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Near Escapes — Page 2
3. Jewel of the Nile
Nina Gart chose the Coal Harbour location of her Nefér
Spa because she loved the way it mirrored the meeting
of moutains and water found in Egypt’s landscape.
“Nefér” is an ancient Egyptian term
meaning happiness, youth, goodness, and beauty. Exotic
frescos and prints decorate the walls, but the hand-carved
marble tub used for vinotherapy treatments is the showpiece.
Go for Stone Therapy massage ($175,
75 minutes). Smooth basalt pebbles are heated, others
left cool; they’re placed in alternating patterns
on the massage table. Lay down, and immediately the
hot and cool sensations send fireworks up and down your
spine. The aim of the massage is to get the body into
a parasympathetic state, the time between full consciousness
and sleep when digestion and circulation increase and
the body begins to heal itself. Nefér therapists
are trained in stone therapy massage by Gart herself,
and must practise for three years before they work on
clients. The Vinoterapia bath and body scrub ($650,
120 minutes) is another signature treatment: lay on
an amethyst mat (infrared heating reduces joint aches
and muscle stiffness and increases flow of oxygen to
the brain) and enjoy an organic body scrub and Vichy
shower; then soak in the marble tub filled with an antioxidant-rich
wine elixir, followed by a grapeseed-oil massage. 571
Cardero St.; 604-696-0222. Neferspa.com
4. French Twist
Inspired by the country-chic style of Provence, the
Madrona del Mar Spa at the Galiano Inn makes use of
fruits and plants indigenous to the West Coast in all
its treatments—the hemp glacial clay wrap, for
instance, uses a special blend of organic hemp powder
and B.C. glacial clay, considered the best in the world.
Go for The Mediterranean Sea Flotation
Bath ($60, 60 minutes)—float effortlessly in the
sea-green slate and tile pool that’s filled with
warm water and saturated with sea mineral salts. The
Blackberry Vinotherapy massage ($130, 60 minutes) uses
a local island blackberry port (blackberries grow in
abundance throughout the Gulf Islands, and are loaded
with antioxidants and anti-aging properties) blended
with massage oil. Tired toes get pampered with the Decadent
& Deluxe Pedicure and Foot Facial ($100, 90 minutes).
The treatment includes a scalp massage while your feet
absorb a rich shea-butter mask.
Check in Conny Nordin, the inn’s
well-travelled proprietor, brings meticulous attention
to each oceanfront room (from $249); a wood-burning
fireplace, heated European tile floors in the ensuite,
and a Madrona massage table hidden in the beautiful
custom wall cabinetry allow for most spa treatments
to be taken in-room. The Vintages Wine Shop, located
next to the inn’s Atrevida restaurant, stocks
limited-production artisan wines, including hard-to-source
bottles from the Cowichan Valley, southern Gulf Islands,
and boutique Okanagan wineries. 134 Madrona Dr., Galiano
Island, 250-539-3388. Madronadelmarspa.com
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