Submitted by Louisa Bailles

I had made plans with my Parisienne friend to cab directly from Orly to a Turkish bath (hammam) owned by friends of her family. Not knowing quite what to expect, I edged in the door to find a steaming hubbub of naked women, all purring contentedly in the cozy vapors of a century-old Left Bank club. This hammam was famous all over France, I later learned, and had served as a stage set for many French movies and television programs. It was frequented by the creme de la creme of Paris, both for its soothing services and its delicious food that was often the aftermath of restorative baths and massages.

Alternating between the moist steam and frigid waters of the adjoining pool was heaven, as was being fawned over by uniformed attendants and coaxed into enjoying fine French wine and cuisine. All the mesdames sneaked glances and wondered who we were to require such solicitous service. Tres amusant! Tres enchante! Tres fabulous!

I would highly recommend career-girl travelers partake of foreign spa and beauty treatments aimed at locals for the instant entree such an experience offers. Lose the guidebooks and live like a pampered native for an afternoon. After hours at the hammam, I was relaxed, cosseted and comforted; even my French accent seemed more authentic.

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