I let go…

And floated free.

 

I finally found a whole week in my busy life where I could disappear to the mountains! Younger son is home for a couple of weeks and I am taking advantage of his presence to not have to organize the cats, but to take a true vacation: one made all the sweeter by the fact that I have filed my taxes, sent in on-line the FBARs and in general am caught up – perhaps not with all that needs doing, that’s an ongoing challenge, but at least with the urgent.

This time as I wasn’t in a rush I also decided to stop by my favorite water complex Lavey-les-Bains on the way http://www.lavey-les-bains.ch/en.  Left home slightly later than planned so grabbed a sandwich at one stop in order to not have a heavy stomach in the water then spent almost three hours just relaxing. Totally unusual for me, I didn’t even push myself to do laps, but simply wandered around through the various hot pools, the against-the-current-circle (although I did go against the current, I did so slowly and on the inner wall – not much of a challenge).

One of my favorite things there is to do the quarter of an hour floating on a mattress and listening to either classical music or whales underwater. As there were not many people on this Thursday afternoon during the school year I finally unhooked my feet from the metal railing around the pool and floated free! What a feeling as eyes closed I listened to classical music as transmitted through the water – talk about surround sound!

I even took in the sensorial experience, which I have never done before: green light, an aroma meant to be soothing and the twitter of birds did give me the advertised serenity: off to the hamman and some warmth followed by the “silent” room to interiorize all the relaxing experiences.

Talk about “letting go” – if I got any further released I’d probably float away into the clouds some of which are looking pretty dark up here as the light fades on a wonderful day.

My hair needed washing, so I went to the spa!

Well, that was one of the excuses: truth be known, it was looking out the window when I wanted to go for a walk and seeing it drizzly and misty yet again this morning that made me think of pampering and warmer waters. One of my favourite water facilities/spas/whatever is under a half hour down the road: http://www.lavey-les-bains.ch/en

Lavey-les-Bains, a thermal spa

They use a water fall and river to cool and take out the chlorine from the water before it goes into the Rhone River

part of the river used to cool the waters

 

It is true though that I don’t like to go when I have just washed my hair because then I have already done the work and will need to re-do it (I am not one who can swim with her head gracefully above water: either I swim properly or not at all). I also like to take advantage of having to wash my hair as they have much more powerful hairdryers than I in my chalet.

Another justification (I do tend to have to do that) if one was needed is that I am supposedly (anyone who ever worked for themselves will more than understand) on vacation – that vague term that theoretically allows one to do what one wants (as if I didn’t usually anyway!).

Interesting how quickly I can find reasons to do something should I need them: exercise, wash hair, relax because I’m on vacation.

In the end though I did just that, swam a bit, listened to the music and whale calls underwater used the various spouts and jets for massaging my shoulders, back bones, etc.; lay in the “bubble” chairs (in the pool lounging spots to lay in where the water bubbles up around one alternating cold jets with the warmth of the pool itself), and finally the “quiet” room, where I finally finished Alexandra Fuller’s “Scribbling the cat”, Travels with an African soldier.

A "must read" as are all her books!

So well written, so all encompassing of the mental state of those who fought in what was known as the “Rhodesian” war. Her descriptions of landscapes, humans and animals drag you into the African world – a world far from that of a peaceful Swiss village. Highly recommended reading: but not for the faint of heart.