Latest / Abide Meditation App / Travel Story for Relaxation _ The Warmth of Tbilisi _ Travel Bedtime Story

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Travel Story for Relaxation _ The Warmth of Tbilisi _ Travel Bedtime Story · Abide Meditation App

• 0:01
  Speaker 1: Welcome to Get Sleepy, the podcast where we listen, we relax,
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: and we get sleepy. As usual, I'm your host, Thomas.
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: Thank you for tuning in. Tonight, we'll stroll through the colourful,
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: winding streets of Tbilisi, the capital city of the country
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: of Georgia. Located on the crossroads between Europe and Asia,
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: Georgia is a fascinating mix of different cultures and influences.
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: And after our stroll, we'll wind down with a relaxing
• 0:44
  Speaker 1: dip at a traditional bathhouse. Now I appreciate that you're
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: here to listen to our story. But I also wanted
• 0:56
  Speaker 1: to acknowledge just how much it means to read your comments,
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: reviews and emails from those of you who've gotten in
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: touch to say how much you enjoy these intros and
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: relaxation sections. I really try to make sure this is
• 1:11
  Speaker 1: a cozy and comfortable time where you can slowly transition
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: from the busy day and drift towards a feeling of sleepiness.
• 1:24
  Speaker 1: I think we have to give ourselves some patience sometimes
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: because falling asleep isn't something many people can just flick
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: a switch with. Like with many things, we need to
• 1:38
  Speaker 1: take our time and allow our bodies and minds to
• 1:43
  Speaker 1: naturally find their way along the path to sleep. The
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: fact you've chosen to tune into this podcast and truly
• 1:53
  Speaker 1: allow yourself to slow down is commendable. So make sure
• 2:01
  Speaker 1: you've put any physical distractions to one side. And the
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: next thing you can do to continue that relaxing journey
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: along the path to sleep is to take three deep,
• 2:18
  Speaker 1: soothing breaths. Close your eyes and breathe in through your nose.
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: Hold and release the air back out. And again, breathe
• 2:41
  Speaker 1: in deeply. Hold and let go. one more of those
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: gently breathe fully in hold and ease the air back
• 3:05
  Speaker 1: out feeling the weight of your body sink into bed
• 3:16
  Speaker 1: whenever you feel suitably calm and comfortable you can let
• 3:21
  Speaker 1: your breathing fall back into its natural rhythm. As you
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: continue to relax and make your way to sleep, you
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: can just follow the sound of my voice through tonight's adventure.
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: We begin on a quiet morning looking out over the beautiful,
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: rolling skyline of Tbilisi. It's a beautiful day in early
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: summer in the city of Tbilisi. You're not sure exactly
• 4:30
  Speaker 1: what time it is as you woke up late this morning.
• 4:36
  Speaker 1: This is not a city for early rises. Everything begins
• 4:41
  Speaker 1: and opens later than in other places. So it's fine
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: for you to take your time. There's no rush and
• 4:52
  Speaker 1: nothing in particular you have to do today. You're on
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: the elegant balcony of an apartment which is located right
• 5:05
  Speaker 1: in the heart of the old town. The view is spectacular.
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: In every direction, you can see a multitude of jumbled rooftops, towers,
• 5:20
  Speaker 1: and layers of ornate balconies stacked like wedding cakes. If
• 5:27
  Speaker 1: you look closely, you can also spot the unusual brick
• 5:32
  Speaker 1: domes that belong to the bathhouses. This area is densely
• 5:41
  Speaker 1: built up. At first glance, It can look a little chaotic,
• 5:48
  Speaker 1: like a mix of several different cities piled on top
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: of each other. But there's beauty in the chaos too,
• 5:58
  Speaker 1: in the vibrant range of styles and colours. There's something
• 6:05
  Speaker 1: almost whimsical about it, like a fairytale village that bloomed
• 6:11
  Speaker 1: into a city overnight. Although Tbilisi is a capital city,
• 6:21
  Speaker 1: it also feels surprisingly airy and peaceful. As you sit
• 6:27
  Speaker 1: here on the balcony, enjoying the warmth of the sun,
• 6:32
  Speaker 1: you smile to yourself. Perhaps it's just your imagination, but
• 6:39
  Speaker 1: you think you can even detect the scent of figs
• 6:42
  Speaker 1: in the air. There's a garden below the balcony filled
• 6:48
  Speaker 1: with fruit trees and the figs are just beginning to ripen.
