Relaxing spa day gone hysterical

Do you know what this is? No. it’s not an aquarium… it’s pure terror!
(at least according to my little sister who saw these 2 inch fish as mini sharks)

But let’s start this from the beginning…

Back in December I visited the well-known Kosta Boda Art Hotel which is located in a tiny village deep into the Swedish forest – a luxury retreat for people who just want to spend some time relaxing and appreciating art. The hotel is really known for its glass art made by famous Swedish artists, but me and my family went there for the day just to use their spa facilities. It was a lovely day just having a swim and relaxing in the hot pools, until…

…until my mum suggested trying the fish pedicure!

OH. MY. GOD!

The description said it would feel like bathing your feet in champagne. It did not…

With hysterical screams and laughter is how we started off this experience. I thought I’d be clever and start gradually by just sticking one heel in the water. I shouldn’t have done that! All fish flocked to that one small surface, and it tickled like hell! I screamed and pulled my foot out again, with the fish almost following me up above the surface!

My sister was in hysterics, but as the big sister I thought I’d set a good example and make out as if it wasn’t that bad even though I thought it was really disgusting to start with. So I braced myself and dunked both feet in the water at the same time. 10 seconds of extreme tickling followed, and I’m glad I lasted those first 10 seconds, cause that’s how long it took for me to get used to this weird nibbling sensation - after that it was fine.

I must say it was extremely weird having little fish swimming between your toes. But if you ignored looking at them, and instead looked at the beautiful view outside the window, it wasn’t that bad.

My sister continued having hysterical laughs and screams, and dove behind me and grabbed my arm really hard every time she tried to get her feet in the water. She didn’t get them in properly for the whole 20 minutes we sat there, but only lasted 5 seconds here and there :P

It was an interesting experience, I must say. And my feet were extremely smooth afterwards. People tend to think that these little fish have teeth, but they don’t. They only suck your feet, and it doesn’t hurt in any way – it just tickles like hell.

Would I do it again? Probably. I think it’s something everyone should try once. If not for the smooth feet then at least for the weird experience.