Personal Hygene

Nothing icky, I promise. I just thought it was worth a mention that a factor of travel , especially when you are gone this long, is that you have to keep up with personal grooming, just like at home. Though I might say that from the looks of some travelers, they take this opportunity to cast grooming aside. Would he really wear those dreadlocks at home in Switzerland? 

That can present some challenges and makes for investigative work.

This last month between us, we have had one haircut, two pedicures( one with polish, one without) two massages and eyebrow waxing. I'm going to have to eventually get a haircut, and hair dye, but I haven't seen any good prospects for that yet. 

Jim, on the other hand , could probably get his hair cut pretty easily anywhere in the world, and he has! 

This same day, I sprung for an eyebrow waxing, which was surprisingly soothing. 

It all seemed pretty sanitary, and the system was more modern than anything I have seen in the US. Probably came from France.

That's more than I can say about the massages that we had yesterday...our guidebook recommended a particular place, and we even got a firsthand endorsement from a happy customer. It always seemed pretty busy, so we thought , why not? We were the first customers of the day, and were each led into small, dark rooms. I almost bolted when I realized that the three towels neatly rolled up were all slightly damp. After what was supposed to be our "ten minute shower" in a less than great looking stall( that's being very generous), my masseus came in. Soon my little Loatian guy hopped up on the table, so as to really be able to put pressure where it was needed( kneaded?). Luckily I chose the 60 minute massage, rather than the 90 minute one, as I was so relieved when he was done! It cost all of 8$ each, but the whole experience was not one I would I'd repeat. Can you catch anything from damp towels? If you can, I probably will. 

It brought to mind a hot stone massage I had in Vietnam where the stones were so hot they nearly burned me, and an aromatherapy massage in Bali, that was no aromatherapy but acupressure! You'd think I might learn my lesson about massages, because the very best ones I've had have been at home in Portland Oregon! 

However, having laundry done here is truly a delight, as you turn over your bag of dirty clothes, and the next day, or sometimes the same day, you get them back, neatly folded, for a nominal charge, often

As little as a few dollars.