I’ve been skinny for most of my life until the last four or five years. I developed cushioning in places I never had it before, namely on my hips. I’m not overly self conscious about my appearances, but I certainly think I have work to do in terms of getting in shape.
I’m not shy about my body, and am not embarrassed to change at the gym, but am not an exhibitionist by any means. I will never be that girl prancing around naked in the locker room or on the beach. I still have Puritan roots deep down.
Before I went to Turkey, I had heard about friends’ experiences (Kate and Liz) in the famous Turkish baths, also known as hammams. It sounded like something I wanted to do, but the idea of being naked and rubbed down by a complete stranger in a foreign country was intimidating. I was especially nervous after hearing tales of being hit in the face with body parts and being scrubbed in awkward locations.
In the end I ignored the anxious voice in my head. I skipped the overpriced baths back in Istanbul in favor of the cheaper, more laid-back ones in Fethiye. I had just finished my Turkey Adventure overland trip with BusAbout and had a few days to kill before my Sail Turkey trip began.
My new friends Kate and Nathan, an Australian couple spending the year traveling, and I wandered into town and found the Turkish bath exactly as described: a simple building labeled “Old Turkish Bath.”
Nathan went to get a massage while us gals went for the full Turkish bath experience. A man with a towel wrapped over his bottom half greeted us and gave us towels to change into. Once we realized there weren’t women working at this establishment, I momentarily thought about bolting, but I kept my swimsuit on instead.
We were led to a room that was much like a sauna, where we sat for what felt like an hour. I was just starting to get up to find our man when he came back. First, he asked my friend to lay on the big marble slab. I’m glad she went first so I knew what to expect. After he was finished with her, it was my turn.
So what did I do? I reacted how I would in every uncomfortable situation. I laughed hysterically. He took an exfoliating mitt and scrubbed the black, dead layers of my skin off in sheets. Under my arms, on my face, in between my legs. Was it awkward? Definitely. But did he cross a line? Not at all.
After a quick rinse, it was time to be washed. Another man took what looked like a silk pillowcase filled with bubbles and ran it over my body. I was rinsed again and taken to a sink to have my hair washed. To top it off, I was wrapped up in a towel and my hair wrapped up to make me look like the Sphinx (see below).
So what did I learn from my trip to the Turkish bath?
1. The one who really cares what you look like is you. The majority of our self doubt about our looks and bodies is all in our heads. Do you think these hairy Turkish men cared that I had a little extra weight on my hips? Absolutely not. You have to love yourself first.
2. Uncomfortable situations are essential in life. They’re everywhere, from that yearly doctor’s visit to the run-ins with high school classmates. The sooner you learn to adapt, the better.
3. It feels nice to get this clean. I’d like to get a full scrub down every other month. If anyone can find me a Turkish bath in America, let me know!
I don’t have the perfect body. Not even close. I don’t have to compare myself to anyone else. Not famous people, not the wrinkled old Russian women in thongs at Pammukkale, not my friends. I’m not someone who will ever feel completely comfortable in my own skin, but I can honestly say that that day at the Turkish bath put me on the path to being so.
The Details
I went to The Old Turkish Bath near Fethiye’s waterfront. It cost 35 lira ($17 USD) for a standard Turkish bath. It is open from 7 am to midnight, making it a great stop if you only have a short time in town. Plenty of Turkish bath experiences can be found throughout the country, so shop around for prices before you go. For more tips on being a female at a Turkish bath, see my post over on Her Packing List.
Really interesting that you had men scrubbing you down! I’ve been to a few and they’ve all been women inside, who carry looks on their faces which say “I’ve seen it all, love”. I’m with you, it takes a bit of getting used to but I could have one every week. I felt like a newborn afterwards!
Love this Caroline! Yeah I think you get to a point in life sometimes when you start caring less about what people think and just get on with things. Sometimes I’m like (all strong and “Yeah! Who gives a sh*t” and sometimes I’m, like you, laughing hysterically and wondering how and when I can remove myself from the situation quickly!
But, you know, we can’t be perfect all the time, and that’s OK :)
I’d love to visit a Turkish bath I think, especially do be “deep-cleaned” – sounds fabulous!
I missed out on the Turkish bath experience while in Turkey mainly because my husband wasn’t thrilled about the idea. But I hope to get squeaky clean in a Turkish bath one of these days!