the different eras of the last century, those informed by royal sensabilities, civic pride, and the creative management of economic depression.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhMdGlDiJ5WTGYrLye1K5oVqwmIurLd7Wf4TjWshm5Odb0G_ZoTiXg5_k5jNC_bC2nmIWdh_OxcAjJ6T0jT9p5tV9DhqcjOlZJzCwHpoLmOk5Nns_BK4bjvFKzf8h_R4SPiTGI0xk8rCu/s1600/2ndWeekAlandBoats+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhMdGlDiJ5WTGYrLye1K5oVqwmIurLd7Wf4TjWshm5Odb0G_ZoTiXg5_k5jNC_bC2nmIWdh_OxcAjJ6T0jT9p5tV9DhqcjOlZJzCwHpoLmOk5Nns_BK4bjvFKzf8h_R4SPiTGI0xk8rCu/s320/2ndWeekAlandBoats+010.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrOQ38YyZXK7_bSkQT43TAU_H1ht3jhIwLJ1lXz-EkXKpApcnJAEE5-MT-q-cMhJ7U5DFxbJ9n_hoyiFEUxBdHoJxjoJPAL16FDTR1xNNdbI8Yi3bfg2PN7wPWvd-sATRv-ehVH5zcX0y/s1600/3rdWeekHelsinki+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrOQ38YyZXK7_bSkQT43TAU_H1ht3jhIwLJ1lXz-EkXKpApcnJAEE5-MT-q-cMhJ7U5DFxbJ9n_hoyiFEUxBdHoJxjoJPAL16FDTR1xNNdbI8Yi3bfg2PN7wPWvd-sATRv-ehVH5zcX0y/s320/3rdWeekHelsinki+041.jpg" width="240" /></a>I saw my first Scandinavian sunset here. I learned a new transit system in a language I can't even begin to pronounce. And honestly, when it gives me chances
to sauna twice a day, how could I not like this city?<br />
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Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-33017043122431227912012-12-11T07:42:00.001-06:002012-12-11T07:53:22.919-06:00Sauna #4: Kalma Saun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccQ1Ttb2cW3aAi2npf0mmJYQdNsSguWD81iPApO4Jtrzkdk8BokIMux_bhSqqlPaEUSWNUk45M-EnAVloHV81CVausuXk0JFqv6uCYD9eDs89lQYUhUJwp9139E7KFDLpp_YF5aAIc8me/s1600/3rdWeekEstonia+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccQ1Ttb2cW3aAi2npf0mmJYQdNsSguWD81iPApO4Jtrzkdk8BokIMux_bhSqqlPaEUSWNUk45M-EnAVloHV81CVausuXk0JFqv6uCYD9eDs89lQYUhUJwp9139E7KFDLpp_YF5aAIc8me/s320/3rdWeekEstonia+029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kalma Saun even looks like the edifice
from a different hybrid era it is. It's graceful, but monolithic;
sheathed in marble and institutional tile and deep orange wood.
Another unique tumble of the competing Slavic/Scandinavian/Rossiyan
pachinko game like Estonia, like Finland. In all of Tallinn, it seems
to be the only still-functioning, always-was-a bathhouse. Spas are
everywhere, mostly tucked inside hotels and convention centers (which
are also everywhere, outside Old Town), running a gamut of size and
purpose. Some are salons with advanced manicure/pedicure offerings,
others more like indoor water parks with swimming pools and
waterslides, steam rooms and saunas.</div>
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If Kamla is their predecessor, I
imagine I can understand the abundance. If we'd gone This is a
more-is-more bathhouse, a bring-your-own full-service spa, a day-long
ritual committed to complete restoration of personal purity. In the
women's side (up the stairs to the left from the hotel-lobby-like
attendant station), the atmosphere is relaxed and functional, the
dress code is completely un-, and the complicit camaraderie between
bathers is total. Women come in pairs or alone, and spend hours in
ablution. They bring apothecaries of potted unguents and
elaboratives, soaps and scrubs and masques and henna for their hair.
They manicure and medic themselves, tend to exfoliation and eczema
with equal focus, and perform every bit of body caring to be done.
Kalma is, in fact, a large-capacity, well-resourced, bathing room.
