"...Nobody will notice you..." probably because a lot of the women are actually looking at the bottomless men.

Right now, I'd be happy if I could walk around in shorts. It's been chilly in this part of the world.

I am going to ramble for a bit, as this is a pet topic of mine.

When I was an exchange student I spent 6 months with 1 family, then 4 with another. The first family was your everyday Spanish family and I never once saw anyone but my little sister in their underwear, much less naked or topless. Then I moved in with family #2. It was March, and even though it was the Mediterranean coast, it was too cold to not wear clothes. Consequently, I did not find out that they were nudists until well into May when my host mother and I prepared the pool, then got in, I with a bathing suit and she without. I was so incredibly uncomfortable that I just froze. Long story short, she got angry with me and all through lunch was snippy. I, of course, assumed I was in the right to be uncomfortable, and didn't understand her upset. When Papa got home later that day I heard him mowing the lawn and I went outside to tell him of Mama's weird behavior. He waved to me and I was mortified to see that he wore a hat, an old pair of Nikes, and nothing else.

So, I thought they were crazy. Then the neighbors started coming over and they would all get naked. Same with their co-workers, and when their children's friends (all grown up) would come for a visit, they too would strip down. All but me. Then one day I decided to do it, so I just grabbed my towel, walked out of the house and left it on the patio, walking all the way to the pool. No one noticed.

Since then I can prance around with the best of them. Mama always jokes that I am the nakedest kid of the bunch when I am there, and now when I am on the beach, I never wear a top. It sounds weird, but it is a complete non-issue. Go as you like and if you are the only one in a bathng suit and feel weird, take off your top and see if it doesn't actually make you feel better.

Excellent story, Laclaire!

Great story! It kind of exemplifies the benefits of traveling doesnt it - getting exposed (in this case literally) to other cultures/ways of living. I applaud your open mindedness.

OK, I'm changing my vote. Claire wins.

If the mood strikes you, you can always don a see-through bathing suit for even more exposure.

Whoa! Good feedback, guys. And yes, chicagolori, it did a lot for opening my mind. Mama always says "we like you more now that you aren't so uptight." Leave it to those Mamas. . .

Claire, what did your family back at home say when they found they had sent you into a den of nudists?! But good for you for adapting.

I have known a few people who have hosted homestay students. I wonder if the screening process involves any questions about the family's nudity practies.

I also think it's silly to talk of who "should" and "shouldn't" sunbathe topless. I'm not interested, in part because sunbathing does not go well with my fair skin, but the fact that I don't have Hollywood-style breasts, or anywhere close, should not be a factor in determining whether I want to enjoy the sun in this manner. (Nor should it stop someone who has had mastectomies, for example.)

Yes, that screening process was broke for sure.

Reminds me of a little french boy I saw on the beach. He was looking at a topless women with very large breasts, and said to his mother (while pointing); mama, elle a des tres grandes .. At which point his mom said SHHHHH!

Will and North- the family had hosted twice before I came, and both times they had requested Scandinavian girls because of their nudist ways. However, I came up on the market for a family and they were near my original host city, so it worked out. My mother was mortified, but we decided that as long as they were good people (which they were), there was no reason to leave.

2 summers after the homestay, though, my dad came to visit and Papa went swimming with him, naked of course, and my dad still claims it was a "cultural man test." Mom was so distracted by the armpit hair that I think the nudity went almost unnoticed.

Do all nudists live in "dens"??????

When I was in Barcelona two years ago, the beach was packed and it seemed like everyone was going topless except the three American college students near my towel. As others have suggested, I'd just go with a flexible mindset...

If you think you want to do it, Cindy, check out LL Bean's new summer sale. I just got an email today.

They have several of their swim suit "bottoms" on sale for 1/2 off - $9.95.

I bought several when renting a villa on St. Croix - with private pool and spa. Just knew I wouldn't need the tops and so had a "wardrobe" of choices to choose from.

The new surf short style is really cute.

Their suits are great if you need a 1 piece - or even the tankini that Rex took offense to :-)

<< ...even the tankini that Rex took offense to ... >>

didn't take offense... just sorta chuckled and failed to understand why one style of swim suit lends itself better than other to removal, partial or otherwise...

Rex,

A tankini looks like a one piece, but is in two pieces. Therefore, you can whip off the top and sunbathe topless easily and comfortably.

Didn't realize you didn't know what a tankini is.

BTW, my guess is more buy them for the ease of "bathroom breaks" than "topless sunbathing" but they are great for both! :-)

No, of course, I realize what a tankini is.

The top... of any two piece suit... comes off equally easily, no?

And as I indicated, I have seen any number of visitors to Europe's beaches whose top came <i>down</i>, even if was a one-piece.

My guess was that the 53 year old woman would not be wearing a bikini. Just an assumption - one that could easily be wrong. Hence, the suggestion of a tankini.