COSTA DEL SOL

Narrator
It was in the 60s that mass tourism hit Spain's Costa del Sol. Along the coastline the little fishing villages were replaced one after the other by gray hotel façades. Today the Spanish are trying to promote a different kind of tourism, with luxury apartments like the ones we see here. The combination of luxurious homes and the sea have brought the jet set to Benalmádena. But if you can't afford one of these, there are many other ways to enjoy the Mediterranean sea.

Inka Martí
What exactly is thalassotherapy?

Pilar
Thalassotherapy is based on the benefits that can be obtained from warm sea water. Once it is warmed to body temperature it is absorbed by the skin and thus we benefit from the iodine, magnesium and calcium, which are very effective at relaxing us, toning our muscles,  fighting stress and fatigue in general.

Pilar
The water? Where is it from because it is salt water? It is salt water, water from the Mediterranean. We get it from Fuengirola, through a 7km-long pipeline. 

Inka Martí
Do you get many Spanish people here?

Pilar
'Health' tourism is still pretty unusual in Spain, you don't find many people coming to a spa for their holidays, it's a bit of a taboo for them. They are still after beaches, bars, beer, but I think we are slowly coming around to recognising how important our health is, that we do have to look after our bodies and minds.

Narrator
Seaweed is just as good for us as sea water.

Inka Martí
Ani, hello. Where is the seaweed from?

Ani
From Great Britain.

Inka Martí
What is it for?

Ani
It's good for moisturising the skin, for rheumatism, for arthritis, for all bone complaints.

Inka Martí
Are they different species?

Ani
Yes, these are for moisturising the skin, as I said, and this one is for slimming, for cellulite.

Inka Martí
Do men mind putting all this stuff on - it looks a bit gunky to me.

Ani
No, they're not overjoyed when they come in and see all that, but others get into it and decide that it can't be all that bad since it does do the job of making their skin nice and smooth and relaxing them and making them feel good. But they don't like the colour!

[music]