What a German bath really is: features, steam ceremonies and secret highlights. Sauna in Germany: features, types, visiting traditions and interesting facts

A feature of the baths in Germany is that they do not distinguish between men and women, that is, in public baths, visitors of both sexes wash together.

Baths in Germany

It is not known for certain who exactly introduced such rules for the bathing behavior of the Germans. However, the inhabitants of Germany are satisfied with everything, such a state of affairs among the locals does not cause embarrassment and embarrassment. However, this order of things applies to the sauna. The Germans explain that these rules are due to concern for the health of customers, since being in swimsuits made of synthetic material contributes to the release of sweat. And this, in turn, contradicts the elementary hygiene standards and has a significant impact on women's health.

As a rule, in Germany there are public baths and full-fledged spa centers. The latter are whole complexes of several thousand square meters, each centimeter of which is a useful area for recreation. There are swimming pools and saunas for every taste, rest rooms and restaurants. In this regard, a visit to the German bath stretches for several hours.

The cost of services is acceptable for the general population, which increases the popularity of such a pastime. The German bath is considered a special kind of cultural leisure.

Rules of conduct for a sauna in Germany

The traditional rules of conduct in German baths and saunas differ from those generally accepted. Before entering the sauna, visitors see a sign, according to which the entrance to the room is possible only naked. german sauna demands full opening for the beneficial effects of steam on the body. This confuses many tourists, so they often immediately leave the idea of visiting a German bath. However, it should be said that one should not rush.

Such a rule does not mean at all that you must leave all your clothes when entering the steam room or sauna. This is true for synthetic clothing, that is, swimwear for women and swimming trunks for men should be left at the entrance to this zone. Of course, covering yourself with a towel is absolutely not forbidden.

There is an unwritten law in the German sauna: sweat from the body must not fall on the boards of the shelf. In order not to cause indignation among other visitors, when approaching wooden shelves You will have to take off your bathing suit and swimming trunks. However, especially shy customers can stay in a towel and sit on something else, and not on the boards. It is worth being prepared for the fact that the women and men present there will begin to look with pity at such a visitor or visitor.

The opinion that German saunas are a hotbed of debauchery is erroneous.

According to the culture of behavior, getting to know the opposite sex, as well as considering each other while taking bath procedures, is the height of rudeness and bad manners, so saunas cannot collect languid longing looks.

In addition, saunas and steam rooms in Germany are predominantly dimly lit. In combination with steam, this creates a natural veil from prying eyes. Thus, it is not so easy to see something. It is worth noting that the shower after the steam room for men and women is still provided separately.

As a general rule, people who enter public baths in Germany are only shy at first. Then, after relaxing in the sauna, comes the desire to plunge into the pool. Forget gender differences.

In fairness, it is worth noting that separate baths still exist. For this, special hours or even days are allocated in public baths, which are not so easy to get into. After all, the Germans are a nation of straightforward people who do not tolerate sentimentality.

For a long time I have already read the story of V. Soloukhin about how, back in Soviet time he visited the German common bath and was impressed.

About the topic of German washing with an erotic bias without complexes and without anything at all, see below

Many Russians visiting Germany face serious cultural barriers that separate our countries. The mentality of the Germans is very different from the Slavic. This is due to both cultural traditions and freer European views. The strongest culture shock among Russians is caused by German saunas and baths ...

Joint baths and saunas

Almost all saunas and baths in Germany are shared. This means that men and women, children and old people - all bathe and wash together. the main problem for the Russians is that it is supposed to be done completely naked. Neither the steam room, nor the washing room, nor the pool will let you in a bathing suit or swimming trunks. Rubber slippers are also prohibited.

The Germans believe that any synthetic in a humid and hot environment evaporates dangerous chemical compounds. This not only harms the person wearing synthetic swimwear, but also those around them. You will simply not be allowed into the German sauna in a bathing suit (or swimming trunks if you are a man).

Even if you embarrassingly cover up "causal places", they will look at you in surprise, as if you were a strange person. The Germans are not at all ashamed of their nakedness. Teenage boys can safely swim next to the naked mothers of their classmates, and no one sees anything indecent in this.

