Nudism: The act of not wearing clothes in a public space.
Naturism: A philosophy and a way of life.
Naturism is for me most definitely a lifestyle choice of practising non-sexual nudity both in private and in public places where it is either legal or accepted by others. It also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends this lifestyle.
An introduction
My first brush with nudism came when I was 17 years old. It was 1988 and I was travelling alone through France and Spain on my motorcycle. I knew already at such a young age that there was more to life than the Welsh valleys and I was in search of what was out there, past the borders of my tiny country and outside of cultural expectancy.
Sleeping on a small beach just outside of Sète on the Cap in France I woke to the sound of people talking and looked to see a couple casually take their clothes off and go for a swim. As a young man coming from an uptight country, I was obviously amazed at this behaviour but it didn’t bother me whatsoever. Obviously the sight of a naked woman was delightful, but more because of the enjoyment of the people. Even though I wanted to experience this myself, the beach was starting to get busy and I moved on with my travels.
A week or so later I was in Spain. Once more hanging out near a beach I got taking to some people. It was mixed company and they were also on motorcycles. They invited me the next day for a tour with them into the mountains and after a long day we ended up at a locals beach.
They suggested we swam before getting a beer and then they did not even consider the notion of changing, they just took their clothes off and together went in the water. No issues. No looking. No ridicule. No making fun. Something that does not happen in an uptight British culture. So I joined them.
For me at that time it was the most amazing and liberating thing that had happened to me spiritually. I had already been free of the torment of parents and family for the previous year but this was now a different kind of freedom. Those 8 weeks of travel shaped my thinking for the rest of my life and even though I spent the next years in America where nudity is even more taboo than in the uk, when I returned I always took every opportunity to be naked both indoors and at every possible moment, outdoors.
I began to spend more and more time in Europe. Playing for Spanish teams, racing in hot locations, longer and longer holidays to hot countries and choosing my destinations so that public nudity could be practiced naturally. I found that I was much more of a mediterranean mindset person and tried to be in warmer climates where clothing was an option rather than a necessity.
Finally leaving the uk for the last time 14 years ago I took a year long trip around Europe in my camper. This was wonderful as I could experience many different countries and witness their approach to Naturism. And of course during this trip it was amazing to visit remote beaches, lakes, and mountains where being naked in nature was a gift.
Living in Austria
The last 10 years I have spent living in southern Austria but it’s a strange country with regard to naturism though. They will openly be naked at a spa all day but it does not feel like true naturism to me but rather exhibitionism and voyeurism. As the women want to be looked at and the men openly want to show their “enthusiasm” with little self control. The same applies when they take their holidays to the Croatian Naturist camps. It is much like the feeling I used to get in the uk and it gives a creepy vibe of exposure in a legal environment rather than true naturism.
Work & freetime
As well as being in naturist environments constantly over the past 35 years I also witness it through my work. Being a massage therapist I deal with naked bodies on a daily basis. All genders, ages, sizes, and body types. But its amazing how many people are not connected to their bodies. They like to show off at a spa or a camp but unfortunately they just don’t know how to connect with it.
We are very fortunate as we live in a very nature oriented location here in Austria where there are many opportunities to live a naturist lifestyle. For us it starts at home where we are nearly always without clothes, cooking, eating, tv, out on the terrace and in our general daily life. Then there are the abundance of SPA options that we can go to for a day out where it is compulsory to be naked. We have wonderful lakes where in warm weather its possible to lie and swim naked without issue and many remote mountains and forests where you can walk freely.
I also work a little at a local Naturist campsite which we also visit together through the summer months as it’s only a short bike ride away. There you can enjoy their lake and swimming pools as well as take walks through the large site and local woods.
Which brings me to being naked on Vacation…
Vacation
Living so close to Croatia is amazing for us as the country and its relationship with nudism is well known so there are many FKK “Frei körper kultur” camping sites to choose from all within a few hours drive.
Staying at these sites is always very interesting for us and very easy to distinguish between the Naturist, Nudist and Exhibitionist. Theres no need to go into great detail here but if you are a “true” naturist you will know what I’m talking about. Or maybe read some of our other posts where myself or Leela encounter such people!
But saying this, as a true naturist, these campsites are really amazing. The facilities are normally excellent and the sites are always in incredible locations as well as being really relaxed as most people who are true naturists are of a different mindset and occasionally have a deep connection to nature and openness with other people.
But beware as a single male traveller. You are not always welcome!
Travelling as a single man
I am a member of British Naturism and the INF for many, many years and always try to support my local naturist organisation. But for me the most important thing is to have the legal membership. It not only gives you small discounted entry to many campsites through Europe but acts as a confirmation card for single men. This should not be the case but equality does not seem to extend to single men with no clothes on. And in our personal experience. Rightly so!
In Europe there are some crazy rules that men are not allowed to visit naturist campsites alone unless they are part of an official naturist organisation. They do however allow single women, both male and female homosexual couples and, one male with two female companions. But not men travelling alone. Go figure?!
I have unfortunately experienced this first hand as I often travel alone to get away for a few days if I am light on work. One campsite in particular was really giving me a hard time and even though I am very quiet and easy going they pushed all the wrong buttons and I ended up demanding that they get the owner for a legal discussion in a packed reception as I had enough of such attitudes toward me.
Normally I would have just sulked away and found somewhere else but this time I stood up for myself and our legal rights as naturists. I was eventually allowed in but put in a back corner to protect “real people” and keep me away from children. I stayed one night but was gone in the morning refusing to pay and threatening to call the police and inform the naturist camping association. But I never did.
But what I did do was reach out to Naked Wanderings as at that time they were the only other naturist travel blog writers with a voice on the web and asked them to maybe consider bringing these issues to light through their popularity. And after an E-mail discussion with Nick about the subject he was a little dismissive and just disregarded the issue as nothing. This really hurt me at the time as I looked up to them when they were first starting out and admired what they were trying to do for naturism as a way of life. I was trying the same with my personal blog but back then as a single man, I was not getting any traction.
But now they are travelling the world making YouTube videos and staying in these amazing places for free. Whilst I am volunteering for free, writing blogs to educate, making podcasts, putting up with on-line abuse and fighting to be able to pay with my own hard earned money just to get into a campsite. Its a strange naturist world these days.
British Naturism
But to finish on a brighter note I have been in discussion with British Naturism over the last year looking for ways to be able to get involved with an organisation that is trying to move forward instead of putting my efforts into our local naturist association here in Austria who are just set on the past. Communication in your own language helps of course and its great to see that not only is BN trying to educate and inform, their membership is growing steadily even if it is male dominated at the moment, but hopefully that will change over time as women find their own voice in Naturism.
We have travel articles published in the BN magazine and we joined BN as well as being a member of the INF so that we can begin to be active on their website and try to get involved. Leela has browsed the website with me often but with the male domination of the forums and interesting choice of photos uploaded, she is still reluctant at the moment to contribute on there and will wait to see if there is more of a female voice and a little less male exhibitionism in the future. She still writes a lot of these posts and any comments from female readers about their experiences will be well received.
Thanks as always for reading and I hope there is something in this disjointed and unstructured ramble that is of interest. We would love to hear from you.
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