Chianciano Terme is situated in a town built specially around the thermal springs and there is a significant industry that has grown up as a result. The spa bit looks quite impressive set out in beautiful sculptured ground with majestic tall trees. The building definitely has an aura....it could be from a film set where the great and the very beautiful mingle, as their flesh is rejuvenated  by gentle stretching and massaging, with lots of swirling steam and warm towels,with both sexes smiling and whispering, luxuriating in this simple nest and  their afternoon tea of cucumber sandwiches and delicious small pastries that only an establishment like this in rural Tuscany would have the wit and sophistocation to serve.
If this fantasy was only 5% right  then my life had not been in lived in vain! There was a lot riding on this visit as if it had become the Holy Grail.

We were asked at the reception desk if we had a reservation (we did not), and established our right of entry after we were made €45  lighter . Then we  were gently ushered into the marble ante chamber of the changing room happily clutching our  thick snowy  white towelling dressing gowns with fluffy towels to match. The fantasy that was in the process of creation started to grow like a giant silver helium balloon slowly filling up as it nudged it way aloft searching for the dizzy heights of the stratosphere. Just like my helium filled friend I too had made it to the big time (just) like everyone else here. This arriving business had a lot going for it.
To  finish this ensemble  the next attendant who was dressed like a fashional model just about to go into a photo shoot handed over a pair of flip flops, a plastic name tag  and a clear plastic hair cover.
The emotional rollercoaster had just begun. We knew that we would look just like MUPPETS in this new uniform and we wondered how this would affect our Bella Figura. The helium fuelled fantasy now floated like a garbage truck falling out of the sky .
Not to be detered by this minor technical hitch we screwed up our courage and depleted purses and marched in. We were going to have the relaxing time of our life because we had paid 45 euros for 3 hours of  pampering.

We ( Giuseppe and l decided to give each other buddy support whilst Pat did her own thing) went into the first room of AROMATERAPIA ENERGIZZANTE where a young couple obviously 'in love' looked into each others eyes and sighed, whilst sweet draughts of warmed air gently passed over.  Without those energised vapours  being pumped into the room l reckon there is little chance of that relationship making it past the bus stop around the corner on their way home . A sign outside the room suggested if you were suffering from depression or any other mental health problems, then aromat...energizz... may be worth avoiding but the risk was yours....pretty strong stuff l thought. You never know because it may be that kind of power is what's needed in today's society.
However if that energy didn't work then CROMATOTERAPIA dei CHAKRA might. Here light came into the room shaped like a pod but after 30 seconds of standing in that room l could bear it no more. My nerves were at screaming pitch and l beat an ungainly  retreat. The room was empty and for good reason. The sign outside the door said the same as the first so being a mug l ignored it, and subjected myself to  something that was invisible, silent and odourless....never had l felt myself to be in such danger. I hope  the long term side effects aren't in the same category as Chernybol. I asked Giuseppe to check me over to make sure nothing had fallen off or changed colour. He hesitated and said he would tell me later.
Just to be sure l insisted on taking a  shower and there was no sign saying that being mentally unstable was a contraindication to allowing warm water over your body. At least l was being proactive to the combination of chakra and light...a beastly combination you must agree!
The CAMMINATA NEL FIUME was out of bounds so no extra bravery was called for.
Giuseppe who had been a lawyer and was now a clinicial nurse working in Accident and Emergency department of a Washington hospital suggested l pull myself together and try a bit of time in the PIRAMIDE ENERGETICA to build up my energy stores. He could tell that l was on the edge.
To access the pyramid we had to go through a very short tunnel into its interior where coloured lights and 'energy' coming from its base were gently illuminating the space and filling it with the kind of zip l sorely needed (the helium fantasy was dying too slowly for my body to cope with.). There were no visible doors that could be shut sealing you into what could your resting place till archeologists lasered you out in 500 years time...but you never know. The sign was discretely placed and l had missed it. I was playing with fire and knew just how high the stakes had become.
BAGNO TURKO was something that l had tried before so now l was on terra firma at last!