• 6:56
  Speaker 1: When you breathe in, you notice a sweet, fruity aroma
• 7:02
  Speaker 1: on the breeze. After resting here for a while, taking
• 7:10
  Speaker 1: in the view, you decide you're ready to go out
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: and explore a little. Although you don't have an itinerary,
• 7:21
  Speaker 1: you have a vague idea of what you'd like to do.
• 7:25
  Speaker 1: Have something to eat, stroll through the old town, and
• 7:31
  Speaker 1: then soak in the famous sulfur baths. Although it must
• 7:40
  Speaker 1: be late in the morning, The city seems to be
• 7:43
  Speaker 1: slowly waking up now. The streets are gradually filling with
• 7:49
  Speaker 1: locals going about their business, as well as the occasional
• 7:54
  Speaker 1: tourist who's come to explore this beautiful old neighbourhood. This
• 8:04
  Speaker 1: is an ancient city, dating back to the 5th century.
• 8:11
  Speaker 1: The name Tbilisi literally means warm place, because the original
• 8:17
  Speaker 1: settlers were impressed by the abundance of hot springs. But today,
• 8:24
  Speaker 1: the name seems appropriate for other reasons too. It's a
• 8:30
  Speaker 1: lovely sunny day, and the local people are warm and friendly.
• 8:41
  Speaker 1: A street vendor smiles at you and begins a conversation.
• 8:47
  Speaker 1: He's curious to know where you're from and what brought
• 8:51
  Speaker 1: you here. Then, he invites you to try some traditional
• 8:57
  Speaker 1: Georgian food. The man is selling a filled bread, known
• 9:05
  Speaker 1: as hajapuri. It looks a bit like a thick cheesy pizza.
• 9:13
  Speaker 1: The delicious smell awakens your appetite and you can feel
• 9:18
  Speaker 1: your stomach rumble. You buy a piece and eat it
• 9:25
  Speaker 1: as you continue to walk through the winding streets of
• 9:28
  Speaker 1: the old town. The taste of warm dough stuffed with
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: cheese is wonderful. Just a few bites are enough to
• 9:41
  Speaker 1: fill you up. You're not sure whether this counts as
• 9:46
  Speaker 1: breakfast or lunch, but it's just what you needed. The
• 9:55
  Speaker 1: cobbled streets of the old town are narrow and sloping.
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: winding up the hillside. It feels more like a village
• 10:06
  Speaker 1: than a city, and is surprisingly quiet and peaceful. In
• 10:13
  Speaker 1: this part of the city, most people get around on foot.
• 10:18
  Speaker 1: and there's relatively little traffic. The lack of noise means
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: that you become more aware of voices. You listen to
• 10:29
  Speaker 1: people chatting in the street and notice conversations or music
• 10:35
  Speaker 1: coming from open windows. Looking up, you see an elderly
• 10:44
  Speaker 1: couple leaning on the edge of their balcony, watching the
• 10:48
  Speaker 1: world go by. This is one of the traditional, beautifully
• 10:55
  Speaker 1: ornate balconies that you see everywhere in this city. It's
• 11:02
  Speaker 1: a wooden balcony, carved into a lacy design, painted a
• 11:07
  Speaker 1: light shade of blue, like the colour of the sky.
• 11:13
  Speaker 1: The platform sticks out from the side of the building.
• 11:18
  Speaker 1: It looks like a small, elegant living room that's been
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: added on as a final decorative touch. There are so
• 11:31
  Speaker 1: many beautiful architectural details in this part of the city.
