Travelog post for: Baubles

Hi Mum!

This weekend I've been visiting my host's village, Caldas de Reis, and I also learnt something about the place with my new friens Bally and TenderheartBear.

The most outstanding feature of the villa is the existence of "thermal water" whose therapeutic properties were already know in Roman times. Romans were the first ones who got to know the therapeutic benefits of this water. This fact attracted the nobility, the clergy and a big amount of people who came to Caldas to enjoy the properties of the water, having baths in the ponds and in the typical basins of that time.

It will not be before the end of the XVIII th century when the Authority starts to concern about the sanitary of these places, D. Joaquín Dávila will be pioneer in having the first spa built, with the passing of time it has become the "Spa-Hotel Dávila". After him, Pedro Acuña will be the next to stablish another bathing-house at the beginning of this century. Nowadays it is the "Spa-Hotel Acuña" just at the riverbank, it is surprising the thermal water big pool in it.

Scientifically the water is composed of sulphurated sodium-chloride hiperthermal property, with certain radioactivity. The temperature balances between 40º and 49º centigrades depending on the spring. It is highly recommended for respiratory tracts, rheumatism, surgical problems and psychologic alterations.

Here you can see me visiting the thermal spring:





And this is one of the famous spas: Hotel Acuña:



I also saw some kind of washing place (here called "lavaderos"), but this one had the water rather warm! Irene says that it is usual to see people washing clothes in it.



We also visited a bridge that dates from Roman times:










Finally we went for a walk:















When we were walking aside the river I heard some frogs croaking in the water and jumping among the reeds.





I think it has been a well-spent weekend! I really enjoyed visiting Caldas de Reis and learning things about the place!

Love,

Baubles