Etiquette in German saunas

men, women, children, elderly people- all bathe naked in the same room. In rare cases, some establishments arrange separate days for swimming, but this can only be once a week. On all other days, please cast aside false shame!

If you enter the washing room in swimming trunks, you will be reprimanded and shown to the door. So those wishing to visit the German sauna should tune in to the nudist mood and, above all, get used to their own nudity. Russian people, who are much more shy by nature, have difficulty accepting such orders. Some, even after living in Germany for many years, simply avoid visiting saunas.

But the fact is that German friends or even business partners can easily invite you to a home sauna. And in this case, you will have to strip naked and bathe along with everyone. At the same time, you should behave adequately: do not blush, do not cover your most intimate places and, of course, do not stare at the figures of those around you.

Where can you hide

Sauna in Germany is divided into 2 zones. The first is actually a washing room and a steam room. They are called Textilfrei, which roughly translates to "no clothes zone". In the rest of the rooms there is a lounge area, waterslides and a bar - you can walk modestly wrapped in a towel or swimming trunks. By the way, not all Germans do this. Many continue shamelessly walking around in what their mother gave birth to. Not every Russian is able to accept, let alone understand this.

The most pleasant

The very procedure of bathing in such places is very pleasant and relaxing. In public saunas, you can not speak loudly and in general make any noise in any way. This may allow other guests to enjoy their stay. You can sit or lie on the shelves only on special bath towels which are 2 meters long. You can't touch wood with bare skin. It's not hygienic.

Coming to the beginning of the "aufguss" - pouring stones - should be on time. It is important. During aufguss, a sauna employee pours water with honey, eucalyptus or orange aroma oils on the stones and diligently disperses the steam. At the same time, he entertains visitors: he tells them jokes, jokes. It is impossible to leave the hall at this moment, so as not to release precious steam. You can only leave if you feel bad.

Then you can start swimming. In some saunas, pleasant music is turned on during aufguss, salts, creams or ice cubes for the skin are distributed free of charge. After the procedure, you may be offered a cup of tea, fruit or ice cream. All this is already included in the price of the entrance ticket. Aufguss in saunas are held on schedule, so it is customary to come to them on time so as not to disturb the special beauty of the ceremony.
Original taken from

For a long time I have already read the stories of V. Soloukhin about how, back in Soviet times, he visited a German public bath and was impressed.

About the topic of German washing with an erotic bias without complexes and without anything at all, see below

Joint baths and saunas

Almost all saunas and baths in Germany are shared. This means that men and women, children and old people - all bathe and wash together. The main problem for Russians is that it is supposed to be done completely naked. Neither the steam room, nor the washing room, nor the pool will let you in a bathing suit or swimming trunks. Rubber slippers are also prohibited.

The Germans believe that any synthetics in a humid and hot environment evaporate dangerous chemical compounds. This not only harms the person wearing synthetic swimwear, but also those around them. You will simply not be allowed into the German sauna in a bathing suit (or swimming trunks if you are a man).

Etiquette in German saunas

Men, women, children, the elderly - all bathe naked in the same room. In rare cases, some establishments arrange separate days for swimming, but this can only be once a week. On all other days, please cast aside false shame!

Where can you hide

Sauna in Germany is divided into 2 zones. The first is actually a washing room and a steam room. They are called Textilfrei, which roughly translates to "no clothes zone". In the rest of the rooms - a lounge area, water slides and a bar - you can walk modestly wrapped in a towel or swimming trunks. By the way, not all Germans do this. Many continue shamelessly walking around in what their mother gave birth to. Not every Russian is able to accept, let alone understand this.

The most pleasant

The very procedure of bathing in such places is very pleasant and relaxing. In public saunas, you can not speak loudly and in general make any noise in any way. This may allow other guests to enjoy their stay. You can sit or lie on the shelves only on special bath towels, which are 2 meters long. You can't touch wood with bare skin. It's not hygienic.

Bathhouse in Germany last years becomes a full-fledged symbol of this country along with beer, sausages and schnapps. Baths attract both German “experienced” bathers and tourists who find themselves in this country. All bathhouses are open to all categories of guests, including wheelchair users. The management of bath complexes does not save on the latest equipment and staff development. What is the specificity of German baths and why are they so popular with tourists?

