Bad Nauheim, Germany - Hope, Health, Friendship, and Food

Hope is an incredible thing.

And so is the freedom to be able to spend time with friends and family when it’s really important (or even when it’s not…but, when is it not?). The lifestyle I’ve chosen to lead is something that I will be ever grateful for – the ability to work from wherever I need to whenever I want – in order to live the life that I choose with the people that I love and care about.

A really good friend of mine has been dealing with a chronic illness for around 20 years, but didn’t actually know and thus understand to take it seriously for a long time, until it got to a point where she realized that what she was experiencing wasn’t normal.

After much research, hundreds of doctor and healthcare visits across North America and Asia, many incorrect diagnoses, and life stresses over several years, she found hope at a naturopathic clinic in a small town (Bad Nauheim) just outside of Frankfurt, Germany, through a recommendation from her medical doctor in Vancouver. I found out that there was an opening for her to go back for a round of stem-cell therapy and some other immune-supporting treatments in April (after an initial visit in November which treated the main root illness – Borrelia burgdorferi) and she asked me to go with her.

I knew I only had 8 days back in Vancouver between trips, after taking almost a full 2 weeks in a row off for the first time in almost 7 years (meaning I still at least checked my emails everyday) in the Galapagos Islands (not entirely by choice but also due to really bad internet), and it would be a bit of a challenge. At the same time, it really wasn’t when it came down to it. I organized my schedule around another week where I would still be able to work and spend time doing whatever possible to help my friend get better. Feel better. Recuperate. Get away from her regular stressful life of late. And also a time for us to reconnect and “catch up” after a few years where we haven’t had the ability to spend as much time together, in regular contact, due a lot to the chronic issues that have plagued her, causing her to be bedridden for much of the time, and in need of constant rest. Not to mention my extensive amount of travels, leading me away from Vancouver, where we both call home.

It was very important for me to be able to go on this trip with her and see if there was any way that I could help her to feel healthier and more normal again. I’ve also been away so much over the last 8 years, and as a result, wasn’t there for her as much as I could have been (and perhaps didn’t realize how bad things had gotten until more recently).

So off we went – to a small German town, a mere 35 minute drive from the Frankfurt airport. Bad Nauheim is filled with various clinics, hospitals, and alternative healthcare facilities. And I didn’t expect it to be so different from other places I’ve been throughout the country. There’s not much German food around, surprisingly, versus restaurants with other cuisines, and something in the air felt quite different as well – more calm, more kind, more…hopeful. Everyone we met was very friendly, in good spirits, and truly loved their town.

Every weekday after arriving, we spent about 1.5 to 2 hours in the clinic, but otherwise would walk around in the parks and enjoy the unseasonable heat and sunshine, of course find our daily meals (one of the most important parts of the day for us), and then head back to our Airbnb to rest and work.

Not only did I learn so much about a few really cutting edge treatments, and very much enjoyed learning so many interesting things from the doctor there, it was also amazing to watch as I could see with my own eyes and feel my friend improve each and every day. I remember when after the third day I noticed a huge difference in her ability to move at a faster speed without needing to catch her breath as much, and the generally greater amount of relaxation in her body and her mind – she looked ten years younger and a lot less tense, or softer. By the 5th day, there was an almost complete change in her body that I could easily notice when walking beside her.

During this week, we ended up enjoying many delicious spots around Bad Nauheim and enjoying parts of the experience, so I wanted to share them. If you want to pull up the travel map on Google directly, you can also see it all right here!

