I visited Ojo Caliente Hot Springs, which was said to be the oldest spa facility in the United States. As the phrase "Things present are judged by things past" implies, was it able to gain new knowledge and insights by learning old things? Things past Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, was built in 1610 as the capital of the Spanish territory of Santa Fe Nuevo Mexico, long before the founding of the United States. An hour's drive north of Santa Fe is the Posi-Ouinge site, one of the largest villages of the Native American Tewa tribe. It is assumed that the Spanish settlers built Santa Fe, a short distance from the native settlements, to make their conquests more efficient. The ruins are located in the vicinity of natural hot springs, and it is clear that they were important to the natives. Using the same water, the oldest bathhouse built by whites in the U.S. is still in existence. The first public bathhouse was built here in 1868, long before New Mexico was admitted as a state in 1912. The building from the time of its opening still exists, and it served as a historic bathhouse offering Finnish-style saunas. The adobe style architecture gave the place a resort-like atmosphere. Clothing were required in the spa areas, except for the private pool, which needed an additional fee. It was a very popular facility, so the drawback was that it got crowded with many visitors on holidays. Still, if I entered first thing in the morning, ...