The sauna tradition in Germany has accumulated a lot of interesting facts about sauna events and the benefits of sauna in general:

Swimwear - down

On the banks of the Rhine and other German rivers there are many bathing and health complexes, as well as saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools ... Women and men in the German baths will find something special for themselves. Baths are not just baths in the usual sense for us, they are extensive health centers. Many of them are located on natural thermal waters. There you can not only enjoy the delights of the bath, but also get treated with mineral water.

For the convenience of customers, such complexes are equipped with massage, beauty salons as well as restaurants and cafes. Once in the morning in such an institution, you can build a leisure program until the evening.

General baths for men and women in Germany are divided into two zones. In one, where there are pools, water slides, you need to be in bathing suits. In the second, where saunas and steam rooms work, you need to completely expose the body. The maximum that can be used is a cotton towel wound around the body.

Bath for the whole family

German baths are not divided into men's and women's. This is done because the bath is an attribute of family leisure. Often the whole family comes to the bathhouse. Therefore, baths are not divided by gender. Baths in Germany are joint, where both men and women, and the elderly, and children can come. These are the traditions of this country.

A women's bath in Germany is a rather rare phenomenon. Only in some bathhouses once a month women's day is announced, on which men are not allowed to visit the bathhouse.

Bathing suits are not allowed in steam rooms and saunas. The Germans are sure that wearing synthetic fabrics in hot rooms can adversely affect health. For the same reason, do not enter the sauna in rubber shoes and hats.

Special rules

Baths in Germany have unconditional rules:

Photo and video in the baths

It is forbidden to take your phone to the sauna in Germany. That is, there is no opportunity to film this event on camera. Considering that everyone in the bathhouse and sauna is naked, it is extremely difficult to hide the camera. So all photos and videos of German baths from the inside are staged.

When visiting bath complexes, you can not be afraid to later meet your image on the expanses of the World Wide Web.

What is aufguss?

Public baths in Germany offer special kind leisure called aufguss. "Aufguss" is translated as "watering". The procedure is that bath master dousing stones with solutions essential oils. Visitors warm up with these pairs.

The procedure itself is more like a show. The master jokes with the guests, tells jokes. Often all this happens under musical accompaniment.

The bath master is waving a fan, a towel and other items. As a result, steam accelerates throughout the room, and the sauna is filled with an amazing aroma.

The ceremony lasts no more than 10 minutes. At this time, it is not recommended to leave the sauna, so as not to release steam.

Special aufgusses are also popular, when visitors are given ice cubes, massage salt, and creams. Such activities have additional therapeutic and cosmetic effects.

After aufguss, guests are offered a drink fragrant tea, juice, lemonade, enjoy ice cream. Additional charge for these pleasant surprises not charged.

Aufguss are held strictly on time. For example, every hour. The action plan can be viewed at the entrance to the bathhouse.

Such different saunas

Fans of bathing ceremonies in Germany travel hundreds of kilometers to enjoy the comfort of popular saunas. Some saunas are unique establishments that no longer exist. For example, not far from Munich there is a planetarium sauna. In it you can bathe and contemplate the beauty of the heavenly expanses.

In Erding there is a sauna-beer house where they offer a non-alcoholic drink. Sauna-bakery offers its visitors fragrant buns.

Baden-Württemberg has a sauna-cinema, which shows interesting films all day long. In the sauna with an aquarium, you can watch unusual fish swimming. The tropical sauna offers views of rare birds.

Thermal resorts and complexes

Many thermal complexes in Germany are so extensive in their territory and services that they are rightly called resorts. Such complexes base their treatment methods on healing power mineral water.

The most famous such resort is Oberstdorf. It is high up in the Alps. This is a great place to restore lost strength and health. The leading specialization of the complex is the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. In addition to thermal waters, massage techniques are used, as well as acupuncture.

Spas in the central regions of Germany are rich in mineral waters that help treat diseases of cardio-vascular system. Vacationers bathe in mineral water and drink it inside.