And it's wonderful!</div>
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The changing and resting room is
outfitted like a den, there's a big fireplace that looks like it sees
regular use when it gets truly cold, and overstuffed couches and
chairs. The 13 wooden lockers are large and solid, ringing the lounge
without a trace of privacy. This is where modesty ends. I was
probably the youngest woman both times I visited, and was welcomed
both times with a maternal lack of curiosity. Besides stashing away
street-clothes so the bathers can attend to more important aspects of
themselves, the lounge also acts for a comfy and dry cooling room,
where you can sit in your new skin til you are ready to return to the
world.</div>
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I visited twice because I love a
fully-functioning and vibrant bathhouse, but also because I really
wanted to get it right. In Helsinki's saunas, the meat of the visit
is the stove room, the purging bouts of sweating, and a bracing scrub
in cold water afterwards. At Kalma, its DIY spa day. The main
activity swirls around a tiled room lined with showers and filled
with stone benches that are equipt with hot and cold running faucets,
like so many luxurious lab tables. Stationed at these, with buckets
of water as hot as you like, with any tool and potion you desire,
personal devotions begin. There is laughter and smalltalk, and
susurations of comfort. The place smells like fresh-cut conifer wood,
good green tea, and delicate soaps.
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The sauna actual is a fierce place,
where no one spends more than 5 minutes, and there was no question of
me keeping up my (now solidly toned) usual sweating routine. The room
is no more than 15 feet long, but baking with two electric stoves.
The thermometer flexed between 100-110 degrees, and I believe every
decimal. This is heat that stings you skin, and you don't adjust to
it. The first time I sat on its wooden benches, my skin immediately
prickled into goosebumps, and started itching. Still flush with pride
in my sauna skills, I made it longer than the woman who came in with
me, but only by seconds. Shocked and appalled moments later in as
cold a shower as I could find, my skin cooled but remained a piebald
of too-pink and distressingly-pale splotches. I scrubbed down until
my skin was at least a uniform color, and spent much of my first stay
in the lovely cool water pool.</div>
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So the second visit I came geared up. I
brought my sauna kit (hat, sit-upon, sisal mitt), I brought a
fragrant sliver of soap and my nail clippers, and I brought body
oils. I also bought a whisk of leafy birch twigs from the attendant,
because I'd been dreaming about them since reading about Traditional Sauna, and
Kalma was the first place I'd seen anyone using them. I copied the
other women, soaking my whisk in hot water til the twigs were soft
and whippy, and the whole affair smelled like the woods in spring.
After I was warmed up and had undergone my first layer of cleansing,
I took the whisk into the stove room. I sat as long as I could,
breathing the steam off the whisk while the heat pried open every one
of my pores, and then set about slapping my skin. It was amazing!
Suddenly, the prickly itch was met and overcome, and I swear I could
feel endorphins flooding my body. As I finished whisking my back it
was as if all my muscles, whether in affirmation or sensory
overwhelm, all relaxed at once. Success! I stepped out of that dragon
room, skin completely new, to finish my bath. </div>
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<br />
<a href="http://www.bma.ee/kalma/engindex.html">Kalma Saun</a>: Oldest bath in Tallinn</div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-32980781641069014702012-12-06T04:05:00.000-06:002012-12-06T04:05:51.638-06:00A Quick Digression<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRZmA85LFgF9vYsAHxiNrYNSZ-wML6_7dujNkrT8mEZRyqNDOm3pTnXL1ik0N1-SOOuS9DDebQAlPMOCAOO0xLXY3oqXuyNCKBK6-Z_z9yul9K_IC5dLGjvlGeIK22kxruGb4XSZhZW0Y/s1600/3rdWeekEstonia+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRZmA85LFgF9vYsAHxiNrYNSZ-wML6_7dujNkrT8mEZRyqNDOm3pTnXL1ik0N1-SOOuS9DDebQAlPMOCAOO0xLXY3oqXuyNCKBK6-Z_z9yul9K_IC5dLGjvlGeIK22kxruGb4XSZhZW0Y/s320/3rdWeekEstonia+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the middle of my affair with Helsinki, a hostel roomate said, "You want to see a Real Living Bathhouse? You should go to Estonia!" So I spent the weekend in Tallinn, in the 1/2-mile
square of Vanalinn (Old Town) a beautiful crumb of medieval cobbling
holding down a port city. It overlooks the bay from a seat equal
parts living stone and masonry, and every wall feels about 3 feet
thick. I'm sure there are other parts of Tallinn which are lovely and
interesting, I'm sure this city's public transportation system and
everyday neighborhoods are full of adventure. But I feel such a
vacation-like luxury here, I have no interest in them at all. All I
want can be found wandering down tiny streets and craning my neck at
stone reliefs. Tiny shops full of amber and pottery and the clouds of
glowing wool creations. Museums venerable and contemporary, and art
galleries by the acre.
