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COPYRIGHT 2005 Curve Magazine, Outspoken Enterprises, San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 863-6538
Spas are all the rage in the United States and by now most of us seem to be familiar with terms like "watsu" and "glycolic facial." But Europeans will tell you that spas aren't just about a shinier, prettier you: Originally, they were designed for your health. After the Swiss Parliament decided in 2004 to allow same-sex couples to register their partnerships, and after Swiss voters approved civil unions last June (the first national vote on a gay issue anywhere in the world), gays and lesbians abroad began looking to Europe's famously neutral country for more than just chocolate. If you're seeking an authentic spa experience, try a wellness tour of southeastern Switzerland, a region of unparalleled natural beauty, outdoor activities and ancient healing mineral waters that together offer even the most shiatsu-weary among us a holistic travel experience that restores body and mind.
GET SERIOUS IN DAVOS
Switzerland is a small country, and you can cover a lot of ground without ever hopping on another plane once you land here. After flying into Zurich and boarding a rail shuttle to the train station, I pick up my Swiss Pass and within two and a half hours arrive in Davos, in southeast Switzerland.
C-SPAN junkies know Davos as the home of the World Economic Forum, the independent international forum that since 1971 has brought global leaders together to address social and economic issues. Davos has also been one of Europe's premiere wellness destinations since 1853, when a country doctor recognized the health benefits of a high-altitude climate and established the Kuranstalt Spengler-Holsboer Health Clinic, which went on to spawn numerous hotels, guesthouses, sanatoriums and villas.
At the turn of the 19th century, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the creator of Sherlock Holmes) moved to Davos with his wife, who was dying of tuberculosis. Doyle, an outdoor enthusiast, ordered some skis from Norway, hit the slopes and helped christen Switzerland a skiing haven. After Europe's first T-bar ski lift was opened here in 1934, Davos became a major winter sports destination: The Davos-Klosters area boasts five extensive winter sports areas; 50 mountain transport systems offer access to 310 kilometers of pistes; and Davos itself features Europe's largest natural ice rink (more than...
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