The resort of Bad Harzburg has seven thermal springs with a water temperature of 24 degrees Celsius. It is heated to 32 degrees.

Everyone knows the famous resort of Baden-Baden. It has a developed infrastructure with many hotels, parks and clinics. The beginning of the development of the resort falls on the Roman era. The Romans discovered amazing properties thermal water. It was they who built the first thermal baths. In the 19th century, the resort became known to the aristocratic circles of Europeans. People began to come to it from other countries.

There are 12 thermal springs in Baden-Baden. They help treat rheumatism, asthma, heart disease. mineral water used for both internal and external use, as well as for inhalation.

The number of thermal resorts in Germany is more than two dozen. People go here not only to restore their health, but also just to relax with the whole family, spend a vacation, relax and get a lot of pleasant emotions.

Impressions of Russian visitors

Russians have no tradition of undressing in front of strangers in public places. Therefore, for those Russians who visit a bathhouse in Germany for the first time, it is not easy to get naked at first.

I must say that in the culture of the Germans it is not customary to consider another person, especially in a naked form. "Glancing" is considered the height of indecency. Therefore, it is difficult to catch an interested eye on yourself. In a German bath, women do not have to fear for their integrity, correct behavior is in the blood of the Germans.

In addition, usually twilight reigns in the steam rooms, and it is extremely problematic to see anything. This, of course, can be a consolation for those who have a heightened sense of shame.

In expensive saunas, there are few visitors, and it can easily turn out that a limited number of people are present at the session. A session for only one company is a completely normal situation. So you can not be afraid of the immodest glances of strangers.

Usually shyness and shame disappear after some time after the start of the event. And pleasant emotions from the bathing event make you forget about all the conventions and limits.

The uniqueness of German baths

The Germans who have visited Russia remember the Russian steam room with joy. Russians believe that the bath opens the soul of a Russian. What is the uniqueness of the German bath in Germany?

In a word, it is difficult to answer this question. Visiting bath after bath, you can gradually absorb the flavor of Germany. The Kelo sauna has a section made from ancient pine wood. This place is accessible even to wheelchair users. Unfortunately, this is not possible in other saunas, but bath specialists will definitely help “special” guests.

On the outskirts of Germany, there is a smoke sauna and a Russian sauna where you can take a steam bath with a birch broom!

Public baths in Germany are truly varied and unique. Having discovered the amazing bathing world, you can absorb the spirit of this interesting country.

One day in a German bath.

I am a native Muscovite. By profession an engineer. Having lived most of my life in crazy, but infinitely loved by me Moscow, in recent years I live in a tiny, according to our Russian, clean and neat, calm German city in the very center of Germany. I invite the public to get acquainted with my one day. There are 63 pictures under the cut.

Today June 25, 2015 I had a free day and, according to tradition, I decided to devote it to my favorite pastime - a bathhouse.
I have been addicted to this procedure since I was very young. Been there
Often in the famous Moscow Sanduny, Armory and Krasnopresnensky

In recent years, living mainly in Germany, I try to visit the local water park once a week with a solid complex of various baths.

I usually go to a standard 4 hour session, which at a cost
15€ provides disproportionately greater opportunities than the usual
Moscow public bath for the same price - about 600 rubles for 2 hours of a steam room with plastic bowls.
small digression
I hope, dear reader, will show indulgence to some not very high-quality pictures. they were made, for obvious reasons, in extreme conditions ...

So, waking up

and sweetly yawning

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spanking in the bath for the bare essentials water procedures- why rub your face in front of the bath

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Now a quick bite than God sent

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My beech and tablet turn on simultaneously with the opening of my eyes ... and sometimes a little earlier - by touch ...
I usually start any day by checking mail and news on a couple of duty sites.
But the other day there was a very interesting debate on the Dozhd, which the media are talking about, but I have not seen them yet.
A bath is not a bath, but the gap must be filled.

Time however! "Zigel-zigel, ah lu-lu!" Hop in my favorite shorts, lightly cover my belly with an alcoholic T-shirt
I grab my bright red bath bag with all the belongings, which certainly includes: a bathrobe, two large sauna towels, a couple of smaller ones, mittens, slippers, shower gel, etc.