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: As well as the colorful balconies, you notice the wrought
• 11:42
  Speaker 1: iron spiral staircases on the sides of the buildings. Then
• 11:49
  Speaker 1: there are ancient doorways, patchworks of decorative tiles, stained glass windows,
• 11:58
  Speaker 1: and even a few elegant Art Nouveau facades. This city
• 12:07
  Speaker 1: is a photographer's dream, but you resist the urge to
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: take photos. Instead, you allow yourself to simply look and
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: drink in the details. Your gaze drifts slowly from a
• 12:26
  Speaker 1: ramshackle roof past ivy-covered walls and old balconies painted in
• 12:34
  Speaker 1: fading pastel colors. There are so many different shades of colors.
• 12:42
  Speaker 1: and so many materials and textures on this time-weathered apartment building.
• 12:51
  Speaker 1: Some of the older buildings in this neighborhood seem to
• 12:55
  Speaker 1: be slowly crumbling into a state of decay, but at
• 13:01
  Speaker 1: least the beautiful, intricate details still remain. They're a testament
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: to the city's rich past, and its diverse cultural heritage.
• 13:19
  Speaker 1: There's something enchanting about this faded glory. It's a reminder
• 13:25
  Speaker 1: of just how old Tbilisi is, and how it's been
• 13:30
  Speaker 1: influenced by so many different cultures. In some ways, it
• 13:37
  Speaker 1: feels European, but there are Ottoman, Persian, and Far Eastern
• 13:44
  Speaker 1: influences too. When you walk down the main boulevards, you
• 13:52
  Speaker 1: might also be in a city like Paris or Vienna.
• 13:57
  Speaker 1: But in this dense tumble of streets in the old town,
• 14:02
  Speaker 1: many of the buildings have ornate details reminiscent of Islamic architecture. Here,
• 14:11
  Speaker 1: It feels as though you've travelled further east and further
• 14:16
  Speaker 1: back in time. Some of the old wooden buildings have peaceful,
• 14:24
  Speaker 1: plant-filled courtyards, which you can enter directly from the street.
• 14:32
  Speaker 1: They're not exactly public spaces, but they're not entirely private either.
• 14:41
  Speaker 1: Whenever you catch a glimpse of a courtyard from the street,
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: you step in to take a closer look around. These
• 14:51
  Speaker 1: spaces are sometimes referred to as Italian courtyards, not for
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: the architecture, but for the atmosphere. In these charming little squares,
• 15:06
  Speaker 1: neighbours sit and chat together, enjoying a drink or a
• 15:11
  Speaker 1: game of cards or backgammon. The locals seem to welcome
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: visitors and sometimes leave the building entrance unlocked. Inside, you
• 15:28
  Speaker 1: can admire the elegant marble staircases or the faded paintings
• 15:34
  Speaker 1: on the walls. In one building, you spot a faded
• 15:40
  Speaker 1: Soviet sign with the names of the previous inhabitants. When
• 15:49
  Speaker 1: you encounter a resident in a courtyard or make eye
• 15:53
  Speaker 1: contact with someone on a balcony above, you exchange smiles
• 15:58
  Speaker 1: and greetings. No one seems to mind your presence here,
• 16:05
  Speaker 1: and you feel at ease exploring Many of the houses
• 16:14
  Speaker 1: in this neighborhood used to belong to rich artists and merchants.
• 16:21
  Speaker 1: In front of one old mansion house, you see a
• 16:25
  Speaker 1: printed sign on the ground next to the front door.
• 16:31
  Speaker 1: Its bold white lettering says Salve, a Latin greeting that
• 16:39
  Speaker 1: means hello, but also be well. This sign is the
• 16:45
  Speaker 1: perfect symbol for the city, both for its welcoming nature
• 16:52
  Speaker 1: and ancient past. On your walk through the city, you
• 17:00
  Speaker 1: notice a surprising variety of religious buildings, including Orthodox churches,
• 17:08
  Speaker 1: a mosque, and a synagogue. There's even a Zoroastrian fire temple.
