TAKING THE WATERS

On August 14th, rented a car at the Little Rock Airport and drove one hour to Hot Springs. Check in at the Clarion Suites took a little longer than expected. There are 2 highway 270s. One is a business route and the other is a thoroughfare around the southern edge. I should have taken the thoroughfare route. Once checked in, drove to the downtown area. Walked along Bathhouse Row to the Arlington Hotel. This historic hotel frequented by Al Capone opened its doors in the late 1800s. Checked out the Bathhouse at the hotel. (the entire downtown are is over a natural hot springs - thus the name of the town). Decided to eat at the hotel for their Friday Night Seafood Buffet. Many choices but I don't recommend the oysters on the half shell.

Saturday morning August 15th called a booked a mineral bath and body and foot massage at the Arlington. There were a few white attendants, but most attendants are African Americans who historically were the only attendants since the town's founding. The expression "taking the waters" was used in the 1800s to refer to coming to bathe in the hot springs.

Sunday returned to the downtown to visit Bathhouse Row. First stop at the Fordyce Bathhouse which is now part of the Natural Park Service and a museum depicting scenes from years gone by. The bathhouse rooms are maintained in the way they looked dating back to the 1920s. I took several photos. I decided to continue "taking the waters". I visited Buckstaff Bathhouse which opened in 1912. It turn out to be a disaster. It could have been a better experience had the mood by the staff had not been "HURRY UP AND RELAX". The first attendant Dr Bob began by rushing me to get undressed then took me into the bathing area and set "take a seat". I realized I still had my watch on so I returned to place it the locker. Dr Bob said give me your key and I'll lock it up for you. I didn't feel comfortable with that so I followed him. After receiving my key back, I sat down. My assigned bathing attendant suddenly appeared and said "FOLLOW ME". At the mineral bath tub, he said "STEP UP, GET IN, FACE THE GREEN PUMP, SIT DOWN. Not once did he return to check on me like it was done at the Arlington. I did notice that a black customer was greeted cordially using his surname. I guess racism is a live and well at the Bathhouse. After a shower I approached a person I thought was the massage therapist, I was told by a white haired older white gent in white shirt and faded blue jeans "GO BACK AND STAND WHERE YOU WERE". I received a massage by an Eastern European man with what turned out to be of little therapeutic value because I was feeling distressed by the whole experience. Even though I told the massage therapist that I have an arthritic right ankle, I had to ask for a bolster pillow for my feet once I was face down. I left the bathhouse before all service was completed because I was left standing with my left hand in a container of hot wax because 4 black clients entered and Dr Bob had to attend to them first. My advice is don't visit the Buckstaff Bathhouse. I visited one more Bathhouse, because I didn't want to end my day on such a negative note. I highly recommend the Quapaw Bathhouse. It is more modern and the staff both black and white are friendly courteous and helpful. I didn't do a personal mineral batrh or massage . but the hot spring pools were great. The attendants continually offered cups of cool spring water to drink.