Hammam means "spreader of warmth". It is the word given to the sensual bathing retreat that evolved over thousand of years and traces its roots back to the Roman Thermae. Circling time and place, these traditions can still be experienced in many natural hot springs of Turkey, Tunisia, Spain, and Morocco,and have now found a home in our present day HAMMAM.
What to bring to a hammam:
◘ soap;
◘ shampoo;
◘ scrub glove;
◘ towel;
◘ small, jug-style plastic bucket to pour water over your body;
◘ swimsuit or extra underwear;
◘ shaving cream and razor.
Hammams usually sell travel-size bottles of shampoo and soap. Visitors can also rent towels at the front desk. Scrub gloves and the small plastic buckets are available at markets and drugstores. You may try “sabon beldi” (a unique black olive oil soap) and rhassoul (a lava clay that is used to scrub the skin) are also widely available in shops.
Hammam layout
In common at the entry of hammam you pay the man at the front desk the entry fee and continue to the changing room, where you change into a swim suit or a piece of underwear. There are shalves in the room, you leave your clothes there.
There is usually no locker-type storage available. Duty of the staff is to keep an eye on visitors’ belongings. Clothing or shoes are very rarely stolen from a hammam. But to protect yourself - do not bring valuable items to a bathhouse.
There is also a special room for people to rest after their bath. Sometimes hammams serve coffee or tea in this room. While changing be careful to wrap a towel around your waist as full-frontal nudity is offensive. All main procedures take place in the three separate areas: cool, warm and steaming hot room.
Do not in Hammam:
- Waste water
For example, in Morocco water is scarce and splashing it around in large quantities is considered imprudent and rude. Use only as much water as you need to wash and rinse.
- Strip completely naked
Stripping completely naked is considered offensive in a hammam.
Hammams are not only for hygiene, but it is also a very important social establishment. In eastern culture women rarely leave their houses except for a visit to the hammam. So, people meet in hammams, where they chat, discussing the latest news and gossip.
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