Our first Turkish Bath

I apologise in advance for the lack of photos I have to share today. We had the most unreal 3.5 hour experience and no phones were allowed hence the lack of photos but let’s start from the beginning shall we.

It was another slow morning to begin our day. We have a very hectic but exciting next two weeks so some quieter slower days are definitely needed and have been very much appreciated!

Once we were ready, we decided to take the ferry over to the Asian side of Istanbul. The ride itself was fun you get amazing views across the Bosphorus and it’s pretty cool knowing you’re literally crossing from Europe into Asia in about 20 minutes.

Our first stop once we got there was the Sultan Mosque. It wasn’t as jaw-dropping as the Blue Mosque we saw yesterday, but it was still stunning in its own way. After a little look around, we went for a slow walk along the Bosphorus. The sun was out, the water was sparkling, and it was just lovely. A lot less quieter then the Istanbul we have been immersed in these last couple of days.

Eventually, hunger got the better of us and we stopped for lunch. We finally tried Kumpir, which is basically a giant baked potato stuffed with anything and everything. It was tasty and definitely filled the gap, but we’ve already spotted a place closer to our accommodation that looks like it does an even better version. That’s on the list for the next few days.

At this point we realized we had to hurry because we had booked a Turkish bath for 4pm back on the European side. We jumped on the next ferry, rushed through the streets, and thankfully arrived right on time.

And wow… the Turkish bath was honestly one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
It started with access to the pool, steam room, and sauna. If you know Jayde and me, you’ll know we love a sauna, so we made the most of that before we were called in.

The main bath took place in this incredible marble room with a huge heated stone bench in the middle. I was called up first, was stripped naked and was told to lie face down, and then it all began…. buckets of hot water were splashed over me until I was soaked. Then came the scrubbing. She used a rough exfoliating glove and went over every inch of me. It felt like she was scrubbing away every bit of dead skin I’ve had since birth. Another rinse, and suddenly I was buried under a mountain of bubbles, like being wrapped in a warm cloud.

While I was lying there soaking, it was Jayde’s turn. He was called up next to me and the exact same thing started happening to him. I couldn’t stop smiling here we were, side by side on a steaming marble slab, boobs out and both of us being completely scrubbed down and bubbled up.

Then came the massage part of the bath. It wasn’t gentle spa-style it was strong, deep, and almost funny at times. At one point she gave me a cheeky smack on the bum before telling me to roll over. Normally I would have felt awkward being so exposed, but I was so relaxed and so caught up in the whole experience that I barely even thought about it. It was just pure relaxation. She even washed my hair and cleansed my face it felt like being totally reset.

The funniest part was when Jayde was rinsed down. Without hesitation, she just pulled open the front of his underwear and poured water straight down. I burst out laughing, but Jayde just took it in stride it was all part of the experience! By the end of the bath, we were honestly so clean. I don’t think we have been this clean since the day that we were born!

But it wasn’t over. After the bath we were taken to loungers by the pool, served hot Turkish tea, and left to relax before our massages. The massage itself was incredible! 90 minutes of pure heaven. Strong enough to work out all the knots we have accumulated over these last 2 and a bit months but so relaxing I could have fallen asleep. To finish, they put a mud face mask on us and gave us another 10 minutes to just lie there and melt into the bed.

When it was finally over, we realized we’d been there for three and a half hours!!!! It was hands down the best spa experience we’ve ever had, and I honestly think everyone should experience a Turkish bath at least once in their life. It’s unforgettable.

Afterwards, we kept dinner simple with a home cooked steak, and now we’re in bed, completely relaxed and ready for tomorrow’s adventure—Gallipoli!!!Read more