Anaëlle and I needed to get out of the house and take a break from English lessons, and the city of Wiesbaden made the perfect little morning trip. Wiesbaden is one of the oldest spa towns in Europe. Its name literally means "meadow baths". At one time, Wiesbaden boasted 27 hot springs. Fifteen of the springs are still flowing today.
Our first stop would be the Kurhaus ("spa house). We strolled along the Theater Kolonnade that lead up to the Kurhaus and it was a shame that most of the stores along the Kolonnade were closed.
The Kurshaus (spa house) was built about a hundred years ago and houses performance halls and a famous casino.
Inside the lobby of the Neo-Classical Kurhaus
The Kurhaus of Wiesbaden, with its magnificent ballrooms, is frequently the venue for traditional cultural events, open-air concerts and ballet performances.
Opposite the Theater Kolonnade is the Kurhaus Kolonnade which was built in 1827 and is the longest hall in Europe supported by pillars.
Here is Anaëlle at the Kochbrunnen, Wiesbaden's most famous sodium-chloride thermal spring. Over 2,000 years ago, the Romans who settled here found springs that carried hot thermal water to the surface. Throughout its history, people have flocked to the town to bath in its waters that are said to have curative properties.
The temperature of the water at the Kochbrunnen is 66°C (151°F) and it gushes 346 liters (91 gallons) of mineral water per minute. The water is said to be good for your skin and digestion. The last time I was here, people of all ages were dipping their hands in the water and spreading it on their skin and drinking the water, too.
And it was at this point that I realized that as much as visiting a popular place in the height of tourist season can be a pain, at least you would experience a festive atmosphere. Here at one of Wiesbaden's most famous sites, there was no one but us on this gloomy morning. And the atmosphere was gloomy. I think I would prefer a happy crowd over no one at all. I told Anaëlle that this spring was famous and people are usually crowding around it, but I don't know if she believed me.
I made Anaëlle touch the water to see how hot it was. Not only is it hot, it smells.
We both sampled the water the Kochbrunnentempel.
It was extremely salty and for both of us, a few sips was enough.
Strolling through town, we passed the Heidenmauer ("Heathen Wall"), the last remnants of the Roman aqueduct of Aquae Mattiacorum.
Finding a new friend at the Steiff stuffed animal shop
We stopped in the Gummi bear store and bought regular, red hot chili and Cuba Libre gummi bears.
The Marktkirche, the largest Protestant Church in Wiesbaden
A golden lion watches over Market Fountain in front of Wiesbaden's oldest historical monument the Old Town Hall, built in 1610.
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