Now quickly into the elevator and dive into the underground garage, where my "184 horses" are in the stall.

The road is calculated by the minute.

And if any nerdy blonde
or a couple of cyclists in love do not arrange a traffic jam, then I, almost without breaking the rules, will rush to the goal in 15 minutes.

Another 5 min. will go to buy a card in a special machine
and an instant striptease in the men's locker room, in addition to which, of course, there is also a women's one, as well as "for couples".
On the way, I fasten the key with the chip on my wrist

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and already running I cross a picturesque courtyard with lawns and various reservoirs
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And exactly at 11.59 I fly into the "sauna-arena"! Phew, did it!
Little explanation 1 . In German public baths, men and women take treatments together and ... completely naked! For the unprepared and highly spiritual horror, right?
But, as you know, it is not recommended to climb into a strange monastery with your charter ... so as not to get hit on your bare ass ... Therefore, once a week you have to shove spirituality away for 4 hours.
True, for especially shy ladies, several steam rooms are allocated twice a week for half a day, but, as a rule, these ladies prefer equality and do not enjoy such a privilege.
By the way, for some reason, such concessions are not granted to us men. Disorder, discrimination. Let's barozzo.
Little explanation 2 .
I raced headlong. I know by heart the schedule for giving steam to the attendant.
And since each time he uses different gadgets, this is important.

Having flown into a large, 50-person steam room, reminiscent of a circus arena, already filled at that time with 10-12 naked "spectators", I climb to the very top and make myself comfortable. According to strict rules ("Ordnung ist Ordnung"), a visitor to the steam room is obliged to sit on his own towel, which must be underlain, incl. and under your feet. Hygiene is above all.
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Exactly at 12.00, the attendant (or bath attendant) dressed in shorts and a T-shirt with a tub filled with water with various flavors solemnly enters the arena with the appearance of a bullfighter. After the obligatory briefing and explanations, he begins to gently pour from the ladle onto the stones of a huge round furnace installed in the center of the arena.

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After that, the attendant goes around the circle twice, fanning the bathers with a towel. Then the procedure is repeated again, after which, having recommended that visitors enjoy a couple more minutes, the attendant leaves.
Not everyone can endure these "couple of minutes". Even I, with my many years of hardening, somehow lost consciousness twice after such a procedure.
Leaving the steam room, I rinse under the shower and thump in artificial pond. Today the water temperature is +22. Charm!

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With a little splashing, I quickly move into a 120-degree Finnish sauna stylized in a kind of dugout

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With a wood-burning fireplace in which crackle behind the glass
dry logs.

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Here I spend another 15 minutes.

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Then I jump into a round ice font.

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Now it's time to catch my breath ... which I do, having moved to the pool with hydromassage and sea water heated to 36 ° C.

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But there is no time to sit especially - the attendant will not wait. Exactly at 11.30 he will go into a relatively small steam room, about 15 people, and this time he will treat visitors with menthol crystals, thanks to which the steam will immediately disinfect the respiratory tract. This procedure is especially beneficial in the snotty season.

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Well, that's all ... Half of the personal program is completed. Usually I make at least 6 visits, for which
to visit all 10 different steam rooms anyway, of course, is not possible.
Now for 15 minutes you can lift yourself up in a deck chair in the sun, and at exactly 11.59 ... Get up !!! Fanfares are calling to the arena!

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The next entry, unlike the first one, is interrupted by the bathhouse attendant by handing out a pinch of salt, which we rub into the body. In winter, salt alternates with honey.

After that, I, slightly catching my breath on the lawn in a sun lounger

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I wander into the next steam room. This is a round plastic box.
to which wet steam because of which visitors sit as if in a dense fog.

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After surviving in this box for 10 minutes, I douse myself from a wooden tub with ice water

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and head under the huge palm trees to the relaxation zone,

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where, in addition to comfortable, relaxing chairs, there is a bed with a water mattress

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I've been a bit wary of this build lately. Once, having barely plopped down on him, I instantly passed out, and when I woke up I saw the discouraged and condemning looks of vacationers ... The fact is that my wife is sure that the turbines of a jet Boeing are just the chirping of birds, compared to my snoring. Probably lying - after all, I have never heard my snoring.

