How We Went to the Turkish Bath

It all started with sitting down on the floor by the wall and the customary "What is your name? Where are you from?", after which two proper buckets of not particularly warm - rather cool - water came over the head. The attendant with a rough exfoliating mitt and quick, powerful movements scrubbed the arms, legs, back, and shoulders. A sort of peeling treatment, followed by a soap massage that differed considerably from what I had enjoyed at "Sokolovskije Bani" in Jūrmala.