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One most excellent museums is the <a href="http://www.nuku.ee/english/museum-of-puppet-arts/">Nuku Museum of Puppet Arts</a>: this is their "Steampunk Puppet Theater" -- a glowing window of clockwork automatons that whirl into jangly action every 30 minutes.</div>
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There's a funny thing happening to my
field of vision, out here where I well and truly have no
comprehension of the language. Automatic and endemic reader that I
am, imagine my surprise now that the printed word has absolutely no
meaning here. Advertising has turned into simple visual impact.
Signage is visual noise. I might as well read dream newspapers. At
first this was distracting, a little distressing, and I felt its
loss. But now its like being sent home from work, with only a slight
fever, and nothing to do the rest of the day. I've been freed from
responsibility, in a bewildering way. Where did I put that ability to
comprehend? I have become that smiling foreigner who simply has no
clue. Strangers are lovely and helpful in need. Children think
pantomime is hilarious. Shopkeepers are either kindly or exasperated.
Bus drivers will let you get away with anything. I'm in a silent-film
comedy.</div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-67189077566360129992012-11-24T15:35:00.000-06:002012-11-24T15:35:37.054-06:00Sauna #3: Arla<br />
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Sauna Arla's website completely defied
deciphering; google translation spat it back out, and anyway there
didn't appear to be much actual website. All the pertinent details
hide out in the logo block, and otherwise I only got that they seem
to be hosting a lecture series. I'd heard a rumor it was a sauna/art
gallery, sounded like a hip place. Something about murals on the
walls...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The entrance gate is an impressive bit
of welding, and the tunnel leading from the street into the courtyard
tightropes between folksy kitsch and angular impressionism. I admit,
the walk in got me hoping for tattoos and day-glo sauna hats. There
are mysig lights beside the door, and it looked like the courtyard
serves as a cooling patio. The attendant's booth is hung with Sauna
Arla logo t-shirts, bedazzled AC/DC flipflops and framed magazine
pages. There's a little basket of cherry tomatoes on the counter, and
carafes of water topped with new glasses like an outdoor cafe. The
changing room is painted bright colors, and there are a ton of
excellent art-scene magazines in the very sparse cooling-area. So
maybe Arla is arty, but its no gallery.</div>
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<br />
On my own again (I guess the place is
full on weekends, but not in the post-dinner hours of Thursday
evenings), the attendant showed me around, making sure – “since
it is your first time at Arla” – that I knew how to steam the
stove “safely.” Not properly. Safely. You see, the stove at Arla
is the size of a phone booth. It's electric, but electric like the
power plants of your favorite 1930s monochrome industry-and-man
photo. Through a hatch exactly at head height, dark stones smolder
and mutter.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The whole room was colorless tile and
concrete. The stove dominated a full sixth of the space. The heat
dominated everything. The kind of heat that wants you to submit to
it, and is very confident. Heat filled every corner, every crack.
Walls and floor and stairs and stove were locked in a thermal
feedback loop. The benching on the top stair was hot to the touch.
(Its hard to make wood <i>hot</i> to the touch.) Standing on anything
put my feet in danger of blistering. Leaning against anything was a
Very Bad Idea. I made myself comfortable with extra sauna “pillows”
(little lengths of benching meant to lean against, or sit upon if
you're making use of one of the lower stairs); one at my back, one
under my feet. From this refuge, I set about my sauna in a safe (and
awed) manner.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
You steam the sauna at Arla like you're
practicing boxing, it's all timing and accuracy. The ducking and
retreating are also like combat training. You nimble your way down to
the floor, scoop up a good-sized ladle of water, take careful aim,
and heave it into the maw of the stove. Then you best duck, drop the
ladle back in the bucket, and scurry like an edible thing back up to
your seat. With this technique you are almost certainly guaranteed to
1) minimize time toasting your tootsies on horizontal surfaces, 2)
show proper respectful genuflection to the fire-monster in the room,
and 3) avoid scalding your face with water vaporizing at velocity.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And if you do, you are then rewarded
with the most astonishing, embracing, muscular steam a sauna-lover
could hope for. It rolls towards you in bellows, digging its fingers
into shoulders and neck, reaching around to prod your back muscles.
And you relax, all at once, thoroughly surrendered to the Great Beast
Healing. “Lovely” is too pastel a word for this steam,
“impressive” is too clean-edged, “overwhelming” too violent.
