You'll Never Find a Less Judgmental Crowd Anywhere - Mark

This week I'm joined by Mark from Victoria, British Columbia — a naturist of over twenty years who got married at a naturist resort in Jamaica, got sunburned on a cold beach in Chile, and has found ways to practice naturism even in one of the coldest countries on earth. We talk world naturist travel, the equality that comes from having nothing on, and why he believes you will never find a less judgmental crowd anywhere. A warm, funny, inspiring conversation.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Welcome to Slavic Uncovered Podcast. Hi, I'm Asha from Slavic Uncovered. Today I'm interviewing another interesting person all the way from Canada. Mark, introduce yourself and tell us a bit more about yourself, please.

SPEAKER_01 0:29

Hi Asha, I'm happy to be here. Yes, my name is Mark, and I come from Victoria, British Columbia on Canada's uh west coast, visiting Poland for a week.

SPEAKER_00 0:39

I'm so happy to have you here. So tell me please, how did your journey into naturism start?

SPEAKER_01 0:47

Good question. It's uh a little difficult to pinpoint. Um about 21 years ago, I had a girlfriend who was naturist, and she kind of this I was an undergraduate and she kind of introduced me to it. Uh, but you know, being Canada, it's cold much of the year, so it was more about being naked in in her apartment and just not not wearing clothes, and I thought I could I can get used to this. This is kind of liberating, and uh from then I I went to uh an organized naturist event about a year later in Ottawa, uh in Ontario, where I was at the at the time, and you know, just fell in love with naturism from there.

SPEAKER_00 1:27

Very interesting. So um where have you been so far? And uh Naturist Resorts, Naturist Beaches?

SPEAKER_01 1:37

Yeah, all of the above. Um my wife is also a naturist. Uh we were married seven years ago, and uh before I met her, I went to uh a naturist spa in Germany um and uh beaches in Cuba. Um my wife and I actually got married at a naturist resort in Jamaica, a couple's tower isle, although we were clothed for our wedding because we wanted to be able to post photos and everything. Uh but we've been all over uh yeah, Thailand, uh Chile, uh Austria.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

Thailand? Which uh naturist resorts in Thailand have you been to?

SPEAKER_01 2:11

It was brief. We were we were on a cruise ship, uh a cruise for my 40th birthday, uh so this is only a couple of years ago, and uh we had an overnight in Phuket, so we booked at a naturist resort, a police uh Peace Blue Naherne Naturist Resort, I believe it was called, and it was lovely.

SPEAKER_00 2:29

Wow, interesting. And um what was your most interesting naturist experience so far?

SPEAKER_01 2:36

I'd say the most memorable was when we went to uh Playa Luna in Chile. It's Chile's only um legal nude beach, but it was not quite what we expected. So we were in the capital, Santiago, it was about 35 degrees every day, so we expected the same on the beach. Big mistake. Uh it was about two hours by car to get to the beach, and you're going over mountains, and the climate is very different on the coast. So we got there and it was about 13 or 14 degrees, but we were determined to be naked because we we came all the way there. So we we got naked despite the breeze. I mean, we're from the north, where it was okay for us, but we it was overcast. We saw the sun for maybe five minutes in the whole day, so it was chilly, but we saw Chilean people there that were all putting on so much suntan or like sunscreen uh to protect their skin, and uh we were a bit confused, like the sun isn't out, what's what's the big deal here? We learned afterwards that there is I can't remember the word for it in Spanish, but they have a word for getting sunburned despite there being no sun out because the radiation and the UV rays are still coming out. My wife and I were both quite sunburnt, even though we we were cold and shivering for for much of the day, so we certainly learned our lesson. Always use sunscreen.

SPEAKER_00 3:55

I know what you mean. When we went to uh Caribbean islands, also, even though the it was cloudy, we also were on the verge of getting uh sunburned, you know. So probably on those tropical islands there is completely different climate.

SPEAKER_01 4:14

Yes, very different from what we are used to, I think.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

Exactly. What about Canada? Because uh Canada is not very friendly for naturists. Is naturism big in Canada?

SPEAKER_01 4:26

It's not too bad. Uh it's it's developing, I would say. In every province, there's uh like naturist campgrounds that are available to visit. Obviously, only during the summer months uh can you be uh fully immersed in the naturist experience. Canada has two legally nude beaches. There are lots of informal uh nude beaches where uh where you won't be hassle, but the legal ones, there's one in Vancouver and there's one in Toronto. Um I've been to both. Um both uh were quite lovely. Uh I would if if you're visiting Canada and want to have a naturist experience, I would recommend the one in Vancouver. Vancouver is a very progressive city and more welcoming of naturism compared to some other areas, perhaps. And uh Wreck Beach is is very well known for uh for being a wonderful uh naturist beach to visit.

SPEAKER_00 5:14

Hmm, good to know. I will take uh note of it, definitely. And uh what was your uh funniest uh naturist experience?

SPEAKER_01 5:26

I'm gonna say so uh when my wife and I went to Cuba the first time together, and we were on a clothing optional beach, but the beach was open to the public. And uh a woman, uh a Cuban woman and her son were walking by and the son was just staring. Like uh as you know uh very well, Asha, uh staring is is very unacceptable in the naturist community. That's not respectful. But when it's a child, probably six or seven years of age, it's obviously uh you're you're not gonna say anything. But I found that quite amusing. And the mother didn't realize until perhaps 20 seconds of the staring that he was looking right at my wife's breasts and with a big big grin, and she quickly covered his eyes and they they hurried hurried away. So sorry, you uh maybe there should have been better signage uh that you were entering our naturist area.

