Jet-Setting

January 2012 marks a milestone birthday for me. I won't say which one because, frankly, I'm not looking forward to it. Previous milestone birthdays have sailed by, barely registering as a blip in my consciousness but this one... *sigh*... this one has pummeled me with feelings of dread and constant reminders of my fleeting youth.

I've got no real reason why this one should be so bad but it's bumming me out. However, one sure way to make myself feel better is to do something really indulgent and, for me, that means taking a trip somewhere where I don't speak the language.

My all-time favorite place is Baden-Baden in southern Germany. I blogged about it when Hosni Mubarak was rumored to be going there in exile. The thing is, I've been there, like, five times now so, as much as I love it, I feel like I need to go somewhere else - somewhere I've never been. A friend invited me to go to Bali with her over Thanksgiving but that's too soon, too far, and too expensive a trip.

So, I'm thinking about the following places:

Greece - it's got the appeal of being warm, coastal, and friendly. I love Greek food and there are lots of ancient things to explore. Historically, it's been pretty expensive to go there but, maybe with the collapse of their economy, I can get a deal.

Thailand - There are only a couple of Asian countries that I'm interested in visiting and Thailand is at the top of the list. I used to train in Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing) and have been fascinated by the culture there for years. The country offers a lot of variation too, from the forests and hills of the north (full of gorgeous temples), to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, to the pristine beaches of the peninsula. The best part is, the airfare is the biggest expense. Once you're there, you can have an amazing time for just a few dollars a day.

Iceland - Okay...maybe January in Iceland doesn't sound too appealing but I've heard that the country is really beautiful, even in the dead of winter. And, right around the time I'd be going is when the residents have this big, midwinter party called Thorrablot. The food is...well...an acquired taste but the drink is good and the party is a blast with lots of singing and story-telling and friendship. Oh... and they have awesome hot springs.

Borrowed from the blog: Daniels Adventures In Adulthood

Nepal - I'd really like to go to Tibet but, with the Chinese occupation and the current political climate there, it's not really an option. However, there's a comparable Himalayan destination in Nepal. The mountains are amazing and there are temples to explore. I have a friend from Nepal and, after meeting her family and learning about her culture, I know it's a place I'd like to visit before I die. Travel to the Himalayan is long and a bit brutal - it's not unusual to find yourself sleeping on the floor in an Indian airport waiting for your next flight - but, I think its worth it.

So... what do you think? Do any of our readers have experience in traveling to any of these destinations? Or, do you have other places you'd like to recommend? I have a few months before I have to buy tickets so let me know!

- Alex, the world-traveler

Me and Hosni Mubarak

Egypt is in an uproar. They're calling for the resignation of Honsni Mubarak, the person who has been their leader for 30 years. The first question that comes to mind is "what kind of democracy has the same leader for 30 years?" The second is, "what does one do when an angry mob forces you to step down?" Somehow I doubt that "retiring to the country house to do a little gardening" is the answer.

In today's Spiegel Online International - the English-language, online version of the German newspaper - a story ran about a possible exile location for Mr. Mubarak. The headline, "Possible Exile in Germany: Clinic Near Baden-Baden Considered.", intrigued me.

My favorite paragraph in the article is this one:

"The United States government's scenario for an end to the political chaos in Egypt appears to be this: President Hosni Mubarak travels to Germany for a "prolonged health check" that would offer the 82-year-old a dignified departure. Over the weekend, the New York Times reported that secret talks to that effect were being held between the US government and Egyptian military officials."

 So, Mr. Mubarak is 82 years old. I had no idea. The man must have a painting aging in a closet somewhere. And there have been rumors that he has cancer. So, I guess it makes sense that going to Germany for a "prolonged health check" at a luxury clinic would make some sort of sense.I kind of love how our government is trying to find a way to facilitate a "dignified departure" for this dude. I honestly don't know enough about the politics of the situation to speak intelligently about it but I just marvel at the fact that we, as a nation, feel it necessary to be the steward of EVERYTHING.

What does this have to do with me, you ask?

Baden-Baden - the possible future home of Mr. Mubarak - is one of my favorite places on earth. It's a small German town in the western foothills of the Black Forest and it has been a destination for health and restoration since the time of the Romans. "Baden" means "bath" and Baden-Baden's primary raison d'etre is to provide the best soak and schvitz in the world which, in my opinion, it does.

The "old" part of the city - where the Romans probably trod - is closed to car traffic and still retains the cobblestone streets. The High Street is filled with insanely expensive boutiques and lovely little cafes. But the real reason to go to Baden-Baden is the bath houses of which there are two:

Friedrichsbad, otherwise known as the "old" baths", was built in 1877 and is a crown jewel of a place. The mosaics in the saunas are, alone, worth the visit. The thing I find most quaint about this spa is that, as soon as the receptionist realizes I'm American, he or she starts emphatically reminding me that this is a "naked" spa. This is not "clothing optional" - this is "you don't get to wear clothes even if you want to." It's a little disconcerting at first but, eventually, you get over it and, when you do, you experience one of the most gloriously relaxing days of your life. Mineral showers, saunas, steam room, and various mineral baths, done in the correct order, will provide you with the optimal health benefit. Mark Twain famously said of Friedrichsbad, "“Here at the Friedrichsbad you lose track of time within 10 minutes, and track of the world within 20…”

The "new" baths were built in the mid-1980's and are called Caracalla, after a Roman leader who visited the area for help with his arthritis. It's very modern and lovely with great, warm pools to swim in and lots and lots of whirlpool areas to work your aches and pains. Caracalla is a bathing suit facility on the first floor where the pools and a few specialty steams are. If you choose to go to the second floor, you're required to shed your clothes. On the second floor, you're treated to eight different saunas/steams with varying heat and aromas. You can also enjoy two "relaxation rooms" that have comfortable lounge beds along with special lighting and sound pumped in.

During any visit to Baden-Baden, I'll go to both because, really, why wouldn't you? Both spas have their charm but, for my money, I prefer the history and beauty of Friedrichsbad.

I figure if Mr. Mubarak ends up relocating to Baden-Baden, and he's really as unwell as they're suggesting, I may just find myself sitting next to him in the pool or (heaven forbid) the sauna. One learns to keep their eyes to themselves when everyone in the room is naked.

- Alex