By Heba Elkayal
It seems that my springs are always doomed. You see, every year both my social life and working life are as dormant as a hibernating bear in the winter months, only to come alive in March and early April. By May, the marathon of cocktails, meetings, deadlines and the occasional late night out take quite a toll on me. By June I’m praying for early retirement.
Hoping to nip fatigue and a nervous breakdown in the bud, I decided to pop over to the Fairmont Nile Tower Hotel’s new Willow Stream Spa.
Initially slated to open early March, the spa — which happens to be the only branch of the prestigious chain currently in Egypt — delayed its opening until recently.
Having my fair share of knots and aches I thought spoiling myself would be worth every pound I would pay.
I took a weekday morning off to try out a 60-minute relaxation massage and explore the spa’s facilities. I checked in at 11 am, turned my mobile phone off and placed it in my assigned locker. I would be incommunicado to the outside world for three hours as I tried to relax in the middle of Cairo’s chaos.
The Willow Stream Spa prides itself on tailoring unique treatments according to the spa’s location. In Cairo, the spa overlooks the neighborhoods of Imbaba, Zamalek and Garden City, industrial zones and a cleft in the Nile from the penultimate floor of the hotel, 24 floors up to be exact.
Though having decided on my relaxation massage, I leafed through the spa’s booklet to scan the offerings. Listed were “Signature Experiences” including treatments with names such as Heart of Cairo, Air Energy, Hammam Heaven and Egypt Energy, which last from 90 minutes to 2 hours of pampering scrubs, wraps and oil massages.
“Body Experiences” offer similar, though shorter, treatments using locally sourced oils and therapy methods. Hot stones, chamomile body scrubs and marine derived crystal salts are all used to rejuvenate one’s mind, body and soul.
Facial treatments, detox baths, maternity massages and couples massages are also on the menu. Choice is a-plenty making it hard to select just one treatment.
I was bundled into a towel and told to try the steam room before my massage started. I noticed there was a large pot of ice to cool one’s self with after stepping out of the steam room. Considerate and thoughtful, I thought to myself.
Twenty minutes in a beautiful maroon mosaic-lined room with individual carved out niches for eight people, I was alone and started reflecting on the madness of the past six months.
Fighting my demons I shushed my thoughts and scuttled into the “cold mist shower” room after a scooping of ice from the bucket and I hit the button to activate the shower. Never have I felt more like a houseplant. The experience is strange but the cool water was welcoming.
My smiling therapist then found me and led me to a treatment room larger than my living room. Flat on my stomach with towels covering me, I was instructed to partake in a preliminary breathing ritual before we commenced.
Three deep breaths and I then proceeded to forget my name. The treatment was a Swedish massage mix of solid pummeling and deep relaxing strokes. No knot was left untreated as nimble fingers worked magic with the assistance of eucalyptus oils.
Shoulders, legs, back and stomach first then neck, face and scalp were last before I was covered with hot towel compresses. Ankles and heels were not forgotten either and a little moan of contentment escaped me.
Was I relaxed? Oiled up and pummeled, I felt like I had run a marathon. Some soreness in my shoulders and arms were treated with a quick rinse off in the “rainforest shower” stall before being lead to the relaxation lounge. Tea, water, magazines and a great view of the city below was in front of me. I was told to enjoy for as long as I wanted.
Showering soon after, Willow Stream branded shampoo, conditioner and body soap were available in the regular shower stalls, and I used an exfoliating shower scrub for one last treatment before heading back to the locker room.
The spa’s interiors were another sensory experience. Calm exposed alabaster and limestone walls are bright and calming, tasteful and minimal. My favorite design detail were the countertops found throughout: what I first thought was marble turned out to be in fact slabs of petrified tree trunks resulting in a pattern of rings giving off beautiful honey shades of beiges and browns.
Treatments are by no means cheap, and I wistfully realized upon reviewing the brochure that I won’t be able to make this a weekly treat. My 60-minute treatment was listed at $119 — without the additional tax charge and gratuities — but, explained the receptionist, all massage treatments are 50 percent off during weekdays “until further notice.”
Perhaps, I could make this a monthly treat then.
You have access to the hotel’s gym facilities when you book a treatment, and the thought of coming for a run before a massage is motivating.
I headed off to start my busy working day after a quick perusal of the spa gift shop that included local and international products which are used as part of the treatments.
“Why are you glowing?” asked a friend later.
“Feel my arm,” I said.
Soft as a baby’s bottom. And I slept like a baby for days.
Willow Stream Spa
Fairmont Nile City
Nile City Tower
2005 B Corniche El Nil
Ramlet Beaulac.
Tel: (02) 2461 9770/02
Spa guests have access to the hotel’s gym facilities.
