This time we landed in the city of Kassel. We dropped by there in order to visit the thermes, meaning something like pools with underground thermal springs. I'm a wild provincial, and for me there were lots of interesting things there: saltwater pools, a couple with freshwater, a section with a strong current, little waterfalls and water eruptions on schedule, one tube for sliding down, several jacuzzis, infrared cabins, tanning beds, Japanese tanning beds (what's the difference?) and other harmful and healthy things. Half of the pools are outdoors, half are under a roof.
Funny enough, when we were there, a light rain was drizzling, and the sky was dark with clouds. But that's even more fun, let me tell you. And it was even more fun when Kristina and I crashed the second floor, and there were naked dudes running around! Kristina wasn't scared of the naked dudes, so first I dumped ice-cold water on myself from a special bucket, and then rinsed my little feet alternately in ice-cold and hot water. After that we were about to crash the sauna, but then a young guy looking like an instructor walked up and slowly, unhurriedly started explaining to the dumb foreigner that you can only go to the second floor with a towel around your waist, because this is a special department for the unshy. The young guy spoke for a long time and with relish, and I didn't interrupt or tell him OK, I listened carefully, thinking maybe I'd learn some new swear words. The young guy disappointed me, used no swear words, so we had to go downstairs and meditate in a special room. The room disappointed, because even though the muzak playing there was as laxative as it gets, the plants were plastic - an ugly exhaust of modern civilization. So we didn't meditate for long, we went to reach enlightenment via the opposite method: walking on cold grass and stones with a temperature of about 14 degrees.
By the way, I did manage to find photos of this attraction, but for them you'll have to go to the website of the thermes, which by the way are called Kurhessen Therme.
We stayed in Kassel at the Ramada hotel. The establishment is serious, at least compared to some of our habitats. Rooms with climate control, and upon check-out you can request a travel kit with soap, a toothbrush, and a swimming cap for free. Plus tram rides for free, so that tourists would leave more money in dens of iniquity.
