Family happiness: wellness plus camping
Plop. Plop. Plop. First they are only occasionally heard. But then there is no doubt: dripping drums on our tent roof. Wind shakes the rod. I could now quarrel with the choice of our holiday accommodation. But hey, I have a date with Mirek, he will massage me wonderfully. What bothers me a little bit of rain? I loll extensively, then I crawl out of the sleeping bag.
The camping was the wish of my husband. For years he has been in my ears. Outdoor vacations, being in the open air all day, limiting yourself to the bare essentials - that's the best way for him to relax. I, on the other hand, wanted wellness. I wanted someone to do more than casually knead my tense neck during the news, want someone to massage the worry lines out of my face and polish my outer shell thoroughly. After two years with a child and a job, I have more than earned it. A campsite that also offers wellness to its guests seemed the perfect compromise. One who also spares the holiday fund - after all, a night in a tent is cheaper than staying in a fancy hotel. Such wellness campsites are more and more. Because the child is also part of the party and likes to splash around in the sea, the choice fell on Rømø, the small Danish island just above Sylt.
Fortunately, my husband is not as frugal in terms of comfort as in the beginning of 20. So we have pitched two tents, one for us and one for the luggage - between RVs and a few other tents here on Rømø despite the peak season enough space. In addition, we have invested a few euros in extra-thick inflatable sleeping pads, cuddly pillows, an electric cooler and - the man could not be taken - a high-mountain gas stove, with the milk for the child and the morning coffee in two seconds are hot. We do not need the stove for hot meals - we let them serve us every evening in the hotel belonging to the campsite. Next to it is the wellness center with a small pool, steam room and sauna, relaxation balcony and several treatment rooms. As in many middle-class hotels, a colorful potpourri is on offer, from manicures to sea salt and milk baths to hot stone massages.
So Mirek is waiting for me there with a silk glove massage. This term is somewhat misleading, the glove is made of raw silk and scrapes like a scouring pad. But he should stimulate metabolism and connective tissue, which I can use well. "Then comes oil," says Mirek, or in other words: an Ayurvedic Abhyanga massage, good for restlessness and stress. Mirek pours the oil liberally on my body, for a moment I feel like salad, which is just turned on.
Then I'm kneaded through, it tickles on the foot, but until Mirek has reached my back, the relaxation music from the plant has already accompanied me into a pleasant twilight state. A tentative "mom?" bring me back into the here and now, a little finger bores into my cheek. My son is standing next to me and is obviously not sure if I'm fine. Oh yes, yes, that was a good start. And since the sun is shining in the meantime, it's time to go to the sea.
The way to it is prolonged. Not because Rømø is so big, but because the beach is so wide, up to four kilometers - that's a record in Europe. There is probably no traffic at any other beach. Some park with their cars right on the water, a bit further roaring kitebugs back and forth. In the south, we still find a vehicle-free section and spread out our sheets. The sand is so clean and fine-grained that it freed my feet on the way here by the way from any cornea and polished the nails sparkling. Pedicure can not be more pleasant. We spend the rest of the afternoon assisting our son alternately in digging deep holes, looking forward to running into the shallow water about 500 times, squinting happily, and out again, or just looking straight ahead, where there's nothing but that Sea, a meditative expanse.
In the evening I booked a horseback tour. I can't ride at all, but whenever I see horses, the feeling that I miss something is creeping up on me. And from our tent I constantly see horses. Over a small hedge looks directly at the vast pastures of the belonging to the campsite Icelander Center, behind glittering the Wadden Sea. A five-star view. "Beginner?", Asks Andreas, our guide, as he sees me at the agreed time a bit undecided in front of the paddock.He tells me to Sofi, "totally good", and helps me with trimming and saddling. As I ride with the others from the farm, my son is crying, staying behind with his father.
For a while the bad conscience rides along. Then Sofi suddenly starts to trot, because the other horses do that as well, and I'm busy keeping myself in the saddle. "Back upper body, reins loose, if you want to drive Sofi: thigh pressure, and for braking: put on reins," Andreas gives another brief introduction. By the time we get to the beach, I'm reasonably safe in the saddle.
The rest I leave Sofi and the group dynamics. "Gallop!", Exclaims Andreas, my heart makes a leap, then I let go inside. The evening sun dips the sky in rich red tones, the hooves of the horses whirl up sparkling drops of water, I have not felt so free and carefree in a long time. As if I were a horse-loving teenager, on the way back I decide to bring some morning carrots to Sofi.
