Springs

[ateolf]

Mary Beth and I had our little anniversary weekend vacation. Nothing big, we just went to Hot Springs and the nearby Ouachita State Park. I got out from work early on Friday, picked up some Kwik Chek, and we headed out. Not a super long drive across Arkansas. We took a brief stop in Little Rock to pick up some pizzas from Damgoode. It was going to be our primary source of eating, and we did eat it a bunch over the next few days but we ended up eating some other stuff too so we didn't eat nearly as much as we'd gotten. We stayed at the park, rented a somewhat fancy cabin and it was pretty nice. We got in just after five so we had time for a swim after we got settled. Other than getting eaten up by bugs a bit it was nice. We ended up in a time-lapse of the sunset that a lady took (about the only other person there). We enjoyed some time in the jacuzzi. And that was about it for the evening. The next day, yesterday, we went into Hot Springs. The main thing we did was go to Buckstaff Baths, which is the place that still does the old school traditional bath thing. It was kinda cool and kinda weird. I mean, there's an attendant around who guides you to the different station and you get little bits of privacy but not much and they totally see your stuff. The first part was a whirlpool bath and that was pretty, maybe would have been even better if I was just a little shorter but it was nice. Next is the sitz bath. Walking over to that they give you pretty much just a little hand towel that doesn't even wrap all the way around so that's a little bit awkward. The sitz was maybe the weirdest part. I mean, it was alright. It's a little tub you sit in and it's pretty much bathing just the nether-regions. Then it was the steam bath. You go in and it starts of a little claustrophobic 'cuz it's hard to breathe with the air so hot. Then you adapt a little and it starts to feel nice. Then you just have an irrational paranoia that they'll forget you and leave you in (I keep saying "you" but of course I should be saying "me"). The attendant commented on how fast I came out. I didn't think I was rushing out but whatever. Next you take a "nap" with hot towels and they asked where you want 'em so I said shoulders and back. They put a towel down for me to lay on and then wrapped one around my neck. Couldn't sleep in that but it felt pretty good. Then you get some mineral water to drink. Last was the shower and it's not hot hot water but it's this "surround system" of pipes spraying water from all angles and it's pretty rad. I liked that and the whirlpool the best. So it was a nice fun mix of good and awkward feelings! It's apparently not nearly as popular with the fellas as it is with the ladies. I finished much sooner than Mary Beth so waited out front on the porch enjoying the breeze. After that we hit a couple of the bathhouse museums (well, we hit the one before while we waited for the Buckstaff to open back up again). There was a nice mix of art and history. All the old bathhouses are there on a row up against the mountain. Then we took a walk out back to see the actual hot springs in action. I remember that from when we went there when I was a kid. We had dinner at this Mexican restaurant called Rolando's. It was surprisingly quite good, the food was good but the atmosphere was possibly even better!? We had the hint to eat on the porch and it's in the back and it almost feels like going through a secret tunnel to get there and it's up in the rock in the little bit of mountain and pretty spectacular. Also I had a cranberry orange soda that was just fabulous. Then touristing around a little bit and seeing the shops. We found a chocolate shop called Kilwins which I guess is a (small) chain but then I discovered they make their chocolate and it's fair trade so hell yeah! Got a bunch of goddamn chocolate and even fudge (which is very rare that I get to have anymore)! We peeped in a rock shop. We wandered through more candy stores. Mary Beth was looking for chocolate covered strawberries which we didn't find, but the last one was called Rocket Fizz and specialized in fancy sodas. So we got a bunch of fancy sodas! (Another hell yes.) Anyway, that was our touristy day. And we ended with more jacuzzi time. Oh and we brought champagne and did that both nights (technically not champagne but one was the Italian and the other the Spanish analog). Oh and in the morning before we went to Hot Springs we checked out this little group of springs called Three Sisters in the park right next to the swim area. It also had a little history behind it. Then up in the morning to pack up and take the drive back. We took another stop in Little Rock to hit up Mylo Cafe and get some pastries. Then home! It was a nice weekend. Now back to the regular existence.