vranjska banja, serbia

There is such a thing called banja (hot spring or onsen) in Balkan. For Japanese, going to onsen is a part of culture not only for old people, but also for young people for a weekend trip or whatever, so, I had to go and check what a Balkan onsen is like. My image was something like warm water that people need to wear swim suits to be in, but this hot spring near Vranje was different. It is a very hot (97C) sulfur spring, so you can take a real bath and even you can make onsen tamago (boiled eggs). What is different from Japanese onsen is the part that you have to fill a tub by yourself and to bring your own towls. Very much self-service. There is no fancy atmosphere that Japanese would expect to onsen like relaxing in a classic wooden tub or an open-air bath, but for those people who like to just take a bath with hot spring water, it seems ok place to enjoy taking an onsen bath. Vranjska banja is just 1.5 hours drive away from Skopje.

バルカンには｢バニャ｣といわれるいわゆる温泉があります。ここはひとつ日本人としてはやはり温泉はチェックしておかないといけないかしらと思い、セルビアのヴラニエ温泉というところに行ってきました。スコピエから車で一時間半くらい。私のイメージではバルカンの温泉って水着で入るようなぬるいプールみたいなモノって感じだったのですが、ここのヴラニエの温泉は硫黄系の97Cの熱湯が出るかなり本格的な温泉でした。温泉タマゴも作れるほど。日本の温泉となにが違うかっていうと個室のバスタブに自分でお湯を入れるところと自分タオルを持っていくこと、かな。まあ、日本人が温泉に対して期待する｢のんびり｣｢リラックス｣とかいい雰囲気とかなにもないけれど、温泉のお湯に入るのが好きな人にはけっこうアリなのではないでしょうか。