Wellness Journal - Week I

October 26 - Day III

Sunday is a very quiet day in Karlovy Vary. It is meant for rest and even the wellness program except for the water cures is given a day off. This particular Sunday was also the day we turn the clocks back and hour and I didn’t realize it so I thought I was up late this morning and in fact I was up just on time. I went to 10:00am mass at the church of Saint Mary Magdalena which was lovely with lots of music and singing. I didn’t understand a word as usual but it sounded very pretty.

I took another long walk around the city hills and past all the beautiful life size dollhouses. They really are so remarkable and the pastel color array makes it all the more dream like. And many times you are surprised by the beauty of a building you haven’t seen, of a bridge you didn’t notice before or one of many lovely parks or tree lined hills. Today I was turned a corner and came across this wonderful sculpture that was placed oddly among some Communist era, unattractive structures. It was so out of place but clearly it was a much need addition to the dark cement of the utilitarian structure that surrounded it.

I ended up at another public spa, Alzbetiny Lanze which was open on Sunday along with a few of the others. It is a large white building that looks more like a Victorian court house than a spa but looking out of it from the front door you have a gorgeous view of their fountain and tree lined park.


I contemplated the Thermal Spa which has an outdoor hot mineral water pool but I will save that fun for an evening when I have nothing to do because it looks so beautiful at night with all the steam rising from it. You can pay just about $4.00 to use it and I think it will be an interesting way to get some exercise and also spend more time wading around in all that great mineral water.

The Alzbetiny Lanze was only $9.00 and I got to spend the afternoon playing in the large mineral pool, the whirlpool and the relaxation pool which is anything but relaxing when all the pulsating jets and the intense water fall hit your body at a fierce rate. It felt good but everyone left the pool bright red and I am sure somewhat bruised. There was also a wonderful steam room and sauna to play in after all the water fun. They did have a freezing cold plunge pool where you were suppose to jump into after a few minutes in the sauna and then go back to the sauna for a few more minutes. You are supposed to repeat this process many times to get the blood circulating. My blood was plenty circulating and there was no way I was getting in the plunge pool.

Next it was 45 minutes in the Salt Chamber which is a cave like room filled with large and small chunks and pebbles of different varieties of salt in its very natural forms. The salts come from Poland, Pakistan, Siberia and the Dead Sea and you are placed on a very comfortable reclining chair and you basically breathe in all the rich ions of iodine, calcium, magnesium, bromine and selenium which apparently ionize more intensely than in their natural environment. It is suppose to be great for breathing problems as well as skin problems ranging from acne to psoriasis. Basically, for me, it was just incredibly relaxing and felt like you were napping by the sea side.
I was off again in the afternoon for another walk around town before heading back to the hotel for dinner and early to bed. I feel like I do when I’ve spent the day at the beach, very relaxed but extremely drained.


October 25 - Day II

HAPPY 41st BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!

I started my day by opening the beautiful birthday card Little Melody had Big Melody bring for me and I have both their cards displayed on my desk. It was wonderful to have a card to open on the day of my birthday especially being so far from home. I took a quick walk to fountain number 1C for my morning water cure and then off to breakfast for a nice healthy meal of grain cereal and carrot salad. I know strange but oddly I think I will do just fine with this meal plan or at least that is what I am going to tell myself each and every day.

I went for some incredible water therapy time at the public spa down the street from my hotel, the Lazenska since it was my birthday and they have some things my spa does not offer. It’s not expensive and it is lots of fun. The pool was warm and filled with 40% mineral water along with pulsating jets for your back and also your feet. They had a Scottish shower which is basically lots of jets shooting out water from every direction. The warm water rock pool requires you to hold on to a railing and walk along the uneven rocks. It is basically a mineral bath for your feet with the added benefit of the uneven rocks to message your feet along the way. There is so much to do there and it has lovely staff and beautifully tiled interiors. It was just the perfect way to enjoy my morning and early afternoon.

I had to be at fountain number 7 at 2:00pm and then off to lunch.

To work off the veggies and fish I took a long hike with many other spa guests up the winding hill until we reached the top which seemed like miles away but in fact only took about 15 minutes to reach. I was of course totally out of breath and took full advantage of the benches the city provides along the path for us weary hikers.

I could see others struggling as well to get up the steep parts so I didn’t feel too. I was feeling a bit self conscious when I realized how well dressed the other woman were. They were wearing lovely outfits with normal shoes and their makeup and hair were perfectly in place. I was, however, wearing leggings and sneakers and had my hair pulled back. All I could think of that last way up the hill was how Julia would be dressed impeccably, as always, with flawless makeup and hair and wearing 3 inch heels if she were on this trek. Julia is my fashion and grooming inspiration and no matter what we are all doing, including packing up Pam’s apartment a few months ago, she is always dressed to perfection.

