We've learned a few things working in Europe, one of those things being the Europeans love them some holidays. Seriously, like at least one holiday every month, sometimes more. I know you're all back at home going, "Ugh, I would love one holiday a month!" The grass ain't always greener, folks; these holidays cut into precious, sometimes pivotal work time/projects/deadlines, etc. You can't just work on a holiday either; every business, every client, every site, shuts down. C and I have a love-hate relationship with said holidays, but once the end of April rolled around, we were in l-o-v-e with the idea of a day off-- and time spent together without a phone ringing! It was Belgian Labor Day and we were off to a famous day spa in Grimbergen.
OK, spoiler alert: I'm about to discuss nudity in a blunt, (hopefully) hilarious fashion. If you don't like toilet humor, I suggest you skip this post. I'll give you the length of this photo to make a decision; are you in, or are you out?....
Spa Grimbergen is one of the original Belgian spas; Belgians coined the term "spa" and the whole idea of a day spa experience (not the same as a Roman or Turkish bath). I understood our spa day might vary a little from others we've experienced in the U.S. and other locales, but I didn't think it would vary this much. We're talking nut sacks galore, people. I knew there was the potential for nudity, it's the European way, but my gosh! I don't want to soak in a mineral pool with anyone's uncovered nut sack, ever......well, ever again. It didn't help that the great majority of the spa population was well over 55. I saw more old man balls than a hooker in a nursing home (not that nursing homes have hookers, but if they did...). As for the females, I'm already planning my breast lift and it was like 70's issue of Hustler up in there (from what I hear of 70's spank mags). I have to hand it to these spa patrons; they were strutting their stuff like there was no tomorrow, swimming around free as birds, sunning themselves in the open air. They stood and had conversations like it was totally normal for their wieners to be virtually touching! One couple brought their young daughter, probably around the age of four, and she swam with her little floaties through a group of old, naked men in the pool. I cannot wrap my head around blowing up my kids' floaties while some old lady's knockers come swinging by. We quickly found the non-nude side of the spa (way smaller and less updated), but things remained weird as we entered our massages.
From my experience, you enter a massage room, the masseuse tells you to undress, climb under the sheets, and they'll be back momentarily. Not here. I was told to drop trou (everything) and climb onto the table WITH THE LADY JUST WATCHING. Yes, I realize this woman is about to rub me down, but she isn't supposed to see anything that would otherwise be covered by the sheets! Fully exposed, I climbed onto the table and wondered how C was doing in the other room with his male masseuse (I may have laughed a little); we've both had male masseuses before, but again, they don't look at our privates. The massage ended up being great, but I was a little distracted by the strangeness of the whole thing.
In the end, we had a fun day at the spa. We enjoyed some sun, some soaking, good food (seriously good drinks, too) and a good massage. The service was amazing, everything was very clean, and everyone we dealt with was friendly & welcoming. Would I go back? Probably, but I would stay on the non-nude side. Kudos to everyone with enough
Ciao!
B + C