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: It's an old brick cathedral built by followers of the
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: ancient Persian religion in the 5th century. Although the main
• 17:29
  Speaker 1: faith in Georgia is Orthodox Christianity, Tbilisi is remarkable for
• 17:36
  Speaker 1: its mix of religion. The proximity of these different places
• 17:41
  Speaker 1: of worship suggests that people of different faiths and backgrounds
• 17:47
  Speaker 1: have coexisted peacefully for many years. You weren't planning to
• 17:56
  Speaker 1: visit any of these buildings today, but when you catch
• 18:00
  Speaker 1: the intoxicating scent of incense from a church doorway, you
• 18:06
  Speaker 1: can't resist. The earthy aroma of frankincense seems to beckon you.
• 18:17
  Speaker 1: The smell of incense lingers in the air, but there's
• 18:23
  Speaker 1: no service in progress. When you enter the church, you
• 18:28
  Speaker 1: realize that you are alone, apart from three priests standing
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  Speaker 1: near the altar. You don't want to disturb the priests,
• 18:41
  Speaker 1: but you're happy to stand here at the back of
• 18:44
  Speaker 1: the church, breathing in the incense and admiring the beauty
• 18:50
  Speaker 1: of the building. There are some gorgeous paintings and religious
• 18:56
  Speaker 1: icons on the walls, gleaming gold in the sunlight that
• 19:02
  Speaker 1: streams through the windows. The artwork appears to be very old,
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: but not as old as the church itself. The bare
• 19:16
  Speaker 1: brick walls look ancient. There's something so beautiful about the
• 19:22
  Speaker 1: contrast between the rough weathered walls and the rich detail
• 19:28
  Speaker 1: of the pictures. The figures have shimmering golden halos and vibrant,
• 19:36
  Speaker 1: gorgeously patterned clothes. As you look around the church, you
• 19:44
  Speaker 1: almost forget about the presence of the three priests, standing
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  Speaker 1: in silence near the altar. But then, all of a sudden,
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  Speaker 1: they begin to sing. Their voices are deep, rich, and melodious.
• 20:09
  Speaker 1: Each of the men has a slightly different vocal range
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: and sings a separate but complementary tune. Blended together, their
• 20:20
  Speaker 1: voices form a strange and beautiful harmony. You've read that
• 20:29
  Speaker 1: in Georgia there is a long tradition of folk music
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: and polyphonic singing. It's performed by multiple singers with different melodies.
• 20:46
  Speaker 1: This music even predates Christianity. Centuries ago, Georgians would sing
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: together in their homes and in the fields in their
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: remote mountain communities. And over the years, this kind of
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: singing came to be considered an important symbol of Georgian culture. Today,
• 21:13
  Speaker 1: it remains a treasured part of the country's heritage. When
• 21:21
  Speaker 1: you close your eyes and focus on nothing but the
• 21:25
  Speaker 1: sound of the voices, you feel as though you're being
• 21:29
  Speaker 1: transported back in time. It might be the medieval age,
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: or even further back into the distant past. Paying close
• 21:46
  Speaker 1: attention to the complexity of the melody, you're also struck
• 21:51
  Speaker 1: by the talent of the singers. It must require a
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: great deal of practice to have this kind of vocal control.
• 22:03
  Speaker 1: As the singers move effortlessly from one note to the next,
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: on and on, there hardly seems to be space to breathe.
• 22:16
  Speaker 1: And yet, the slow, soothing harmony makes you feel relaxed
• 22:24
  Speaker 1: and more aware of your own breaths. You continue to
• 22:30
  Speaker 1: stand there, with your eyes closed, taking deep breaths in
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: and out. Time stands still as you savor the tranquility
• 22:46
  Speaker 1: of this moment. When the singing finally stops, the church
• 22:55
  Speaker 1: is silent once again, but it feels different from before,
• 23:02
  Speaker 1: as if the voices somehow linger in the atmosphere, just
• 23:07
  Speaker 1: like the smoky aroma of the incense. You're feeling so
• 23:15
  Speaker 1: peaceful and relaxed now. The singing has put you in
• 23:21
  Speaker 1: a sleepy, trance-like state, and you no longer feel like walking.
