OCNA SIBIULUI SPA--children of the mud

For several days, we had been trying to go to the Ocna spa and finally, on the last day around 6, we made it there. All I knew was we were going to a mineral spa and I figured there would be various baths at varying temperatures, much like the ones in Budapest. There are a series of baths inside but the Romanian director wanted to go to the lake so that's where we went. I was disappointed because it had rained and was cool outside so swimming in a lake didn't sound like my idea of a good time. Since we were there, though, I decided to be the first one in and walked down a set of wooden stairs to the lake. The first thing I noticed when my feet were in the water was that the temperature had to be over 100 degrees. Then I got in but was startled because I couldn't swim--I seemed to be flailing around and getting nowhere. Finally, someone showed me that all you have to do is float--I had no idea this was a salt water lake and so drowning is nearly impossible. It turns out the lake used to be a salt mine that collapsed. It's also incredibly deep. There was small mud pool, too, but you the mud was under the water so you had to pick it up with your feet to spread it on your body. Makes your skin soft but is very difficult to get off yourself and your bathing suit.