Next I will have a sauna in which drops of water are supplied to special evaporators. Multi-colored lamps are mounted in its ceiling that change the illumination of the steam room.

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Having faithfully served the legal 15 minutes in it, I dive into another font

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Well, now that the mandatory program has been completed, it's time to make a control weighing

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Well, not bad -2.90 kg in 2.5 hours!
So I still have 1.5 hours left ... to rest from rest ...
It wasn't there! Time to run for relaxation-meditation. Action happens here

30.

It's not hot here at all. From somewhere, pleasant relaxing music is pouring from the speakers, and the attendant at this time, in an insinuating voice with German categoricalness, mumbles some spells ...
Hm ... here I also somehow meditated in earnest and with my snoring
slightly corrected the relaxation program for others ...
In our country, they would probably immediately push me in the neck, but tolerance flourishes here.
Well, sir ... however, there is time for business, and an hour of fun - it's time to refresh yourself ...

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I think healthy "diet" food from a well-grilled sausage with french fries will not hurt me now ... And, of course, a glass of cold beer by the fireplace ...
Relax in the jacuzzi after lunch

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Now you can walk around the complex

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And go to a small ancient dam on a small river.

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However, lunch grams pretty spoiled the result and it's time to evaporate the beer. For this, a small sauna with flavors supplied to a special container installed above the shadows is suitable, where in 15 minutes. I completely eliminate the consequences of my libation

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Well, everything is great now. There is still time to finally sunbathe in a sun lounger

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In winter, you can sunbathe in this terrible contraption

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pancake-like. True, this thing bakes "pancakes" for a fee.
To finish, I myself do not know why, I climb into an infrared sauna with an ionizer.

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Nafig it is necessary, I still have not figured it out, but if it's worth it, I have to try it.
Well, now, like everything, it's time to take a shower and get out.
The machine at the exit meticulously counted the time 4:05,

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groaned grumblingly, like, well, what to take from them - from foreigners, and opened the turnstile for the exit in front of me - so be it, get out of here.
If I had been late, he would have demanded another 2€ from me. Those. for 17€ I could hang around here all day from 10 am to 10 pm. Sometimes I get stuck like that. At the same time, the ticket to the sauna includes other parts of the water park: various pools, an artificial river, slides, paddling pools, etc.
In addition, nightly celebrations are periodically held in the sauna complex: bonfires are lit, sausages and steaks are grilled, beer flows like water until late at night. In general, people walk purely in German.

Now I'm back in the car

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On the way home, you need to drop in for a while in the old part of the city
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There is always a problem with parking. I know of only one place where you can leave your car for free for half an hour, but there are only three parking lots and today they are all busy. So I leave the car in the parking lot.

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and then legs...

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Well, now it's time to head home.
Evening

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Therefore, I choose a bypass road, otherwise you can drag yourself for 25 minutes.
On the right is one of the city's "boardeles".

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And this is a car dump, where you can throw away an old car for free ... or an unnecessary fighter jet

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Well, the industrial zone is over. This is also a city

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Another minute and I enter my area

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Well here is the house.

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I recently learned that our house is a little younger than the Moscow "Khrushchev".

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They're just following him.

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By the way, this three-entrance house with a garage and lawns is served by one person.
And this is the famous German garbage dump with colorful containers

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Any German baby who barely yelled "mom" will answer without hesitation that blue is for paper and cardboard, green is for biowaste, a yellow bag is for packaging, and black is for everything else.
Bashfully turning away, I pass by my bike, which I have been promising to pay attention to for half a year, but for some reason I sneak into the garage every time

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Well here it is at home

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We've been lucky with the weather this summer though.

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However, it's good to be distracted by the surrounding landscapes, I'm waiting for LJ (by the way, add me as a friend), FB and other time wasters.
In addition, you need to think about where to rush on Saturday or Sunday. Lately I have taken it into my head to go around the surrounding castles.
ABOUT! Bravo! Inet safely ate the rest of the day.
It's time for the bainka

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