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: Perhaps you'll find somewhere to rest for a while. But then,
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: you remember your original idea, the sofa baths. Now that
• 23:44
  Speaker 1: you've had your fill of sightseeing, you're in the mood
• 23:48
  Speaker 1: for a relaxing break. You leave the church and wander
• 23:55
  Speaker 1: through the streets towards the bathhouse district. Near the river
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: is a cluster of traditional Georgian bathhouses. They're recognizable for
• 24:11
  Speaker 1: their distinctive roofs, brick domes that look like little molehills
• 24:19
  Speaker 1: rising out of the earth. The rooms are below ground,
• 24:25
  Speaker 1: and the water comes from the hot thermal springs that
• 24:30
  Speaker 1: led to the city's foundings. According to legend, the city
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: of Tbilisi was founded by chance. While a king was
• 24:44
  Speaker 1: hunting with his falcon in the forest, he stumbled across
• 24:49
  Speaker 1: the sulfurous hot springs, which appeared to have healing properties.
• 24:57
  Speaker 1: The king was so impressed that he decided to clear
• 25:00
  Speaker 1: the forest and build a city around the springs. From
• 25:09
  Speaker 1: the very beginning, bathing in the sulfur water has been
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: an important part of daily life in the city. For centuries,
• 25:21
  Speaker 1: people have been coming to these hot springs to wash
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: and to enjoy the water's therapeutic qualities. Bathing in sulfur
• 25:33
  Speaker 1: water is said to have a range of health benefits,
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: soothing the skin and giving relief to all parts of
• 25:42
  Speaker 1: the body. Many locals still use the public baths, where
• 25:51
  Speaker 1: people can bathe together and chat with their neighbours. But
• 25:57
  Speaker 1: you've decided to book a private room, so you can
• 26:01
  Speaker 1: have a bath to yourself. As you approach the bathhouse entrance,
• 26:11
  Speaker 1: the rich, unmistakable scent of sulfur grows stronger. This steamy
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: aroma is a little pungent, but not unpleasant. You know
• 26:26
  Speaker 1: that the smell is coming from healing waters, and this
• 26:31
  Speaker 1: makes it almost enticing. you're looking forward to this mid-afternoon soak,
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: which is a kind of low-cost luxury experience. In the end,
• 26:50
  Speaker 1: you opt for the simplest option, a private room with
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: a bath. There are also options to book a traditional
• 27:00
  Speaker 1: exfoliation scrub or a massage. But today, you feel like
• 27:08
  Speaker 1: relaxing in the water on your own, without the presence
• 27:13
  Speaker 1: of another person. A woman who works at the bathhouse
• 27:21
  Speaker 1: takes you to your private room. Every inch of the floor,
• 27:27
  Speaker 1: walls and ceiling are covered with mosaic tiles. There's a
• 27:34
  Speaker 1: shower a couple of baths, a bench and a massage table.
• 27:43
  Speaker 1: Some light comes from the small window high in the
• 27:46
  Speaker 1: domed ceiling and there are also a few flickering candles
• 27:52
  Speaker 1: in alcoves in the walls. The woman explains that you
• 27:59
  Speaker 1: can stay in this room for about an hour. There
• 28:04
  Speaker 1: will be a knock on the door to let you
• 28:06
  Speaker 1: know when the hour is almost up. But otherwise, no
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: one will disturb you here. The room is yours. She
• 28:19
  Speaker 1: smiles and wishes you a pleasant experience and then leaves,
• 28:27
  Speaker 1: closing the door behind her. You turn the key to
• 28:34
  Speaker 1: lock the door and then look around the room. An
• 28:40
  Speaker 1: hour seems like a leisurely amount of time to spend
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: in here. All you'll be doing is showering, then slowly
• 28:50
  Speaker 1: moving back and forth between the hot sulfur bath and
• 28:55
  Speaker 1: the cool plunge pool. As you take a warm shower
• 29:03
  Speaker 1: to prepare your body for the sulfur bath, you glance
• 29:07
  Speaker 1: around the room to admire the details. You're not quite
• 29:13
  Speaker 1: sure how old this bathhouse is, but you know that
• 29:18
  Speaker 1: some were built around 200 years ago. Looking at the
• 29:25
  Speaker 1: cracked edges of the mosaic tiles, this room certainly seems old,
• 29:33
  Speaker 1: but it's also sparkling clean. and beautifully decorated. The blue
• 29:41
  Speaker 1: and gold tiles are arranged in intricate patterns, so the
• 29:46
  Speaker 1: room almost resembles the interior of a church or temple.
