Build Bath & Shower

Shares 169 From the roof of Thermae Bath Spa I looked out over Tudor and Georgian rooftops with row upon row of cylindrical black chimneys as Charlotte Hanna, assistant sales & marketing manager for the spa, gave me a primer on the history of Bath, England. Archeological evidence suggests that humans were visiting and worshiping the hot springs in Bath as far back as 8000 B.C., but it wasn’t until 2,000 years ago, when the Romans colonized Britain , that written documentation began . The invaders wrote of a lush, uninhabited valley where natural hot springs bubbled up from the ground. Locals lived in forts atop the seven hills that surround the valley, descending each day to graze their livestock, fish, and to worship the water. But each night they retreated to their hilltop abodes, leaving the pristine valley to Sul, the pagan goddess of water, healing, and wisdom worshiped by Britons. “Clearly, the ancient people of Britain considered this a spiritual site ,” Charlotte expla...

Along with all-night karaoke sessions and bento box picnics beneath cherry blossom trees , the calming practice of taking a dip in geothermal hot springs is a decadent hobby I picked up while living in Japan years ago . Weaseling its way into my portfolio of ‘simple pleasures’, outdoor bathing in spring- fed mineral pools (what the Japanese call onsen ) or in local bathhouses is part of a normal routine for many Japanese. Back in the States, geography may limit my access and the ritual of communal bathing may be eyed with a bit of suspicion, but I am always at the ready to dive in when the opportunity presents itself. So on a recent ski vacation to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, when I heard the words “hot” and “springs” used in the same breath, my ears perked. Very quickly, the thought of a restorative, natural bath overshadowed any previous desire to hit the slopes! Without much prompting, my party and I made our way up the windy mountain roads , past the reindeer lounging am...