Karlovy Vary (part 1)

On Saturday we crossed another item off our "things to do before we leave" list by taking a day-trip to Karlovy Vary. It's a small town (about 50,000 people) in the western part of the Czech Republic that's famous for its hot springs. The city was founded in 1370 by the ever-popular Charles IV. Apparently he discovered the hot springs a la the Beverly Hillbillies while he was out hunting (we did read a few other versions of the story). The name Karlovy Vary actually translates to "Charles' Boiling Place."
The city has 12 natural hot springs that range from 43-72 degrees Celsius. There are numerous spas all over the city where weary Europeans come to have a laundry list of ailments "cured." We laughed when we saw the list of items that the mineral waters can treat, including digestive tract disorders; metabolic disorders; diabetes; gout; obesity; gingivitis; diseases of the liver, pancreas, gall bladder and biliary ducts; neurological disorders and "many others" -- that's what it actually says. It was especially common during the communism days for a doctor to prescribe that a patient needed a mandatory 2-week stay at one of the spas. Apparently, this still happens, though its not as common as it used to be.
The 12 hot springs bubble up in various places around the center of the city and there are taps where the water is flowing and you can take your mug and just fill it up. There were numerous stands selling special mugs to use at the hot springs. All of the mugs have a straw that runs up the handle. I think that you look a little silly while drinking out of them, but it's the tradition. So we bought our souvenir cup and started our taste test. We were able to test 10 of the 12 hot springs -- the other two were inside a building that was closed for renovation. The result: none of them are very good. I think that the warmer ones were more tolerable because the cooler temperatures tasted too metallic to me.
I have my doubts about the healing powers of the water, but I did read in a couple of places that the water can have a "digestive system cleansing effect", especially on the tourists who aren't used to it. This is apparently the reason for the numerous, prominently placed restrooms in the center of the city (something of a rarity in the Czech Republic). So, Jason and I were careful to take small sips -- but they tasted so bad I can't imagine wanting to drink any more.
Karlovy Vary is also famous for Becherovka -- sometimes called the 13th spring. This is the same infamous beverage from the night we had dinner at my student's house with the boyfriend who was in his underwear (see our May post "dinner at my student's house). It's an herbal liquor that's something like Jagermeister or Ouzo. Neither of us think that it's very good, but my brother Dusty seemed to like it. Anyway, we figured out why the Czechs think it's so good ... it's because they've been drinking that mineral water.
We did, however, enjoy sampling the Czech Spa Wafers that are also a Karlovy Vary specialty. There were many stands along the street that were selling them hot off the press. Yum.
To be continued ...