Mineral baths, still commonly known as “taking the cure”, have been a health and wellness tradition for hundreds of years. They are believed to not only boost the immune system but also increase the body’s inherent ability to heal itself. It seemingly has a lot to do with the water’s high number of negative ions, which make us happy. The mineral content increases our blood circulation, which encourages toxins to leave the body at a quicker rate. It is also thought to care for our organs and ultimately our general well-being. This is my favorite time of year for mineral baths for the purpose of caring for dry winter skin. Although you could make a pilgrimage to one of a number of mineral springs in Europe, Asia or the United Kingdom, a closer alternative is the Roosevelt Baths and Spa, located three hours north of New York City in Saratoga Springs. A destination for mineral springs since the early 19th century for both drinking and bathing, it was in 1929 that Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated the creation of the Roosevelt Bath Houses. Now in the 21st century, the Roosevelt Baths and Spa has been named a Top 10 New York State Green Destination.
www.gideonputnam.com/Spa.aspx
We here at THE BATON are avid collectors of vintage books. My favorite are vintage travel guides. Not limited at all to your standard Blue Guide or Fodor’s, titles in my growing collection include Paris is a Woman’s Town(1929) and Where Paris Dines (1929). I have found these books to be not only relevant historical documents of a city and its culture at the very moment they were written and published — a true representation of the zeitgeist — but also just really great reads.
In Where Paris Dines, Julian Street wittily described Le Select in Montparnasse as follows: “Of the four large cafés on the block this one is perhaps the sanest, though I did encounter there one evening an astrologer girl from Nebraska who was busy being a bohemian. Those things are, however, bound to happen, and I know, on the other hand, that the Select has among its patrons some painters who can really paint. Like its neighbors, this café has an American bar and serves cold suppers, Welsh rarebit, cheese fondue and special dishes. It is a pleasant place, not so exciting as the jazzed-up Coupole, across the way, but with better service and a more friendly air. An advertisement tells me it is open all night. I suppose the others are, too, but I never sat up to find out.” LOVE IT.
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Rococo Chocolates is one of our favorite shops in London. Their handmade chocolate is absolutely exquisite, some of which is organic and fair trade originating from their own cocoa farm in Grenada — Grococo. Rococo’s confections range from truffles to drinking chocolate, Italian nougat to crystalized flower petals, and on and on. Our personal weaknesses, however, are the artisan bars and bee bars — in such flavors as Basil and Persian Lime Dark Chocolate, Orange and Geranium Dark Chocolate and seasonal offerings like Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh Dark Chocolate. Almost too lovely to imagine. And then there is the packaging! Rococo’s owner, Chantal Coady, studied and trained in textile design. The motifs on her packaging come from antique chocolate mold catalogs and are artfully combined with gorgeous calligraphy and printed on beautiful, heavy paper. Her shops are just as delightful. Rococo Chocolates does not ship outside the UK but take a look at their website for a taste of this old world yet distinctly modern vibe and for planning a visit on your next trip to London.
Rococo Chocolates www.rococochocolates.com
