it had been a year since my last visit but nothing had changed, from the brisk and cheerful service to the funny smell that i can only describe as garden compost. after changing into a pair of baggy shorts, you lie in a coffin-shaped box full of sawdust and various grains. the mixture produces heat through natural fermentation. once inside, it feels like a sauna, but it has a much stronger effect than simply making you sweat. i can tell that it boosts my metabolism because i become very, very hungry afterwards. and i feel like a newborn the following morning. so, i'm planning on bullying purpleman into trying it when he gets back.
after the treatment, i went to the book store to browse through guidebooks on london and paris, but decided i'm not taking any this time. i will be taking maps, though. purpleman doesn't think much of my navigational skills but i quite like looking at maps and knowing where i'm going.
i found a map of paris in one of my old Figaro Japon issues. it's a 20-page booklet that lists almost every cafe and boutique in the saint germain, saint honore, marais, etienne marcel and montmartre neighborhoods. it's amazing how accurate and detailed some japanese maps are.
