While in Morocco last month, Kevin and I treated ourselves to a massage. Now I like a good deep tissue massage as much as the other guy, but this was a whole new experience!
We heard from a friend that if we were going to be in Morocco, we HAD to get a traditional Hammam, so we did. HOLY HAMMAM, I guess I should have done a little more research on the finer details of the Hammam, because it was a bit shocking at first. After the shock and the first five layers of my skin came off, I really enjoyed it!
But, I'm getting ahead of myself, let me set the mood. After checking in, a small Moroccan lady escorted me through a dimly lit hallway to a tiled steamy room where she proceeded to douse me with bowls of warm water. After a good eucalyptus soaping, she left to let the steam and soap work it's magic. As I waited alone listening to the steam filling the room, I couldn't help but feel slightly anxious wondering if the door was locked and if I would be forgotten forever. I really should have asked her to explain the process before we started! As I waited for her to return, a vision of my ultimate demise as a shriveled raisin kept popping into my head. When the women finally came back into the room I laughed thinking how far I let my mind wander when I'm alone!
Anyway, when I realized that my life wouldn't end as a raisin, I felt much more relaxed. The Hammam ends with special industrial grade sandpaper mitt used for scrubbing off any excess grime.
After I got over the stinging sensation, my skin felt great, like a snake shedding out of the old and settling into the new! My skin was absolutely glowing for a week afterwards. I can understand why Moroccan women go to the Hammam often, it was such a cleansing experience, and I believe if you are a local, it's a great place to bond and catch up on all the gossip!
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