Hamming it up in the Hammam

Ali sent us off to the neighborhood Hammam where we were led into a
huge slippery tiled room to be steamed, lathered in black moroccan
beldi soap, exfloiated with a rough kissa glove, coated in local
ghassoul clay, scraped with pumice, hair slimed with henna, rinsed in
hot water and swaddled in scarves to wend our way home. Some women
happily go there 3 times a week to relax, gossip and be cleansed "hair
to toes." At 60 dirhams (one dirham is twelve cents) it is cheaper
than a Starbucks habit and certainly much healthier.
We read an inscription in the Marakesh Museum: "For my life, I choose
to be happy because it is good for my health."
Here's to Health and Hammams