With all the cold, snowy weather we have had of late, last Sunday I just felt I needed to spend the morning up to my neck in warm water - so a trip to the spa in Bath seemed a perfect outing. Hot water has this incredible power to relax, soothe and heal.
So we set off nice and early to the Thermae Spa in Bath, which has become one of the nicest features of contemporary Bath. I particularly like the roof pool, where one can splash about in the hot water, and yet look out over the panorama of Bath city and its circling hills - bliss. With the warm water covering your whole body - it’s nice to breathe the crisp morning air, the breeze blowing away the cares and worries, and as I bob about in the warm water, as if floating in the warm nurturing womb, I look at the city below and reflect on Bath itself, named after the sacred natural springs that bubble up under the city, and the healing goddess, Suli, the genius loci. Due to health and safety, one can no longer bath in the Roman Baths themselves, however the Cross Bath, just across the road from Bath Spa, is a nice alternative for an atmospheric and more romantic venue.
We then went to the steam rooms. I love steam rooms, but I wish that they had used natural essential oils instead of synthetic ones. Inevitably I found synthetic oils stung my eyes, and smell far from the natural bliss I expected, sticking to my skin like glue. Being used to natural, means that synthetic scents and toiletries just feel unpalatable and like a torture to the nose, so beware..
It is the same with food; we have had generations of salt obsessed chefs and food formulators. When one goes down the natural and organic path, one becomes sensitive to all of the adulterations and to the huge amounts of sugar and salt added to food, and with that thought in mind, we decided that we needed a natural and tasty lunch! So we showered off, and to counter the drying effects of the water and steam, applied a few drops of iRejuvenate Plus Elixir as well as the Cream of Wonders to our skin, making it silky and smooth, with no hint of the tightening feeling that one gets when the skin has been exposed to warm water that strips it of it’s natural oils.
So, being in Bath where else could we go for a natural, healthy, organic meal but Demuths vegetarian Cordon-Vert restaurant? I had the chestnut and mushroom pate and my partner had the truffled broccoli as a starter. This was followed by a soft Ricotta gnudi with Cavolo Nero in sage butter that made me think of Italy and home. My partner, Mike, had, appropriately I thought, “Mike’s Beetroot” a glorious collection of beetroots cooked in a plethora of ways accompanied by dainty crochettas, and a side dish of polenta chips and plumb ketchup. We finished off with a gorgeously light vanilla panna cotta, and a rich mulled chocolate pot. The three course lunch for two was only thirty pounds, and the food was superb. The strong Italian influence made me feel at home and inspired by my day out in Bath, I resolved to promise myself, at some point, a tour of the spas and trattoria of Italy!
Watch this space and see you on Bath Spa roof pool