"Mom, earth!", My son crowed enthusiastically, as I come back to the tent. It is already half past nine, my husband is anything but enthusiastic. The kid should have been sleeping for a long time, instead, it just has nonsense in his head, and the man actually wanted to walk. In the hotel, I would now probably popping doors slam in the bathroom, because I was rudely taken out of the rider's heaven. Crawling out of the tent is of course far less effective.
Camping has something for itself. Maybe bad mood evaporates faster, because you are constantly in the fresh air. Anyway, we bring the child to bed together and then unrolling a mattress in front of the tent. I pour red wine into our enamel cups and after watching in silence for a while as the stars twinkle over us, I realize that romance has joined us. How good it is to meet them - we have not seen each other for far too long.
The next morning, the man is allowed to walk for a long time before I go for the anti-aging facial treatment. Margareta is responsible for this, Mirek's wife. She cleanses my face, peels, puts on gels and essences, plucks my eyebrows and gives me a little massage. Then my nails are off. When I'm done, I regret for a moment that I'm not wearing my polished exterior now in a fancy cafe or shopping, but only back to the campsite. But then we look for a shady spot under a big tree, the child falls asleep, and we unpack the books that have been waiting to be read for so long. Above us, the leaves rustle in the wind, otherwise the world seems to stand still. At least now I would like to have an empty honey jar at hand to fill this moment in and take home. You need something so beautiful when it is time again for the word "must" to appear every other sentence at breakfast.
I wake up in the night, all bones hurt me. The luxury mattress has apparently a hole, I'm lying on the ground, so to speak. That would be another reason to quarrel with our accommodation. Only: why? At home, I'll be happy about my bed and all the other comforts. But now I cuddle up to my son on the mat and think: Wellness camping is wonderful. I'm looking forward to Mirek, where I'll stop by tomorrow morning.
Wellness plus Camping: Where's that?
Rømø, Denmark: Camping Kommandørgaarden 550 pitches for tents or mobile homes are available at Kommandørgaarden, but you can also sleep in a log cabin or hotel. The wellness center offers massages and baths from all over the world. Only a few meters from the campsite, begins the Wadden Sea, on the other side it goes through a heath and dune landscape to up to four kilometers wide North Sea beach. Around 60 Icelandic horses are waiting for a ride. If you want, you can bring your own horse. Night in tent for two persons from around 20 euros, wooden huts from 90 euros per day, double from 114 euros. Silk glove massage and Abhyanga 107 euros, anti-aging facial treatment 110 euros, manicure 59 euros. Riding tour at sunset 45 euros. Tel. 0045/74/75 51 22, www.kommandoergaarden.dk
Schleswig-Holstein: Island Camp Fehmarn Just 200 meters from the campsite to the long Baltic Sea beach. In the wellness area there are different saunas, you can be kneaded, manual lymphatic drainage, physiotherapy, autogenic training, book a back or yoga class. Further wellness offers are available at the nearby Ferienzentrum Südstrand. Night in the tent for two persons from 21 Euro. Tel. 0 43 71/503 00, www.inselcamp.de
Bavaria: Camping Hopfensee At the Hopfensee you can treat without a hospital atmosphere, but also just let yourself be pampered. The campsite is located directly on the lakeshore, overlooking the Allgäu Prealps. The raw materials that are used in the wellness center come directly from the local nature: medicinal plants, bog, hay and water. The mild stimulating climate does the rest. The only drawback: you can not camp here, there are only RV sites.Pitch for two people around 30 € / night, Abhyanga massage 65 €, goat butter cream bath 30 €, ten-day Kneipp cure 135 €. Tel. 0 83 62/91 77 10, www.camping-hopfensee.com
Tyrol, Austria: Sportcamp Woferlgut The perfect contact point for active people: there are 1200 kilometers of cycle paths in the area, hiking trails without end, not far the largest golf course in Austria and on the square itself a large gym and swimming pool. Oh yes, a lake is also part of the camp. Even the wellness area is called here experience center - nevertheless you can relax with a massage, Moorpackung or in the sauna also wonderful. Night in tent for two from 20 euros, 45 minutes massage 32 euros, mud pack 13 euros. Tel. 00 43/65 45-730 30, www.woferlgut.at
