Spas: Definition and History. Enjoying SPAs! Second Part.

What is a SPA? The answer is from the web spamagazine.com: “Precisely when and how the term "spa" first came into use is still un-resolved. Spa historian Jonathan Paul De Vierville notes, "One possibility is that the word is an acronym created from three words—allegedly scrawled as graffiti on the walls of ancient Roman public baths—salude per aqua." “

How the term spa started to be use? Also from the same web: “Spa, a Belgian town established in the 14th century, could also be the birthplace of the word. Derived from the regional term for fountain (espa), the town's name quickly became synonymous with the beneficial waters located there and, over time, with healing springs elsewhere.”

When people started to use water therapies? From spasabout.com: “Modern spas have their roots in ancient towns famed for the healing powers of their mineral waters and hot springs. Travelers would come to "take the waters" and restore their health.

The practice of bathing in hot springs and mineral waters dates at least to the Babylonians and Greeks, and knowing people, probably much sooner!

In the 19th century, Europe's great spas were destinations for the wealthy, who went there to "take the waters." Water treatments are still considered the heart of the spa experience in Europe. Today massages and facials are by far the most popular spa treatments in America.”

(The pic is in Casa Santo Domingo Hotel, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala).

(To be continued.)

Enjoying SPAs! First Part: Introduction.

No! I haven´t forgot that I was telling you about my special Saint Valentines´ weekend! Just that before telling you about the experience with the night SPA in Los Enebrales I thought it would be important to talk a bit about the SPAs first.

At the end of 80s I was already a Jacuzzi fan (and I still am!). In 1994 I went for the very first time to a SPA, it was the Antigua SPA Resort in Antigua Guatemala… and my world was transformed! ;P From then on I´m a SPA lover! :D

The point is that there are many kinds of SPAs and that´s exactly why I wanted to write this post. Sadly there´s still not a categorization of them, as we do have about hotels (by stars), for example. That would be really convenient, so we would have an idea of what we can find at the different SPAs all over the world… because, you see, right now they call SPA to whatever! Maybe it´s due the SPA culture is so low in general terms, so it´s easy to cheat us. This series of posts are for giving a bit of information about what are, what they offer us and a possible categorization of the SPAs.

(The pic is in Hotel Porta Antigua, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala).

(To be continued.)

Escalona´s Castle. Saint Valentine´s 2010 Special Weekend: 8th Part.

Upon leaving the Restaurant Mesón Castellano, we both understood differently the waitress´ instructions. Looking for the restaurant we saw more nice places, just that it was already night. We enjoyed, for example, the view of the Escalona´s Castle.



We also saw a nice church, but we had no time to go out of the car to visit it or to search its name:



After asking a couple of times, finally we found the restaurant and it was not bad, but not well enough to put it on the blog. ;P

We finished dinner around 22.00 and we had reserved a night SPA at 23.00, so we went back to Los Enebrales. Going on the road, that was with no lights as far as it was a county road, Curro told me to park the car for a while. Actually I´m wondering why I did it without questioning it, it was night, in the middle of the road, with no lights and very cold. He told me to turn off the lights and to go out for a while… so, well, then I asked! ;P He replied it was for watching something that sadly is not possible to watch in Madrid: the stars at the sky! We had been watching the sky a bit… but just a bit, it was so cold!

(To be continued).

Bulls of Guisando. Saint Valentine´s 2010 Special Weekend: 7th Part.

We went from Asador Escondido to Guisando. We would liked to have a bit more of time for walking a bit around Burohondo and in my own case, to have a look at La Fonda del Arte that from outside seemed to be a nice place… and afterwards, checking it by internet… God! How I missed it! :/ But well, we were almost loosing the day light and it was needed for watching the Bulls of Guisando.

The Bulls of Guisando are 4 stone bulls done by the Vettones around the II or I A.C. century. There´s no explanation about why they did them. There are a lot of things worth view in Spain! I haven´t heard about them before, it supposed to be mentioned at Don Quijote, but actually I had read it and I don´t remember that. But well, you see, I had read it when I was a teen, without internet, so, no easy way to resolve doubts! ;P

Here our pics:



And here a video done by Julio (from Asador Escondido):



After watching them we went to Maqueda, there was the Restaurant Mesón Castellano, the place Julio recommended us for dining. It seems to be really good, once there the waitress told us they had no space for us, all was reserved a month ago. So, it should be one of the best places of that area. The same waitress told us about another place close there.

Here some of the views from the road, going from Burgohondo to Maqueda:



Yes, I know, Miguel Bosé at the background there is a bit strange… point is I´m a fan and it was what we were hearing during the travel! So, maybe chill out music would be better for the video, but…

(To be continued.)

Asador Escondido: Like Visiting a Friend in his Hometown and Also Proves to be a Good Chef. Saint Valentine´s 2010 Special Weekend: 6th Part.

We found Asador Escondido at 11870.com. It was with good recommendations and also was in our way back to Los Enebrales.

Even having the indications about how to get there, it was a bit difficult to find (it makes honor to its name!) Burgohondo is a small village, but in a place with a great views.

When we finally arrived there, it was already 16.30 and in Spain the kitchen is usually closed at 16.00. So, Curro went first to ask if it was still possible to eat there. We were lucky; the kitchen was already close but the owner allowed us to stay anyway. From here on, it was like if we would be friends since time ago and he would be willing to show us the best of his cooking! :D



At the beginning we didn´t know the ones attending us were the owner and his son. Since the beginning they were trying to give us good advice about how and how much to order and that is not really usual, so it´s something we appreciate a lot.

At the back of the menu you can read this:



In resume, it says it is a village restaurant, where you will find normal village food, but done with quality products and made with love. You wouldn´t find new creations there, neither they will change your silverware while eating. The place is unpretentious, but with good food and good prices.

The food was great. You can note the good quality of the products. All we ate was nice. Between each dish, Julio and his son went to ask us if it was ok for us and to talk a bit with us about the place and the village. I don´t remember how, we talked about internet, so we told him we found the place due 11870.com and Curro mentioned that I have a blog (I usually don´t like to mention it)… so! From here on it was like if we would be lifelong friends meeting again after a long time! :)

We had been talking a long while and we also asked him about a recommendation for going to din that night. He also told us some nice tourism places.

We continued with our travel, delighted to have known that place.

(To be continued.)