Hi Everyone: Summer travel season is fast approaching and to celebrate my newly minted "local expertness" I thought it would be fun to write about a favorite place in Istanbul. Now choosing just one place wasn't easy but since I start off every visit to Istanbul at the Cagaloglu Hamman (great for jet lag I find), I thought I'd write about it. You guys can make this a sensational thread by telling about your favorite place in Istanbul. To begin with Hammams have been around for ages. They served as both a spiritual and physical cleansing place. Many people in the west say why go to a Hammam we have bathrooms, swimming pools and spas but the Hammam does provide you with that "something extra" which makes a visit there memorable. There are several good Hammams in the city. My favorite Hammam in Istanbul is the Cagaloglu Hammam, located at
Kazim Ismail Gurkan Caddesi number 34 (local telephone number in Turkey is 212-522-2424, New Yorkers don't get confused, this number is in Istanbul). It's across the street from the Grand Bazaar. The Hammam is 300 years old and the architecture is wonderful, men and women have seperate bathing facilities, hours for men are daily 7am to 10pm, for women 8am to 8pm. Prices vary because there are various packages available. What to expect when you visit. Firstly when you enter you are greeted (always very warmly) and then you choose the services you want. Then you are shown a cubicle where you disrobe and leave your clothing, (it locks and you keep the key) the telek or bath attendant will give you a sarong like garment to wear and towel and traditional clogs called malma. I know, I can hear the people out there who don't want to disrobe fully, I understand, you can wear a bathing suit to the Hammam, I usually opt for underwear and a towel. Then you make your way into the harara or steam room, it is a beautiful room with arched windows (high up) and fabulous marble platforms and nooks where sinks are availble. It's hot and steamy. So you sit on a platform for a while and think lovely thoughts (perhaps about lunch or shopping) and then pour water over yourself a lot. Your stress begins to diminish, and your body relaxes, I feel like singing "pack up all your cares and woes". Any way you chill out. Then the bath attendant comes in and begins massaging you all over, she pours generous amounts of water over you, you are scrubbed, I particulary like the way they scrub my hair, after the soap scrub you are CLEAN, at the Hammam you can also do hair removal in private if you wish before the soap scrub, after all this you go back to your cubicle and rest for awhile, I usually take a 15 minute nap, drink some water and then I am ready for all of the delights of Istanbul. If you want a special shampoo or soap it's ok to bring them along with you, hair dryers are available too. Please tip the bath attendant, they work hard and the tip is really appreciated. I think a lot of us Americans and Europeans have qualms about the Hammam and how to behave but after your first visit you will see that there is nothing to worry about, modest behavior of course is always appreciated in Turkey. After the visit I usually eat lunch at one of the many restaurants on the streets leading up to the Grand Bazaar and then I am ready to shop until I drop. This has been the pattern of my first day in Istanbul for many years now and I think it is a sure winner. So guys, please post your thoughts, I'd love to hear about your favorite place. LemonLady