Food & Drink

Mythos	Although this restaurant was closed while the owners were on vacation for most of our stay, it was open for our last supper. We enjoyed rack of lamb and calf’s liver (yes, that’s right – and it was delicious!), and a lively atmosphere in what seems to be the most popular dining place in town. What made it even  better? Newfound friends were seated right next to us, and we enjoyed getting to know each other better over a solid meal and good wine.
Fellini Cafe Vinoteca	Located near Kurpark, this Italian restaurant, while not as authentic as others in the town, offers many gluten free options, for only 1€ more and also has a fully translated English version of the menu (which isn’t common in Bad Nauheim). We went a couple of times, but stuck with the pasta – the cheesy, gluten free penne al forno was definitely a treat with all of it’s baked mozzarella goodness. They also had a decent spaghetti bolognese, which seemed quite popular with most of it’s patrons.
And & Vin – L’italia in cucina	The first place we went to for a late lunch on arrival to Bad Nauheim, we enjoyed sitting on the patio and chatting with our Italian server, who remembered my friend from her last visit during the winter. Very friendly service, delicious authentic Italian food, and also many gluten free options for those who need an alternative in a higher end atmosphere.
Levante	While I didn’t go out often for coffee here (unlike my usual MO) since we were drinking a lot of Bulletproof Coffee at our apartment, this was the one place that I visited. Cozy area inside, solid coffee, and great wifi. There were also a few great patio tables on the sidewalk for people watching. Although I didn’t have the chance, it would be an ideal spot to bring a book and caffeinate on a sunny afternoon.
Schweizer Milchhäuschen	Another favourite, we returned to this German eatery during a couple of occasions. As it’s only open until 6 pm, we dined out for lunch outside both times, right within the park. We expected it to be more of a tourist trap based on it’s location (you know when it’s busy and in a common tourist area, you often get good location or good food, but not both?), but had heard from my friend’s clinic that it has really healthy and delicious food options. Whether you’re looking for vegetarian, gluten free alternatives, or just a nice place to sit outside on a sunny day, we really enjoyed the freshly made German meals and desserts we had here.
BioMarkt Bad Nauheim	Since we were staying for a week or so, we made sure to stock up on groceries while in Bad Nauheim. This great BioMarket has a solid selection of organic food and products, along with a fresh food cafe where you could eat in. I love getting the LoveChoc bars from this chain, found throughout Germany.
Istanbul	For something quick, large, and tasty, Istanbul is a really good Turkish lunch option. The menu is varied, and you can find a lot of salads and meat platters, along with the usual donairs and gyros. They also deliver and do a lot of takeout orders.
Wok & Sushi Asian Restaurant	Owned and run by a Vietnamese woman from Prague, this is one of the few Asian restaurants in Bad Nauheim. As you can see from the name, you can get anything from Thai food, to Japanese, to Vietnamese cuisine, from a very extensive menu. While we didn’t try any sushi, we enjoyed some of the Thai and Vietnamese options – but go into it with a grain of salt. If you’re from Vancouver, Canada, like us, or at least part Asian, you’ll definitely notice that the cuisine caters to more Western palettes, but it was still a good option in town where we went on a couple locations for comfort food and a reminder of home.  Service is also very friendly.
Fratello	We originally found Fratello after we kept walking by in the early evening and found that the patio always felt quite lively and seemed to have a good energy to it. Known more for it’s pizza and pasta, we didn’t actually have any of either since there weren’t any gluten free options, but those appies / antipastis that we did choose were delicious and definitely satisfying. Again, very friendly service, and a great patio to people watch from in the warmer spring weather.

Accommodations

Sites & Activities

Gradierbau Inhalatorium	If you manage to go between April to October, you’ll find the inhalatorium open between 3-6 pm on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sundays. Once paying a small fee of under 4€ (and I think it may be free with certain health cards), the staff hand you two mats – one to sit on and one to lean on so you don’t get salt all over your clothing. You head through a relaxing pathway, listening to water trickle down the green live walls to a doorway, where you enter and stay in the salty atmosphere for 15-20 mins at a time, and can enter again each hour (or however you prefer in a given afternoon). I had really bad allergies since the weather was seasonally warm at the time, up to 28 degrees Celsius in April, and one quick 15 min session completely reduced my allergy symptoms for the next couple days while in town!
Kurpark Bad Nauheim	Being here in spring, the tulips and bluebells were blooming, and there were blossoms on most of the trees (if only my allergies weren’t so strong at the time). The largest park in Bad Nauheim, with a small lake, plenty of grass and covered benches, it is a relaxing place for a walk, and right in the middle of the town, so also lined with great cafes, gelaterias, and restaurants.
Sabai Sabai Traditionelle Thai-Massage	While I didn’t actually manage to book a massage while in town, my friend went a couple of times. The staff speak very little English (and are native Thai), who are very sweet and provide a wide range of Thai traditional, deep tissue, or aromatic oil massages.

Bad Nauheim is definitely an interesting part of Germany. Very friendly, known for it’s relaxation, good food, and pleasant atmosphere, it can be very busy on sunny and warm days, as we noticed on the first Sunday afternoon that we arrived. Very lively, but also filled with so many healing clinics, it’s a great small town for relaxation and rejuvenation for both the body and the mind.