Turkish bath

@sarikanarya
Thanks so much for all the detailed information!! It's been really helpful :))

From what I've read and heard, females should only go to Hamas with female masseuses (sp.). My gf went to the female side of an old Bergama hamam and enjoyed it, though she was apprehensive. My daughter went to the ladies-only one in Selcuk (Friday's, 11am-4pm) and had a wonderful 90 minutes there. The Selcuk place and others have had women reporting molestation experiences when the massage person was a male.

Yes,you do hear of reports of molestation and this is most often in hotel hamams in the heavily touristic seaside resorts.I have also heard of reports about the Selçuk hamam too but frankly find them very hard to believe.This is a small town where everyone knows everyone else and if someone was doing something to damage the high reputation of the town then action would have been taken long ago IMHO.
I think it is a salient point that reports of molestation are frequently(but not always)from those who have never been to a hamam before and mistake normal handling with molestation.It is after all an intimate process involving washing close to the groin area.Any smart person understands when it goes just that little too far too many times.There is close and...on target ,if you get my drift.
I have heard women complaining that they "washed and scrubbed under my breasts" ,yes,they do,that is normal and if one is heavy breasted they will cup and lift them to wash you properly;there is no sexual motive in this.But perhaps for someone who doesn't know what to expect it could be viewed(wrongly) as molestation.

Thanks for your recommendations, sarikanarya - very detailed. And your clear explanations are very well described.
Personally, I adore a hamman 'experience'. so luxurious and yes, you are being touched and handled by a stranger, but for me that is part of amazing experience, especially when the travel road feels long and hard, and you are tired etc That scrubbing takes off layers of grime that I can feel embarrassed I am so grubby and always leaves me feeling so clean!
Some folk may find they have to leave their 'personal space' at the door as it is a public bath and you will be 'touched', just as a baby is bathed.
Always ask "woman only" and I can only add that I have never had a bad experience.

Haa haa haa yes,I always feel far more embarrassed about the amount of filth that comes off me than about the size of my bum or rolls of ahem..puppy fat :)and figure that a bloke would have to be really REALLY desperate to want to try to cop a feel off me!

BTW,let me define 'groin area'.When on your stomach your bikini bottoms or swim trunks are hoisted up into the crack of your butt so they can wash your buttocks and side flanks.If you have a bikini top on then they open the back strap to wash your back but refasten it before turning you over.
When on your back they will roll a high waist bikini or trunks down to your hip bones,just to the top of the pubic hair region but not exposing it,to wash your stomach.This is why for ladies a bikini is far better than a one piece suit as they can wash you more efficiently whilst still respecting your modesty.
For the legs they wash right up to the crease line of your inside groin BUT everything between those two crease lines are your responsibility ,they do not wash there whether male or female.In fact it is hamam ettiquette to first take a shower and wash your genital area yourself before going into the steam room.
So the no no area is that part right between your legs,anything else is there to be washed.

And if like me you are an ...amply covered person don't think folks will stare at you,don't be shy.You will see every size and shape of humanity it is possible to see in a hamam and once everyone is hot and sweaty no one gives a hoot what size or shape anyone else is :)

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