Санаторий с вековой историей Sanatorium with a century of history

Just returned from the sanatorium "Sestroretsky Kurort". We accumulated several days off, bought a ticket, threw things in the trunk - and hit the road. Only 110 km from my Vyborg - and we are in Sestroretsk, a city in the south of the Karelian Isthmus. Briefly describe the impressions of the sanatorium.
LOCATION. On the shores of the Gulf of Finland, in a forested area of ​ ​ a huge area, about 60 hectares. Founded at the beginning of the last century, it has its own wells with therapeutic mineral water from a depth of 160 meters and therapeutic mud (gyttian clay), similar in composition to the mud of the Dead Sea.
ACCOMMODATION. 3 buildings accept 1100 people at the same time. We were settled in a ten-story building No. 3. The imposing ladies at the reception looked at each other for a long time, from their whispering I realized that there was some problem with the double rooms. However, they did give the key to room 209. They entered and were stunned. Not a number, but a real lair of an incomprehensible purpose, most likely for a temporary overnight stay for repairmen-guest workers. Tiny, home-made bedside tables are nailed to the walls, there is no shower cabin, but just a shower head hanging over the toilet. Maybe in the summer it's not bad, but we have a real autumn... From shock, I didn’t take a single photo there, we didn’t even unpack our suitcase, we went back to the ladies. Those, to pay tribute, did not resist, they asked to wait until the evening, but after a couple of hours they moved to room 804 on the 8th floor overlooking the forest park and the Gulf of Finland. Decent bathroom, TV, refrigerator, large balcony. However, there were some pitfalls here as well. Some joker repairman placed bedside sconces with small laces to turn on at a height of two meters, so you can’t turn the sconce on and off while lying down, you have to get up, turn it on and lie down again. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be, I don't know. I had to be smart and lengthen the cord to turn it on with a regular clothesline (photo). It is forbidden to smoke in the rooms and corridors, which is warned by strict signs everywhere (photo). Works well, no smoking in the rooms and corridors. True, on the porch, at the exit from the dining room, there are crowds of chickens, and going for a walk, you have to go through a line of stinking women and men. Rooms are cleaned daily, but for some reason they don’t clean the balconies, which were chosen by huge seagulls from the bay for a latrine and a meal - they bring shells there and gouge them with their beaks. We had to sweep the balcony ourselves, for which we still need to look for a broom.

TREATMENT. There are many procedures: mud therapy, various baths, massage, electrotherapy, pressure chambers and much more. But the most important thing is the wonderful air of a pure pine forest and the Gulf of Finland. The sanatorium has the only therapeutic pool with mineral water in St. Petersburg, the sensations from visiting are unusual, pleasant. The medical staff is very friendly, does not extort money, treats work with a soul, I really liked the attitude of the workers of the mud bath, hydropathic, pressure chambers, masseuses of the 2nd building. There are many pregnant girls under some kind of program for young mothers, children are accepted from the age of 4, not because it was harmful before, but so that they don’t yell and squeal.
NUTRITION. Buffet, large selection, enough for everyone. By tradition, our people line up for the opening, so everyone is given a time on the food card, you can’t come at the wrong time, there is a strict announcement (photo) at the entrance and the same strict aunt. It helps, there are no queues.
LEISURE. Excursions to St. Petersburg, Kronstadt, Pushkin, Pavlovsk, Vyborg, cinema (they show good films), dancing (pensioners anneal the envy of young people), Wi-Fi on the 1st floor is free and fast, karaoke daily, even free English courses for those traveling abroad.
CONCLUSION. In general, I liked the rest precisely because of the good kind attitude of the staff and the good medical base. It can be recommended for people with joint and digestive problems, as well as for all people over 40 years old to improve tone and general well-being. Thank you resort!