What's wanted is a word for a particularly elegant excavator, or some
prehistorically large animal galloping. “Majestic” works, so does
“behemothic.” I imagine the wrathful compassion of daikinis would
be similar.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
About an hour into this ritual, I
finally realized the addictive quality of sauna as an endurance
sport. In between the thrilling steam drill, I sat on the top stair
being massaged by the steam-mastadon, and sweating. I did so for as
long as seemed reasonable, then went out for quick cold showers. My
usual sauna cues seemed not to manifest; I felt no giddiness, no
palpitations, no woozyness, no ineffable feeling of resolution. I did
feel as if I was being completely wrung out, but as this is not one
of my personal sauna-sensations, I felt more curious about What Would
Happen Next than anything. I kept going back for mastadon. I tapped
into the sauna archetype known as the Heroic Sufferer. I fidgeted,
and tried out different positions. I spent a lot of time trying to
decipher the thermometer. It seemed stuck, patinaed to the point of
permanence, topped out at 140. But that didn't seem right, since I
wasn't, y'know, dead. (I expect the needle should have been hovering
between 90-100 – Mr. Attendant agreed.)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Eventually, and all at once, I knew I
Was Done. My scamper had been massaged into a wobble, and I thought
it best to just keep my head down and bow my way past the stove and
out the door. The shower couldn't get cold enough to calm the fire
now living inside my skin. I felt like I had been given some kind of
Monster Fire Transfusion, and I was positive I would never be cold
again. But neither was I in any state to put street clothes back on.
So I spent a completely, serenely limp half an hour catching up on
the Helsinki art scene, and called it a night.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.arlansauna.net/">Sauna Arla Bastu</a>: "Washes All"</div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-70202651997439303572012-11-23T11:22:00.000-06:002012-11-24T13:20:51.177-06:00Sauna #2: Hermanni<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJBQl8Vh4-GrVkoCc9BQNbDHlm5Q4rCrbUXaC3U3elQLpOEYbSeo1sQDpXNnMKcNRu579Xw5RaU7ampujzt2GArXqFQiW13BVyT6bO7AHi6IOywTh2ceDkpkqqDHMBwD8bpRVghMGxuHn/s1600/3rdWeekHelsinki+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJBQl8Vh4-GrVkoCc9BQNbDHlm5Q4rCrbUXaC3U3elQLpOEYbSeo1sQDpXNnMKcNRu579Xw5RaU7ampujzt2GArXqFQiW13BVyT6bO7AHi6IOywTh2ceDkpkqqDHMBwD8bpRVghMGxuHn/s320/3rdWeekHelsinki+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I almost missed it, hawk-eyed though I
was, perched in the #6 tram. H<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">ä</span>meentie
Street plays cute little games with it's address numbers – the left
and right sides don't keep pace, and are happy to skip a decade or 2
on a whim. I'd almost begun thinking I'd gone too far, when I saw a
little sign, shining through the rainy gloom, from the corner of a
large apartment block.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ducking around back I found that
magical door named Sauna, and headed down to the basement level, and
a hallway that would have been at home in any midcentury school
building. A smiling lady in a marquee-booth between women's and men's
doors later, I was in the locker room and on my own for the next 2
hours. (Being alone, I took the liberty of taking pictures, which I
somehow always feel hesitant about in bathhouses.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruIaQXbLww5Z97YMI1U5hycfdxT-VYyLng8DhbBW4UjSjhSRL_pcEyO-MkgydusnLbJi571rEYksYshaFIrf2WMuivQcmgjpatIxcxoj85XL8cCAcR_eGVo-rPbpIwrvkLu9ND56UW1tB/s1600/3rdWeekHelsinki+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruIaQXbLww5Z97YMI1U5hycfdxT-VYyLng8DhbBW4UjSjhSRL_pcEyO-MkgydusnLbJi571rEYksYshaFIrf2WMuivQcmgjpatIxcxoj85XL8cCAcR_eGVo-rPbpIwrvkLu9ND56UW1tB/s320/3rdWeekHelsinki+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hermanni Sauna is what I imagine any
neighborhood bath could be like; comfortable and straightforward, not
leaning in any particular direction. A clean, well-used,
commonly-loved bath. The showering room is only for showering, the
drying and dressing room for exactly what it says. Not much room for
socializing or luxuriating, high function-to-form ratio.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The stove room is similarly simple,
wood panels and wood benches, a lovely room long enough to feel a
real heat differential from door-end to stove-end. The first public
place here I've seen where the low bench could really be for sitting,
maybe a nod to a multigenerational (multitemperational?) clientele.