SPEAKER_00 6:21

What about like um comparing mentality of Canadians and uh other naturists? Have you noticed any difference?

SPEAKER_01 6:32

Uh yeah, I'd say generally Canadians might be uh more on the um on the more conservative side. It's not as popular a naturism compared to places like uh Germany, I I would say. Uh but uh there is a significant uh culture of naturism. Uh, due to the climate, a lot of the activities are indoors, uh like uh renting out uh public swimming pools uh for naturist events. Uh an organization I was in in Ottawa, the Ottawa Naturists uh organizes nude bowling events sometimes, uh mini golf. Uh, there's all kinds of ways to practice naturism, even in a climate that is rather hostile to being outdoors and naturist.

SPEAKER_00 7:19

Yes, exactly. You can do nude yoga or nude dining, even. Yeah, that's interesting to hear that even in such a hostile environment, you can still practice naturism.

SPEAKER_01 7:31

Yeah, we find our ways to do it, don't we?

SPEAKER_00 7:34

So, what is naturism for you? Uh how has it changed you as a person?

SPEAKER_01 7:41

I mean, I live in a in a city center and I have for for many years. I find uh getting into naturism is it as the word suggests, it's uh about reconnecting with nature. It's not just about being naked, but that as a means to to connecting more with the natural environment as as we were meant to be, kind of thing. Um feeling included in the natural environment, like away from all the concrete and busyness and traffic. Um it's uh I find it um almost uh almost akin to meditation, you know, kind of discovering your your true self and uh feeling feeling more free.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

Yes, like going back to your roots. Yes, tell us more about uh all naturist places you have visited all around the world. Inspire us.

SPEAKER_01 8:32

Yeah, we're we're working on it, uh certainly. Um we uh when we spent a week in Vienna, we went to uh it wasn't I mean, Vienna's not on the ocean clearly, but we went uh to a naturist like a park and uh it was on a little a little river and uh we loved it so much that we went back again uh a second time that week. Uh I mentioned the resort in in Thailand, which was uh very nice. We tried to find naturist opportunities where we travel. Um I particularly loved Barcelona because not only do you have the amazing food and festivals and museums, architecture exactly, but there's also uh like a clothing optional beach right there in the city. Oh, it's like everything you could want. I I recognize Barcelona is a little over touristed these days, but uh I can see why. It's it's a wonderful place.

SPEAKER_00 9:24

Wow, oh that sounds amazing. That's my way of uh traveling because once you go uh into naturism, there is no uh going back. And whenever I travel, wherever I travel, I always also look for opportunity to to spend some free time uh by the lake, you know, uh obviously in the city or country I visit. Um yeah, so it's amazing. You can just kill not only two birds but many birds with one stone. Yes, very efficient. Going to Barcelona and uh as you said, Austria as well, or Vienna, yes. They also have plenty of those like city parks, naturist uh parks, clothing optional.

SPEAKER_01 10:09

And I mentioned Chile as well. It'd be great to go to a naturist experience on every continent, although Antarctica might be difficult. Maybe someday.

SPEAKER_00 10:17

Oh, yeah, that would be a huge challenge without wearing any furs. Well, first you need to harden yourself doing winter swimming. Have you heard about winter swimming?

SPEAKER_01 10:31

Oh yes, in Canada the the polar bear dip, we call it, is very popular. On a New Year's Day, people will go out and jump into the water as a means of therapy. Uh I'm I'm good at cheering them on. I'm not good at doing it myself. I I prefer warmer temperatures.

SPEAKER_00 10:48

Yeah, in Poland it's very popular, and uh we can say it's becoming like national sport for Polish people in winter time, apart from uh going to saunas. Lots of people um do winter swimming, not only on New Year's Eve, but uh all winter time. And you know, they just go to some waterfalls or lakes available. Women, men, children, everyone.

SPEAKER_01 11:17

Yeah, the hot and cold therapy is very good for you, right? Finland knows what they're doing. They they too have a cold climate.

SPEAKER_00 11:23

Yeah, it gives you lots of uh endorphins, all those uh happy hormones. Yes, exactly. What would be your message uh if we have to wrap up this uh interview? What message do you have to people to inspire them to start with naturism?

SPEAKER_01 11:43

Yeah, I know uh for people who are considering naturism, you've probably heard many times, just try it, just try it. But uh I am a believer in trying everything at least once. See if it's for you. Um people worry about like body image issues and acceptance, but I promise you'll you'll never find a less judgmental crowd anywhere. Just uh everyone is on an equal playing level when you're not wearing clothes, you know, there's you know no suits or anything like that, or uh, you know, differentiating between people. It's uh it's it's liberating in that sense and a very, very friendly, very respectful environment. So uh like like others have said, uh please please give it a try uh at least once. If it's not for you, then no problem, but uh at least you will will have tried it. And uh I think the vast majority of people who try it find that this is something I can get used to, and this is this is very, very comfortable and and a very happy environment. So I I hope the same for you.

SPEAKER_00 12:39

Oh yes, uh I love uh nature's family, and uh I love that everyone feels equal. Um it's just amazing to be part of this community. Okay, so thank you so much for being today and sharing your life stories and inspiring us.

SPEAKER_01 12:58

Thank you for having me, Asha, it's been wonderful.

SPEAKER_00 13:01

Have a beautiful day.

SPEAKER_01 13:02

You too, thank you.