In order to lessen the other's fear by showing his own unconcern he asked to be taken to the baths. He bathed and dined, carefree or at least appearing so (which is equally impressive). Meanwhile, broad sheets of flame were lighting up many parts of Vesuvius; their light and brightness were the more vivid for the darkness of the night. To alleviate people's fears my uncle claimed that the flames came from the deserted homes of farmers who had left in a panic with the hearth fires still alight. Then he rested, and gave every indication of actually sleeping; people who passed by his door heard his snores, which were rather resonant since he was a heavy man. The ground outside his room rose so high with the mixture of ash and stones that if he had spent any more time there escape would have been impossible.
— Pliny the younger to Tacitus 6.16
Relaxation is a strange thing. I find sometimes it can be quite unknowable. Yes, I can get a good night's sleep but trying to manufacturer a situation where I'm truly recuperating seems like more of a challenge than it should be. Last week I aimed to relax in front of the telly, I organised the living room shelves. Last night I tried to chill with my crochet and I ended up tidying (useful but not my intention) and scrolling aimlessly on Instagram. Whilst tidying and sorting are great, they weren't my intention. Trying to relax with intent is something I find I struggle with. I can rest, I can get a good night's sleep but my mind still races and stalls, my emotions are unsettled and Pliny would say, my humors are out of balance.
The Romans did many things wrong. But spas. They're something fundamentally worthwhile. The roads are pretty good too. But maybe not some of the other stuff.
I never thought I would be one for a spa day. Having your face bothered by a random stranger and melting into a disgusting pile of ooze in a sauna? No thank you. That was until I realised that you don't have to do that and you can actually spend your day alternating between a hot tub and a lounger with a book? You don't need to do all the treatments?? You can just be a dumpling? Sign me up!
Even my mithered mind would struggle not to relax when floating in what is essentially a giant bath. I also thing the nature of public bathing feels very human to me. A shared human experience of self care is something that should be a staple of life, not a luxury. Public bathhouses are something found in the archaeology of every Roman settlement but public pools now are all about swimming. Which I love. But what if I just want to float, ease my muscles and my mind? What if I want to be a dumpling?
I'd like to find a way to relax that doesn't involve a hefty price tag. One that works and doesn't end up with me distracted. And maybe I could have a little glass of hippocras too.
this was not hippocras, this was an English sparkling wine because for some reason i am obsessed with them and i couldn't resist when I saw Eden Hall had it on the menu