The stove is a monsterous thing; a cylinder of stones a solid 4 feet
tall, caged by steel mesh. Through the gaps I could see long loops of
heating element glowing orange. For all that it seemed a fairly timid
stove, giving mild and even heat. Id guess somewhere between 70-80? (There was just a thermometer-shaped clean patch on the wall.) Throwing a ladle of water on it
(really nice round-belly ladles!) didn't have a strong effect. The stove
always stopped sizzling before any wave of heat rolled toward me, and
the wave was short-lived. Smelled of hot metal and rainy asphalt.
The heat was easy to spend long minutes in, easy to leave and return
to, easy to tell when I was finished.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.saunahermanni.fi/index.html">Sauna Hermanni</a> -- Neighborhood bathhouse.</div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-18528035698987644402012-11-22T14:04:00.001-06:002012-11-24T13:19:12.654-06:00Sauna #1: Kotiharjun“Smells Like
Home” Sauna<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsrivkOhCOllPjiLWlGhsUU0a-_WvthYycEoYYOj35482kzYAZPxfz4G8PWvBq5x2wZg353xyev2E69QPPJ-n7PxCtpIYsznIUQ6NmDzaJ6OIZwcFEEVuIn9jLZf4tmz4m8uJHIXy1wGw/s1600/3rdWeekHelsinki+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsrivkOhCOllPjiLWlGhsUU0a-_WvthYycEoYYOj35482kzYAZPxfz4G8PWvBq5x2wZg353xyev2E69QPPJ-n7PxCtpIYsznIUQ6NmDzaJ6OIZwcFEEVuIn9jLZf4tmz4m8uJHIXy1wGw/s320/3rdWeekHelsinki+018.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As I walked up, men young and old were
cooling themselves in towels under the huge red neon SAUNA sign,
along the sidewalk to the front door. The neighborhood reminded me of
any urban apartment district, a bright-lit restaurant-and-laundry
street just around the corner.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The tiny foyer was high traffic,
cramped with a deep freeze for birch whisks, a cooler for hard &
soft drinks, brightly colored piles of towels, and photocopied
instructions on the walls. The attendant stood in a tiny closet of an
office with a half-door and a vibe like a maitre d'. One door,
propped open, looked down a few steps into the men's changing/cooling
room, wooden lockers and tables and dozens of body types roaming
pinkly around. The air in the foyer smelled strongly of layers of
sweat, and clean laundry.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Up the stairs out of the miasma and
through frosted glass doors, the women's changing/cooling room looked
similar, though less thoroughly used. The odd fake plant, wood
lockers and varnished benches and picnic tables. The air smelled
lightly like a half dozen kinds of soap, and delicious roasting
sausages from a friendly gathering in progress.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Unrobed and farther in, the large
shower room had nubby pebbled flooring and excellent showers, the
kinds here with both mobile and static shower heads, and a toggle to
switch between. Plenty of hooks to leave my towel, cement benches on
which to commandeer a few square inches to stash my shower supplies,
if I'd had any. (Note to self: bring shower supplies.)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
At the far end of the shower room is a
wooden-handled wooden door named Sauna. The stove room is cement,
filled with piles of cleanly split wood, and walking in, it is simply
warm. On the left is a giant, impressive (incinerator-,
crematorium-worthy) furnace of a stove. There are stern warnings not
to mess with this oven in 3 languages (the English one calls it the
Owen.) Past the stove is a kind of amphitheater of cement stairs
rounding 2 walls, the top level about 4 feet from the ceiling and
decked with narrow pine planks. 2-foot lengths of similar benching
are propped up for backrests.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On the top stair the room smelled of
wood smoke, hot pine and clean steam. Standing on the middle stairs I
caught the mammalian scent of warm bodies – it actually was very
homey. Stepping off the stairs each time I left the sauna for a quick
cold shower, I could smell chlorine, and the metal of the stove, but
these scents slunk around the floor.
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The heat built with each step up, at
first I was surprised that only the top stair was decked for a bench,
but it's only at the top that the air is finally hot enough to draw
sweat. The wall behind me radiated heat, I was held on all sides by
heat. The thermometer on the wall behind me kept its needle hovering around 90. Each time a woman entered or left the stove room, she would ask
if we wanted more steam. She'd open a little lever on the stove for a
second or two, and hissing billows would roll towards us. As it wrapped around us, the air got quiet and heavy, and everything seemed to go into soft focus. Soft and
round, it was still the kind of steam that bows your head for you. My
lungs felt bigger with every breath, my muscles longer and my skin
smoother. Each time I left the room, I cranked the showers colder.
