A Hilarious Dip in Budapest’s Thermal Bath
It’s Easier Than You Think To Lend a Helping Hand
It was a foggy Wednesday afternoon.
I had been sitting in front of the computer all day, trying to work. I couldn’t concentrate, so I wasn’t making much progress with my tasks.
I felt the need to get up.
Looking out the window, I wasn’t in the mood to take a walk in the damp late autumn weather.
I would have preferred to stay in the warm room, but I knew that this day wouldn’t yield much more in terms of productivity.
Since it was Wednesday, my usual day for going to the bath, there was nothing left to do but pack up and head out.
Budapest is the only capital in the world with thermal baths.
I have been going to baths for over 20 years.
For a long time, I used to go with a former colleague, with whom we would discuss life’s big issues, also on Wednesdays after work.
Lately, I go with my wife or alone.
The capital has more than 80 geothermal springs. The unique composition of the capital’s thermal water is utilized by eight bath institutions, mainly for medical, tourist, and recreational purposes.
Among these, I visit three baths. On this afternoon, I chose the Gellért Bath.
I walked to the tram stop, and fortunately, tram number 17 arrived immediately. After a 20-minute ride along the beautiful Danube, on the Buda side of the city, I arrived at Gellért Square.
The Gellért Bath operates as part of the Gellért Hotel, which has been closed for renovation for almost a year now. I don’t know where they started the renovation, but nothing is visible from the outside yet.
The bath operates undisturbed during the hotel’s renovation, as indicated by a huge banner.
There weren’t many people at the ticket counter, so I bought my discounted ticket.
As baths are the top tourist destinations, around 80 percent of the visitors are tourists. The Hungarian population can hardly afford the skyrocketing ticket prices of recent years.
But, there is a great discount card program that only locals can get. The 60 percent reduced ticket price falls into the affordable category.
I also bought a cabin ticket, where I changed and started my program with swimming. The central pool of the Gellért Bath is beautiful, as the picture speaks for itself!
After swimming, I put my swimming cap and goggles in the rented cabin and began my bath circuit.
Thermal baths generally include three main elements Pools of different temperatures, a steam room, and so-called dry heat chambers.
It is recommended to experience these elements in the correct order. This is why they are often referred to as a bathing circuit. So, it matters in which temperature pool one starts bathing, how long they stay in it, and which temperature pool they move on to afterward. The same applies to the cold plunge pool after the steam bath and heat chamber.
About the Hungarian regulars, the adequate order of pools of different temperatures is a subject of heated debates! Likely that the bath doesn’t provide any information on this. Except for basic rules like not visiting the bath when ill and showering before using it.
When I go to the bath alone and don’t have a conversation partner, I observe the tourists.
This day was no exception.
People in the bath are generally carefree, and cheerful, enjoying the pleasures offered by the warm water. Moreover, tourists are on vacation, which gives them even more reason to rejoice.
Don’t get me wrong, I also enjoy bathing, but I enjoy even more how the masses of tourists move around the bath, how they go from one pool to another. They open the doors of steam and heat chambers because they don’t know what’s inside. Usually, if they decide to enter the steam, they leave shortly after because the experience is too intense for them.
But the most memorable and funniest situations always happen in the plunge pool.
This late autumn afternoon was no exception.
I was in the dry heat chamber, which is usually scheduled towards the end of the bathing circuit.
I stayed in the central chamber for a quarter of an hour, which is heated to about 60 degrees Celsius.
After 15 minutes, I went to the plunge pool, where three people were present.
I didn’t pay much attention to them, simply went in and, using the usual technique, immersed myself in the 16-degree water.
It was then that I noticed that while I was completely in the cold water, the three tourists, as I later found out, were only waist-deep in the water. Shivering with their teeth chattering, looking at each other to figure out why this was good for them.
Then came the highlight of the day. I don’t even know why, but I addressed them. I told them that they could immerse themselves if they took a deep breath and, exhaled, continuously submerged. I also showed them that it’s even easier to endure the cold water if they leave their shoulders and arms out of the water.
To my greatest surprise, they immediately took my advice and followed my suggestions.
All three of them submerged at the same time using the technique I had just shown them.
Joy spread across their faces that they had successfully overcome this seemingly insurmountable barrier.
We laughed at each other and enjoyed the blessing of the cold water.
One of the ladies, with a smiling face, remarked, “A tip for life.”
Hello, I’m Jozsef. I’m writing about traveling and IT startups. To see my stories pop up on your feed, I’d love for you to follow me. (Jozsef Kovacs) And, to have stories sent directly to you, subscribe to my newsletter.👇