*If you are not overly familiar with Washington, DC (and I'm not), don't confuse Maryland Avenue, SW with Maryland Avenue, NE. Mapquest did, and I did. SW is the location of Mandarin Oriental, Washington, DC (only about a block long) near the 14th Street Bridge. NE runs through a complete range of neighborhoods - not-so-nice to nicely renovated - but is nowhere near the hotel. After losing Maryland Avenue to C Street a number of times, I finally called the hotel. The concierge quickly ascertained my location and gave me directions. Ten minutes later, we were at the hotel.

I was there to visit the spa which had opened earlier in the year but was also taking the opportunity to have a weekend getaway with my husband. Like the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami and the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York, the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Washington, DC is an E'SPA spa. From my first experience with the E'SPA treatments and product line in Scotland two years ago, iit has been one of my favorites.

I went to the spa about 2 hours before my appointment. The first hour was to exercise in the Fitness Center and the second to use the spa's Heat Experience. The entrance to the spa is interesting. A softly lit area with bamboo and the Mandarin Oriental Spa sign turns into a brightly lit hallway with colorful fabric banners on the wall which turns into a softly lit reception area with a burnished bronze ceiling, oak floors, light sycamore walls, a wall fountain and walls filled with cubicles of products for sale from E'SPA, Elemis, Aromatherapy Associates and others. For all of my friends who I have been picking up E'SPA products on my travels, they are now available in the US online at www.espaonline.com!

I checked in a the reception desk and was asked to have a seat by the fountain. A cup of infused tea was brought to me. A woven tray brought spa sandals to me and carried away my shoes. I was asked to fill out a health form and then given a tour of the locker room and an explanation of how to use the Heat Experience. Because I was having a spa treatment, I could use the spa's lockers to change into my exercise clothes. My husband, who did not have a spa appointment, had to change in our room. The 1,400 square foot Fitness Center contains a full range of TechnoGym training equipment, both cardiovascular and resistance machines. There are nine stationary bikes and five cross trainers, all with built in TV monitors, as well as joggers, ab stations and a full set of dumb bell free weights, up to 50lbs. After 40 minutes on the elliptical and 20 on the weight machines, I headed back to the locker room

I exchanged my sweaty clothes for a towel and took a shower. The shower walls were black marble and the light low. There were three containers of product in the shower. I could tell which one was the conditioner since it was white, but I could not tell the difference between the other two bottles since the product was clear and the print on the bottle black. I guessed which was shampoo and which shower gel.

I wrapped up in another towel, grabbed my robe and walked down the hall to the Heat Experience. I started in the Vitality Pool which has two contoured benches to float over while jets of water massage shoulders, back, legs and feet. (No need for a bathing suit unless you are modest. However, the Heat Experience room is open to the hallway, and you can be seen moving to and from the Vitality Pool and steam room all the way from the entrance to the locker area.) After about 10 minutes, I got out and cooled of with the Ice Drench. I took handfuls of crushed ice and rubbed them all over. Thoroughly chilled, I went into the Amythest Steam Room to warm up again. The tiled seats are contoured to the body and amazingly comforable. After another 10 minutes, I used the Experience Shower. There are four selections that each give a different 15 second color and water experience - tropical rain, cool mist, drench and side showers. Of course, I had to try them all.

When I was finished with the Heat Experience, I waited for my appointment time in the Relaxation Lounge. Here there were a row of lounge chairs with large towels draped over them. I covered up and put on the headphones on that were plugged into the little table next to the lounge. Soft music was playing. The wall across the room was covered with small glass tiles and the light reflected in them from my side of the room made them look shimmery and golden. Near the ceiling was a bank of colored lights the changed through the color spectrun at a very fast rate. While I am sure they were meant to add to the serenity of the room, I actually found them to be slightly annoying. It would have been better if the color change happened much slower or they were just one color all the time. Frankly, I think the wall would have been pretty without them. Also on that wall was was a snack bar with pitchers of water infused with fruit and delicious skewers of berries in a light sauce. As I rested in the lounge, women slowly came in from having their treatments and others came in to wait for theirs. The other lounge chairs quickly filled up. at one point, there were three women sitting on one lounge, two on another and two standing and chatting. I felt fortunate I came in when I did.

At the appointed time, my therapist, Virgen, came to collect and escort me to my treatment room. She invited me to sit while she served me herbal tea then prepared a footbath with salt, lavender and oil. While she bathed my feet, she discussed my treatment. E'SPA promotes the time ritual concept, and the Spa recommends booking Time rather than treatments, so they can customize an individual program of treatments and rituals that will cleanse, relax and rejuvenate and that is what I usually schedule. This time, however, I wanted to try an AMA Releasing Abhyanga treatment. Virgen asked how I wanted to feel after the treatment, applied a different oil to the back of each of my hands and asked which I like best. I chose the Fitness oil (the same I chose at Turnberry in Scotland!). I also chose a facial oil. She asked what my favorite color was and ran through the entire color wheel of lights until she reached a deep dark blue. She rang a Tibetan chime to indicate the beginning of the treatment and said she would ring it again at the end of the treatment. Virgen left the room and I got on the warm, wide treatment table. When she returned, Virgen adjusted the automatic table to support my knees and slightly raise my head. I was already very comfortable. She dry brushed my skin then applied a skin polish to exfoliate and make it smooth. This was washed off with warm, moist terry mitts. Next came a truly fabulous ayurvedic Ama Marma massage designed to release toxins from the body out the bottom of the feet and fill the body with good energy. Virgen liberally applied the Fitness Oil. She massage the muscles first then gently, lightly and slowly massaged the Marma points. It was extremely relaxing. When the body was done, she moved to the face with a mini-facial using a cleanser and exfoliant followed by a massage with the facial oil I had previously selected. This was followed by a heavenly scalp massage using pink mud. The treatment lasted 110 minutes, and it was pure bliss! When it was over, I tried to get one for my husband, but they were completely booked for the rest of our stay. We definitely have a reason to return!

I returned to our room and rested for a while. The room was very comfortable and overlooked the Washington DC Marina. All rooms have been designed with the principles of Feng Shui. A handmade silk tapestry is above the bed. All rooms have exclusive reproductions of artworks from the Smithsonian collections – the first time it has permitted its treasures to be reproduced and displayed.

Later that evening, my husband and I ate dinner at Café MoZU* overlooking the water. I had a lovely vegetarian risotto and my husband had New Zealand venison and thought it was outstanding. We dined there again the following morning.

The Mandarin Oriental, Washington, DC is only a couple of blocks from the mall. We walked over and enjoyed a visit to the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery to see the arts of Iraq, China, Mughal India and Silk Route Empires. We also enjoyed the Air and Space Museum and the new National Museum of the American Indian. We topped it off with a late lunch at the John Mandis' Market Inn Restaurant and saw a completely different selection of art. If you've ever been to this restaurant, you know what I mean!