By the end of 2 hours of bowing to heat and ducking under cold water,
sitting on the top stair felt like floating.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kotiharjunsauna.fi/index.html">Kotiharjun Sauna</a> -- Helsinki's oldest wood-fired public sauna.</div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-58434339350081134052012-11-22T04:51:00.000-06:002012-11-22T13:48:28.248-06:00A Prelude To All This BathingI love bathing. Soaking. Sweating.
Steaming. I love bathing of all sorts. I love giant claw-foot cast
iron tubs. I love dinner-plate cascade showerheads. I love wooden
rooms with black stoves breathing the scalding perfume of forests. I
love pale smooth tiled rooms veiled in curls of warm mist.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I love camping solar showers and
watertank farm showers and jumping in rivers. I love exfoliating with
beach sand and painting myself with mud. I love homemade salt scrubs
and candlelit tubs and chromotherapy and fragrant, herb-infused
water. And yes, if it's all I've got, I also love rickety prefab
shower cabinets and thumpy fiberglass tubs.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And I love bathhouses. All-wood and
tatami, onsen-inspired ones. Romanesque marble-and-echo ones. Mosaic
bellystone ones. YMCA gymnasium ones. Hippies-on-the-beach ones.
Forest retreat picture-window ones. Strip-mall
imported-salt-chunk-and-plastic-seahorse ones. Sanitarium scrub-down
ones. I am radically pro-bathhouse. I want more in the world.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I want you to know this, so you know
where I'm coming from, when I talk about what I've been doing. I read
through guidebooks and travel forums, and people are reviewing
bathhouses like the opening of a new fast-food chain. I've been to
bathhouses that weren't my style, and bathhouses that didn't
function, but I don't believe in bad bathhouses. I'm not looking for
perfect. I'm not looking for fancy. I'm not even looking for
effortless. I don't mind a bathhouse that takes me an hour to find,
that's older than I am, whose traditions I have to learn, whose
cleaning crews aren't compulsive. I've got reams of theories about
bathing and enjoying life, about health and happiness and the right
to both. I want bathhouses that make people happy. I'm looking for
living, vital bathhouses that are loved by their patrons, cared for
by their owners, and are improving people's lives. I believe in
bathhouses that work. I believe in lots and lots of bathing
experiences.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And the bathing experience we're
discussing right now is saunas. Because this is Scandinavia, full-on
Finland, where they made up the word Sauna. So, our language is sweat
and stove and stone and wood and fire and steam. For the rest of the
chapter, we are all sizzle and bench and endorphin rushes and this
beautiful idea of l<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">ö</span>yly
(which is a word I can't pronounce, and neither can you, but I like
to read it, and to hear Finnish people describe it as near-sentient
steam, the soul of the sauna.)</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Oh, and a word about temperature. I'm
using Celsius as my sauna-heat measure, because it underscores for me
the whole complete and unique tactile environment in the stove room.
(I can't hear “110 degrees Fahrenheit” without thinking of that
vacation in Texas, or my childhood summer egg-experiments. Too prone
to hyperbole. Even (hitherto) imaginary temperatures like 180.)
Celsius gives sauna heat it's own authority. So, let's just remember
that 100 degrees boils water, yes? And 40 is a dangerously hot summer day.</div>
Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12856096035015312977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324404494618016703.post-86256498122478355132012-11-20T04:58:00.001-06:002012-11-22T13:40:10.661-06:00All Kinds Of Ready!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWsHP0WjJ8ddjgevgQduk2u9vW5PH6vniY7ZCI24vjGzWLxvgnWU7mIuCCHW9f2gjmnPYF_I6VayhxQywi3vRciMafVJbs_t8WJoqwBWx-959ou3e3cms7rzli_Hyo3Qbh2VxbMSUTgYe/s1600/2ndWeekAlandBoats+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWsHP0WjJ8ddjgevgQduk2u9vW5PH6vniY7ZCI24vjGzWLxvgnWU7mIuCCHW9f2gjmnPYF_I6VayhxQywi3vRciMafVJbs_t8WJoqwBWx-959ou3e3cms7rzli_Hyo3Qbh2VxbMSUTgYe/s320/2ndWeekAlandBoats+012.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I have a mission today! A bright, golden glowing mission that will, can only, result in lovely sighs and victory! I've got a fancy new wooly hat, and a scratchy new mitt, and you know what that means? Today I sauna!<br />
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