Darkness concealed in footsteps' depths
"So, you've been at it for a solid year, huh?" The blond lad stares ponderously at the gurgling waterfall, while his dark-haired companion glances down at his ID-covered shoes. "That's right," the dark-haired one murmurs. A woman in a wheelchair navigates the stairs with handrails in between. The blond lad speaks gently, "You've got to approach him now. Mate, if you want his friendship, you gotta make some adjustments. You can't just criticize and expect him to bend to your will."
I propel myself from my back jet next to the stairs, glide through the pool, and steer towards the bubbling area. Now, the dark-haired lad is splashing water with a joyful grin, while the blond one continues to share words of wisdom.
I've been holed up in the Spessart since late May. The German railway lost my bags for a couple of days before I managed to purchase sneakers and a swimsuit. Despite the nearby park around the Spessart Therme still being called a spa park, my stay is no longer treated as a cure. Rehab is an equally unappealing term as reform school. In the healthcare system, they're saving money - if services are offered, they expect counter-services. I'm working out, jumping, and sprinting from 7:30 AM to post-6 PM. I'm lifting weights, pulling them, jogging, and flexing. I'm attending lectures, getting massages, electrotherapy, and three meals a day. By 10 PM, it's quiet in the house, some are already snoring during the afternoon muscle relaxation. At dinner, I'm anticipating a refreshing swim in the in-house pool. A panoramic view through the skylight. After a few laps, I relax in the rheumatism bath. All I need now is a workout buddy.
Bad Soden-Salmünster was my third choice after the East or North Sea. In this twin town of Hesse, there are green woodpeckers, red kites, and some falcons that stoically endure outdoor church services like bike gatherings. Trains rumble through the valley, the aircraft flight path starts behind the next mountain. A wildlife park lures rehabilitants into the forest, but most are drawn to the ice cream parlors, the Greek, or the Italian place by the river. Originally, there were 28 dance halls for spa-going miners, and now clinics are shutting down. The therme struggles to stay afloat.
When I go for a walk, I stumble upon deserted buildings, where a tree is rooted on the rooftop, where swifts fly in and out. The unglazed windows of a hotel offer a remarkable view. I'm just grabbing a heavy brass room key when I hear footsteps upstairs. I hold my breath. A head appears around the corner of the stairs. A dinner companion from my clinic! We both laugh giddily.
Later, as we float in the salty, reddish-brown water of the sole pool, I can see an abandoned outdoor pool where the hourly wave bath has just commenced. Three lads - a blond, a brunet, and a redhead – jump into the scene.
Anne Hahn is the penner of novels and non-fiction books, and she masters swimming through the aquatic depths of the world.
Incorporating enrichment insights:
- The Spessart Therme offers a 4-star sauna world and features events such as the Lange Thermen- und Saunanacht with textile-free swimming, candlelight swimming, cocktails in warm brine water, and various other activities like laughter yoga and forest bathing.
- Despite some clinics in the area closing, the city of Bad Soden-Salmünster is making efforts to strengthen its clinic infrastructure through a municipal funding program aimed at supporting the local healthcare sector. This suggests that efforts are being made to maintain or improve healthcare services in the area.
- The dark-haired companion, during their conversation at the Spessart Therme, might be interested in trying unconventional therapies and treatments like laughter yoga or forest bathing, as these activities are part of the sauna world offered at the health-and-wellness center.
- Traveling to Bad Soden-Salmünster presents opportunities not only for rehabilitation and wellness but also for exploring the local lifestyle, as the city offers attractions such as ice cream parlors, Greek and Italian restaurants, and a lively riverfront.
- Anne Hahn, the author of novels and non-fiction books on swimming and world aquatic depths, could potentially write about her personal experiences at the Spessart Therme, detailing not only the healing aspects of the facility but its integration of various science-based wellness activities like textile-free swimming or candlelight swimming.
