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It is not only toddlers and preschoolers who come to the Mar Menor armed with a bucket and spade. Many adults also walk around with these plastic toys on the beach of San Pedro del Pinatar. But they are not interested in sand, but in mud.
They visit the mud baths to rub themselves with the brown stuff. The therapeutic effect of the mud in the warm inland sea of the Mediterranean has been known for centuries. Especially people with arthritis, rheumatism and other joint diseases and skin problems benefit from a mud bath. This is due to the healing effect of many ingredients in the salt water such as calcium, fluoride, chlorine, sulphate and magnesium. The mud is also good for making small wounds heal faster.
In specially created places, visitors can rub themselves with the beneficial mud in shallow water. For people with a physical disability, special provisions have been made to easily enter the water. Once fully or partially smeared, it is time to let it dry out in the sun. When that has happened, 'bathers' can rinse off again in special places.
But not only people who are looking for relief from their health complaints like to rub themselves with mud here. There are also plenty of bathers, who find it hard to resist the temptation of an unusual experience. These are the people who, smiling and laughing, fill each other and themselves with the smelly stuff. For them, it's sort of a competition in who looks the most ridiculous. Mud baths as a pleasant diversion. Why not?
Many older Spaniards seem to honor the principle, if it does not harm, it does not harm. They like to combine a possible medicinal benefit with a social gathering. These are the people who often walk up and down the pier enjoying a drink and almost forget that they are covered with mud while chatting.
The reasons for a mud bath may vary, but all users have one thing in common. All of them will have trouble getting rid of the pungent smell of rotten eggs even after a long shower.
