I recently went on a beach in Spain, Neuvea Umbria, near Lepe (South coast, Huleva), and thought I'd share what I thought compared to the only other naturist beach I've been on (Holkham, Norfolk).
Firstly, obviously the weather in Spain was hotter! To be fair though, my time on Holkham were around the weekend of the England-Germany game, so were scorching. It was actually more pleasant temperature-wise at Holkham - Spain was too excessive!
I went to both beaches as a singleton, and, being male, was expecting funny looks. However, that wasn't the case - in the Uk, I arrived early on, and people had no quarms about setting up pitch close to me (it was very busy that weekend!). I did notice that people did tend to keep themselves to themselves; there were a few groups, but mostly middle-aged couples.
In Spain, it seemed a bit more casual. People tended to mix more, there were women walking along the shore alone, and there were also more families. I saw one group (about 6 adults) who had several kids of pretty much all ages. I'm all for this lifestlye, but I think (sadly in today's world) I'd draw the line at taking my child on a beach. I also noticed some couples with kids in their early teeens - they weren't always undressed, but it seemd in Spain they are much more relaxed about this and have no problem with their children (who are at that difficult age!!) seeing/being around other people naked.
i also noticed that in Spain, people were sunbathing in whatever position was most comfortable - it seemed to me, that in the UK it was much more a case of 'legs together'!
Also, I noticed a number of couples who were probably late teen, early-to mid twenties. They had no problem pitching up near me, and indeed were playing beach games very close by with absolutly no inhibitions. I've seen younger couples on Holkham, but definatly in lower-proportion than this Spanish beach.
Such a shame the weather in the UK is poor - Holkham is a fabulous beach when the temperture is at the level we saw in early July.
Chris
Having been on beaches in Spain and Portugal, I agree the attitude is much more relaxed.
Earlier this month we went to Portugal and visited Zavial. There was a mix of nationalities present, with couples and singles and families as described by Chris. Walkers who make their way across the cliff paths cross the beach with no obvious gawking or even interest.
One day, a funny incident that I have witnessed before, but still makes me chuckle. Two older english women were sat amongst the naturist area in swimsuits. At the end of the day, they struggled under towels to get changed in amongst all the nude people! If they had just got changed, nobody would have noticed.
On the subject of 'positioning', my wife pointed out a French lady behind me who had been struggling to read the screen of her mobile phone. In the end she resorted to putiing a towel over her head, crouching down on her knees with her bum in the air facing towards us. As my OH said, she could have parked her bike, (yeah I know, old one!)
My experiences in the UK has always been more of a furtive feeling, always feeling the need to keep a look out in case I need to cover up or run and hide given that most nude beaches are so out of the way.
Kev
Teo Torriate Kana Mama Iko
Good reports from you both,,, And I tend to agree,,,, certainly more relaxed atmosphere on the Greek beaches too,,,,,,
Tort.
I wish I was a Glow Worm, A Glow Worm is never Glum,
How can you be Grumpy, when the Sun shines out your Bum !
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Just to throw in my pennies worth!
Spanish beaches tend to be much more family orientated with all ages thrown together. There never seems to be any trouble with anyone on them. Perhaps that is their laid-back life style.
You'll always see single females or groups of kids walking along the shore line here, its just the done thing.... "off for a wander".
Another thing that may set this apart is that nudity is allowed anywhere in Spain. Its actually in the constitution. Literally, you can walk down the street nude and there isn't a thing that the authorities can do, except if you are trying to cause a sexual reaction. This may be why you often see nude people on traditionaly textile beaches - it just isn't legislated against.
If you ever have the opportunity to go to the beaches around Tarifa (on the Atlantic Coast) or Cabo de Gata (near Almeria) you can really see this in action. Its almost "hippy" the way the textiles and naturists just sit down together.
I love this relaxed way of life and would find it difficult to settle on a naturist beach (again) in the UK the same way I can here.
Martin
I love this relaxed way of life and would find it difficult to settle on a naturist beach (again) in the UK the same way I can here.
Martin
That just about sums it up for me. Naturist beaches in the UK are just not relaxing in the way they should be.
Kev
Teo Torriate Kana Mama Iko
Wa were on the naturist beach at Paleochara in Crete and witnessed a couple stripping off under huge towels! Why do they go there? Its a fair old treck from ths town.
spain everytime, i love the heat!
and creete, first place i went nude, 20 years ago now
let's get naked, its fun
When I went to Spain in the early sixties even the wearing of bikinis was frowned on. Since then their attitude has changed greatly for the better where as we seem to be going back to the Victorian times. If all beaches were able to be CO then we would not have the problem with meerkats concentrating on naturist beaches.
Agree about Spain being very laid back than UK...and again even more so than some areas of France. Examples that formulate the opinion.
In Spain:
Watched guy 3 metres from us pluck his wife's pubes into heart shape on beach and spend afternoon doing it with a set of eyebrow tweezers....ouch, we would use cream, wax or razor...lol
Seen the casual walkers and mixing too.
In France:
Seen some mixed CO beaches but usually wilder west coast areas and good walk.
Seen some kids get chastised and asked to leave nude designated beach or get undressed by a group of over 50s French ladies. That did make us laugh a 50+ lady asking a young guy in late teens to get his clothes off or leave.
In UK:
Remember one August chatting on Studland beach to attractive WPC in T shirt cap and denim skirt, handing out behaviour standards leaflets for nude beach. I consciously kept my paper plate with picnic across my lower torso as she chatted to Eli and me...Eli also kept the kitchen paper across her lap although obviously did not cover her breasts.
Later we chatted freely with several other nude couples, but for some weird reason I cannot fathom we both felt weird talking to the Police while naked...and my friend is a copper and my brother a special...so why is that? I noticed some others were uncomfortable too as they received their leaflets.
Al
<Spain & France snipped>
In UK:
Remember one August chatting on Studland beach to attractive WPC in T shirt cap and denim skirt, handing out behaviour standards leaflets for nude beach. I consciously kept my paper plate with picnic across my lower torso as she chatted to Eli and me...Eli also kept the kitchen paper across her lap although obviously did not cover her breasts.
Later we chatted freely with several other nude couples, but for some weird reason I cannot fathom we both felt weird talking to the Police while naked...and my friend is a copper and my brother a special...so why is that? I noticed some others were uncomfortable too as they received their leaflets.
At the early morning C-O sessions which used to happen at Tooting Bec Lido it was conventional to stand close enough for the pubic area to be below normal line of vision when talking to a textile swimmer while naked when out of the water.
JOhn
Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.
George Bernard Shaw, Maxims for Revolutionaries
On my opinion, i don't like mixed (textile and non textile) beaches.
I am from Spain, and lived in Alicante for three years.
I use d to go to La Marina beach ( El Rebollo). I love that beach.
But i feel observed by the people who wasn't naked.
I really didn't understand why, having a nearly 7 km beach and just probabbly 2 of naturist one, people with clothes tend to walk on the naked beach.
I really like just naturist beaches.
Good point on decorum and etiquette John.
However as the constables were approaching the naturists, and in our case we were sitting eating our picnic it was really up to them to determine the distance. I hate sand in my pork pie and egg sarnies.
Al