A Kurschatten, or -- literally -- spa shadow, is an intimate friend (though not necessarily sexually) that people find when they go on a favorite German pastime, a so-called Kur -- a longer stay (usually about a month) at a spa to help cure ailments. Away from home, and away from the stressful daily lifes, people seem to be more open to a little flirtation. The concept of a Kurschatten features prominently in several books of famous German author Thomas Mann, including "Tristan," "Felix Krull" and "Zauberberg." It's unclear, though, whether he himself also met a few Kurschatten in his life.