An Unplanned Year

As we continue our exploration of hammams, we spotted one on Google maps when we were looking for something else in Sarajevo, so thought ‘let’s see what a hammam is like in Bosnia’. They were part of the Ottoman empire at one point in history so they should be good!

Today’s hammam was a couples hammam, so we both got to don  disposable undies, wrap in a towel and head to the sauna for 10 mins.

It was partway through the sauna that I discovered I have lost an earring somewhere. God only knows where. I went and did a quick search of the changing area to no avail. (It was not in our guesthouse room.either, so it’s as good as gone 🤬)

Back to the sauna, when our 10 mins was up we toddled to the hammam.

This was a large tiled room with a large hexagonal bench in the middle, with two headrests on it.

We elegantly laid down, heads on the neck rests. Our ‘washers’ started up by throwing a bowl of water over you and asking if it was too hot. It wasn’t.  We then both went through the same routine.

Doused with bowls of water, scrubbed, but nowhere near as vigorously as in Morocco – it was the lesser for it – then as something new they filled a muslin cloth with bubbles, then squeezed it and more bubbles came out if it. They did this until we were layered with bubbles.

This got rubbed around, then rinsed off with more bowls of water.

It was time to turn over-between the water and the suds, I nearly slid off the bench. I would have if the girls hadn’t blocked me! So elegant.

Then it was a repeat on the other side.

Then it was time to sit up for a few more bowls of hot water, then some cold water on your feet, your hands and into your hands to wash your face.

Then we were done!

In terms of a hammam, if this was your first one it was quite a nice experience, not rough, no deep scrubbing with a scourer and you can take a friend. A good ‘starter hammam’.

When done we dried off, squelched into the massage rooms and had a lovely relaxing oil massage, then a quick shower and 20mins in a spa pool before dressing and leaving.

If you missed our other hammams catch up here. (Listed in order of severity!)

Hammam #1

Hammam #2

Looking forward to trying one on Türkiye!