Le Hammam! That's "spa" to you.

Now why did it take me so long to blog about le hammam? I love hammams!!!

I try and go once a month; it's so good for detoxing your body and sloughing off old skin. First, you go into a warm room where you clean yourself with Savon Noir or Olive Soap. Then you go into an intense steam room and really open up the pores. Next is a sauna. Since you've opened up all the pores, the sweat really rolls out. Then you go to a room where a big muscly woman throws you onto a stone table like a piece of meat. There she mercilessly rubs you with a scratchy glove until you have not one bit of dead skin left on your body! Afterwards, you shower and go into a room where you lay on a chaise lounge, relax, and sip sweet mint tea and nibble on yummy sweet little cakes. 

You can also option to add an hour massage after the brutal body scrub (which feels like heaven when it's done, by the way).

Voila! I have a couple of favorite address in Lyon for those of you in the area. 

The Royal Spa 75 Cours Vitton in the 6eme. Expert massages, bourgeoise hammam.

Les Bains de l'Opera 20, rue Joseph Serlin, right next to the Opera house. Never tried the massages, but the hammam is a little more authentic, excellent gommage or scrub.

Hammam des Emeraudes 112 Cours Vitton, Charpene. This is one of my favorite hammams. It's not expensive, it's not fancy, it's in no way elegant. If you want a little adventure and an authentic experience, this is the place for you. There are women shaving, dying their hair, waxing; you name it, they do it there. The gommage or scrub is really, really efficient. Everyone is very friendly. (p.s. Don't go on a Saturday, too many people.)

My all time favorite is in Geneva, Switzerland, smack in the middle of the lake!

Les bains de Paquis

The entry fee is 17 Swiss francs which is about 12 euros. Cheap. You get access to hammam (steam room and you scrub yourself), sauna and turkish steam room, the lake, the deck on the lake, a super restaurant that dishes up killer meals for 12 swiss francs, and a wonderful relaxation room. The view of the lake and city is stunning. 

It's mixed, guys and girls. Tuesday is girls only day.

I love going in the winter when night falls early. You sit in the sauna and look out at the magical lights of Geneva. Bliss. Beauty.

When you're finished make sure and stay for dinner at the homey restaurant. They serve the best fondu I have ever had! Again, the price is ridiculously low. There are several wood stoves with roaring fires. You are on the lake. The wine is cheap and delicious. An experience not to miss. 

Voila! Gros bisous de hammam et a demain!

Love, Charley