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  Speaker 1: After showering, you head towards the large tub in the
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  Speaker 1: center of the room, which is filled with steaming sulfur water.
• 30:08
  Speaker 1: As it comes directly from the hot springs, the water
• 30:11
  Speaker 1: has a temperature of around 38 degrees Celsius, or 100
• 30:17
  Speaker 1: degrees Fahrenheit. It's completely safe to bathe in this water,
• 30:25
  Speaker 1: but not for too long. The idea is to spend
• 30:30
  Speaker 1: around five minutes in the sulfur bath before moving to
• 30:35
  Speaker 1: the adjacent tub of cold water. You've also brought a
• 30:41
  Speaker 1: bottle of drinking water with you to stay hydrated in
• 30:46
  Speaker 1: the heat. When you dip your toes into the bath,
• 30:54
  Speaker 1: you're amazed by just how hot it feels. but as
• 31:00
  Speaker 1: you slowly immerse your body in the warm water, you
• 31:05
  Speaker 1: adjust quickly. The heat is intense, but also deeply relaxing.
• 31:17
  Speaker 1: As you gently lower yourself in, the water flows over
• 31:22
  Speaker 1: the edge of the tub onto the surrounding tiles. The
• 31:29
  Speaker 1: sulfur bath is filled right to the top. When you
• 31:34
  Speaker 1: lie down, only your head remains dry, resting against the edge.
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  Speaker 1: The hot water feels wonderful. It's almost as if you
• 31:50
  Speaker 1: can feel it soaking right into the pores of your skin,
• 31:55
  Speaker 1: like a warm caress. That soothes and heals every part
• 32:01
  Speaker 1: of your body. You let out a deep sigh of contentment.
• 32:08
  Speaker 1: And close your eyes. Basking in the divine heat. All
• 32:17
  Speaker 1: your thoughts and worries fade and disappear. Like the rising steam.
• 32:28
  Speaker 1: In this moment of peace and relaxation, you're no longer
• 32:34
  Speaker 1: aware of anything. It's almost like being deeply asleep, but
• 32:42
  Speaker 1: just conscious enough to appreciate the dreamy tranquility of the moment.
• 32:53
  Speaker 1: The seconds pass by slowly, like the occasional drop of
• 32:58
  Speaker 1: water that seems to fall in slow motion from the
• 33:04
  Speaker 1: tap in the wall. The normal passing of time and
• 33:10
  Speaker 1: the world outside no longer exist. As you breathe deeply
• 33:19
  Speaker 1: in and out, you savor this sensation you are cocooned
• 33:29
  Speaker 1: in your own private world. After a while, your body
• 33:39
  Speaker 1: seems to know instinctively that it's time to cool off
• 33:44
  Speaker 1: in the other tub. Slowly, you get out of the
• 33:50
  Speaker 1: sulfur bath and take a couple of steps across the
• 33:54
  Speaker 1: tiled floor. Sunk into the floor is another tub, this
• 34:02
  Speaker 1: time filled with cool water. You step into the bath
• 34:09
  Speaker 1: and soak here for a few minutes, enjoying the refreshing
• 34:14
  Speaker 1: change in temperature. But you're soon craving the blissful hot
• 34:21
  Speaker 1: water of the other tub. For the rest of the hour,
• 34:30
  Speaker 1: you alternate between the two baths. Hot, cold, then back
• 34:37
  Speaker 1: to hot again. This simple, natural ritual somehow feels incredibly luxurious.
