ESCAPE BLOG

The first time I went to a sauna in Germany, I turned beet red.

See, I came from a culture where it is normal to share the sauna with people who have towel draped over themselves or are wearing bathing suits. Instead, in Germany, I entered and saw people with towels. But instead of covering their “private parts” with towels, they used the lil cloth to spare their butts from the heat. In all their naked glory, they sat there with their legs relaxed and casually spread. Some even nodded or uttered “Guten Tag”. Whereas my beet red self tried not to look where I shouldn’t look and tried to cover myself even more.

The first time I went to the beach in Bornholm, Denmark, I turned beet red.

See, I came from a culture where we do wear bathing suits; where wearing a skimpy bikini was risquè. Instead, in Denmark, I was bothered by the sight of the long stretch of beach (a normal beach and not the FKK kind, mind you) full of naked people.

Parents with their teenaged kids. Couples doing tai-chi. Some playing volleyball or badminton. Would have looked normal if they at least wore a bathing suit. Instead, they all wore their birthday suits. Had my then-boyfriend did not assure me that it was all normal, I would have screamed and called the police.

Almost a decade later and I still hesitate (and turn red) whenever I see a naked body in public.

–> Nudity is not a big deal in these countries. But it sure would shock the hell out of someone who comes from a country where the sight of Janet Jackson’s boobs during an award show caused an uproar.

So, on your next European trip, prepare yourself. But do remember that you are NOT supposed to stare, even if nudity is no biggie in these shores.