Gadling

Certain
names of places always bring out the juvenile in me and make me snicker. One such place is Bad Gastein. 

From the same language that brought us einfahrt, Bad Gastein also means something different than it sounds
like in English.  Bad is German for bath and this one, located in Austria, is one of the most unique in the world. 
The baths, just an hour from Salzburg, are located deep within the mountain of a local ski resort.  While snow bunnies are frolicking on the slopes,
spa monkeys take an underground train 2.5 kilometers into the heart of the mountain where they encounter a very unique
environment.  The interior is rich in Radon gas and, thanks to geothermals, heated to temperatures that reach up
to 106 degrees Fahrenheit.  Combined with humidity levels of nearly 100%, the tunnels of Bad Gastein are Mother Nature’s most perfect sauna. 

European troglodytes have been frequenting these tunnels for hundreds of years to ward off such ailments as muscle
fatigue, rheumatic illnesses, respiratory diseases, chronic pain, and joint infections.  No word if the spa
actually cures its juvenile namesake of bad gas.  

There
has been a lot of press lately about Mozart’s
250th birthday and all the events planned in Austria to celebrate
it.  

There is, however, someone else’s milestone birthday being celebrated in 2006 which doesn’t seem to be
getting as much attention; the old Dutch master himself, Rembrandt.

Like Austria, Holland is also embracing their favorite local-boy-makes-good
and planning all sorts of festivities throughout the
year to ring in his 400th birthday.   Although the celebration doesn’t appear to be as sexy as
Mozart’s (that’s what happens when you opt for a career in painting as opposed to music), there are
still some fantastic
exhibitions planned. 

In addition to some of the finest collections of Rembrandt art ever collected in a single location (which is worth
a trip to Amsterdam on its very own), the celebrations also include Rembrandt, the Musical, an exhibition on the Jewish
Rembrandt, Rembrandt Bible etchings, various tours of Amsterdam locations important in his life, and even a showing of
some 600 personal documents that include his baptism record, bankruptcy proceedings, and various financial
contracts—not terribly interesting, I suppose, unless you happen to read Dutch. 

Given the option between Mozart’s party and Rembrandt’s, I think Mozart’s has far more to
offer.  But don’t let this turn you off.  Europe is small and partygoers should be able to hit both
events easily enough.