Now I made it all the way up to the top and this adventure up the hill culminates with spectacular views from Diana’s lookout station. As I approached the banister at the lookout station and realized how high up I really was my fear of heights kicked in and I was lucky to get a few pictures in before I quickly made my way to less terrifying ground.

If only Melody had been there to take the pictures as she is always ready and willing to make it to the top or edge of a scary tower for a great shot. I did not stay long and descended the hill along the designated path which was not scary at all as the path was carved into the hill and there was always land on either side of me. I did go slowly though as the path was covered in fallen leaves. The foliage was breathtaking on the way up and down and although the air was slightly crisp it was just perfect for such an undertaking.

I got back to the center of town in time for the classical music concert at the Church of Saint Mary Magdalena which was built in the Baroque style around 1734. There was and organist, violinist and a singer from the Prague Opera. The music included works by Mozart, Bach, Handel and Dvorak. I always love to celebrate my birthday by going to the theater and this was the next best thing.

My final water cure for the day was next and then off to dinner where I spent some time chatting with Rudolph about art and the writer’s process. Rudolph is a retired Russian teacher who is also a poet. He brought some of his poems to read to me tonight and they were wonderful. He even has a few video clips of him reading his poems on You Tube. If you go to Youtube.com and then type in rudolphtenenbaum you will hear some of his work. He and Ida are such a lovely couple and it is so wonderful to have such interesting conversations. It was a wonderful birthday filled with all kinds of new experiences and the opportunity to get to know interesting people. I am so blessed to be on this journey and I am very grateful for it all.

There was one thing that was clearly missing all day and that was spending time celebrating with family and friends. No matter where I am and what I am doing I am keenly aware that the very best part of my life will always be the times spent with those family and friends that I love so much and am missing a great deal right now.







And also thank you so much for all the birthday emails I received tonight. It means so much to me and I am grateful beyond words for all the support and love.

October 24 - DAY I

I am officially on the wellness Slimdown program. I began my day early with a visit to the in-house nurse for the initial consultation. She then sent me to the very sweet doctor who did a medical check up and determined I was fine to do this program and then set up exactly what needed to be done in the next 20 days. She also determined which of the 13 mineral spring fountains I would drink from and exactly how much each time and when. I am at fountain 1C which is in the main rotunda 30 minutes before breakfast and 200ml of the water to be drunk slowly in a fifteen minute span. This fountain is to help clean out the colon and things like that. 30 minutes before lunch and dinner I am to drink from fountain 7 which is for balancing the metabolism.

I went directly to fountain 7 as it was getting late and lunch was soon. It is not the best tasting drink but I can tolerate it for 3 weeks.

My next stop was the spa coordinator who with three other people including Mark, the only English speaking person, came up with a fabulous plan for me. There are lots of fun treatments and some I am sure that will be more therapeutic than fun but all in all it should be an extremely beneficial time. After lunch, where I had a very healthy cabbage salad and some lean pork and vegetables, I went to the pool for some water therapy and will do that for the next two days as well. The intensive therapy treatments begin after my third day and will go full force until I leave.

Although the majority of guests in this town are overwhelmingly Russian everyone has made a great effort the last two days to communicate with me. The Spa Coordinator who is just so sweet made several adjustments to my treatment program as she felt it would maximize the benefits of staying here. When Mark translated all that I told him to please tell her that I trust her because she will know best what will work and what will not. It was funny because she recognized the words I trust you and said from movie Titanic and then she smiled and squeezed my hand and repeated I trust you. It is funny how many people learn words or phrases from a different language just from watching film or TV.

I took a walk after my water therapy and ended up at the public library where they have internet use for a much discounted rate. I love the library system in the States so it is great to see it just as useful here in this little town.

I had dinner a half hour after having my water cure number 7. The food is good and I am eating lots and lots of vegetables, especially cabbage. There seems to be a lot of dishes with cabbage that they like to make here. I have an assigned seat for my meals and I am at a table, fortunately, with a couple who were both born and raised in Saint Petersburg, Russia but have lived in Monterrey, California for many years. It was such a welcome surprise when Ida and Rudolph sat down and started speaking English. They had over heard me talking to the spa manager and Mark earlier today and knew spoke English but thought I was actually British. The nurse had told them that they never had an American stay here before. The other two women, Tamara and Larissa, are both from the Ukraine and do not speak or understand a word of English so Ida and Rudolph translated and we all had a very nice dinner. I like my table assignment very much.

I went for a little walk after dinner and then came back and read before bed. I am getting used to this place quickly which is a very good thing.