• 34:48
  Speaker 1: While there's something unique about the special temperature and properties
• 34:54
  Speaker 1: of the sulfur water, this experience is a reminder to
• 34:59
  Speaker 1: appreciate the act of bathing. It helps you feel more
• 35:05
  Speaker 1: connected with your body and at peace with yourself. And
• 35:13
  Speaker 1: as you can feel yourself getting softer and cleaner, it's
• 35:19
  Speaker 1: like a new start, a kind of rebirth. Eventually, you
• 35:31
  Speaker 1: hear a gentle knock on the door. So you dry
• 35:36
  Speaker 1: yourself off with a plush white towel and gradually get
• 35:41
  Speaker 1: ready to leave. Checking your reflection in the mirror, you smile,
• 35:51
  Speaker 1: noticing your relaxed, rejuvenated appearance. The visit to the bathhouse
• 36:02
  Speaker 1: ends with a pot of complimentary tea. The woman guides
• 36:07
  Speaker 1: you to a small, cozy room next to the reception
• 36:13
  Speaker 1: and invites you to sit down on a comfortable sofa
• 36:17
  Speaker 1: next to a low table. A couple of minutes later,
• 36:23
  Speaker 1: she returns carrying a silver tray with a pot of
• 36:28
  Speaker 1: herbal tea a bowl of sugar cubes, and some slices
• 36:33
  Speaker 1: of lemon. Although the tea looks hot, when you take
• 36:41
  Speaker 1: a sip from the cup, you discover that it's actually
• 36:46
  Speaker 1: the perfect temperature. It tastes delicious, sweet and full of flavour.
• 37:00
  Speaker 1: Now that you're sitting in another room, you realize just
• 37:05
  Speaker 1: how relaxed you are. From head to toe, your body
• 37:12
  Speaker 1: feels soft and loose and almost floppy. You're tempted to
• 37:21
  Speaker 1: lie down and fall asleep on the sofa. Fortunately, The
• 37:30
  Speaker 1: place where you're staying is just a five-minute walk away,
• 37:36
  Speaker 1: and you have no plans for the rest of the day,
• 37:40
  Speaker 1: apart from a traditional Georgian dinner with some friends this evening.
• 37:47
  Speaker 1: But just as the city wakes up late, it tends
• 37:52
  Speaker 1: to eat late too, so you've got plenty of time
• 37:57
  Speaker 1: to rest. After you finish your tea, you'll head home
• 38:07
  Speaker 1: and have a nice long nap. In a way, the
• 38:14
  Speaker 1: sulfur baths have changed your perspective on travel and even
• 38:21
  Speaker 1: life itself. A hot bath and a good rest now
• 38:29
  Speaker 1: seem like the most luxurious experiences you can imagine. Luxury
• 38:37
  Speaker 1: travel doesn't have to mean five-star hotels or expensive restaurants. Instead,
• 38:47
  Speaker 1: it can involve gaining a new appreciation for the simple
• 38:52
  Speaker 1: pleasures in life. Closing your eyes, you picture the bed
• 39:03
  Speaker 1: that awaits you. A large, soft bed with lavender scented sheets.
• 39:15
  Speaker 1: It's next to the window and the balcony with a
• 39:19
  Speaker 1: view over the rooftops. In just a few moments, you'll
• 39:27
  Speaker 1: be falling asleep Amen. peaceful bedroom. Right now, there's nowhere
• 39:38
  Speaker 1: else you'd rather be.
• 39:49
  Speaker 2: Thank you for watching.
• 40:16
  Speaker 3: Thank you.
• 40:48
  Speaker 2: Thank you. Thank you. This is the first time that
• 41:31
  Speaker 2: I have seen this.
• 41:32
  Speaker 3: Type of movement. This is a very important part of
• 41:47
  Speaker 3: the process. This is a very important part of the process.
• 42:08
  Speaker 2: Thank you. Thank you.
• 42:50
  Speaker 3: Thank you for watching. Thank you. Thank you.
• 44:03
  Speaker 2: Thank you. I'm going to take a deep breath in
• 44:57
  Speaker 2: and out.
• 45:21
  Speaker 3: Thank you for watching. Thank you.
• 46:14
  Speaker 2: Thank you.