Greetings from the Sauna!

[Klondike]

Originally Posted by soundwave106

I haven't been to Europe in a while, but last time I went (early 2000s) some people were importing a bit of the American attitude of nudity=exploitation... which I'm sure the Internet doesn't help, sad to say. Europe was overall way more laissez faire in regards to nudity. Certainly a bit less prude than American metropolitan areas. If attitudes have converged towards American metropolitan levels, well, that is way less prude than heartland areas. On the other hand, I've never seen seas of naked people in Europe; anyone who expects that will be disappointed. It just means that you will go on a beach, and there may be topless bathers or naked bathers, and people won't care. Aside from designated nudist colonies, there are only a few places in America that are like that (more "European" places like South Beach). Europe also has some nudity on TV, though it does seem like less than there used to be.

Ironically, I actually consider interest in nudism in America to be going up right now, including interest from a slightly younger age group than has typically been interested in the past. (Instead of retired, you get some interest from the yuppie crowd and the hippie crowd). If Europe is less inclined to nudism than the past, maybe of all things America will pick up the slack.

That would be nice. We have a long ways to go, though.

THe effect of the internet seems to go like this: Women don't want anyone to sneak up on them with a camera. But they don't mind posing or otherwise being in more control (being able to see the photogs, for example). The case of Sienna Miller being photographed by the paparazzi recently while on the set of a movie is a great example. She was there to do a nude scene (where she had control), but dare take a voyeur pic of her without her consent and she sues like crazy.

Anyway, to me this means the future may look like this: Look for a decline in nude beach use where women don't have any control over the photography aspect. To pick up the slack, other types of events may become more popular, events where photogs, if present, are at least out in the open where women can see them. Many of these events today are in the US, and their popularity seems to be growing or at least holding strong. Europe on the other hand is where most of the beach action is, and it seems inevitable given the net that there will be some decline there.

Anyway, Europe and America have always traded fads and cultural trends. As a fad, the nude beach is relatively old now compared to WNBR, fantasyfest, burning man, etc. And the photogs at those events must seem like comparitively nice, friendly guys who just want to make a woman look and feel beautiful. Compared, for example, to someone like Enrique or some of those other sneaky nude beach photogs (not you, Pedro - I'm talking about the gyno guys.......)

I'd be interested in a woman's perspective on this.....

Klondike

[stevin6]

To respond on the Munich situation, FKKfan wrote, i read that for about 5-10 years back some German boulevard/papparazzi magazines like bild published some articles about the Englisher Garten in Munich, besides that also the German tvsender/broadcast corporation "Vox" tv had a serie called "Wahre Liebe" were always a young attractive couple were testing 2 or 3 local nude beaches or nude lakes.
As a first result of this, less woman are going all nude and the second result is that in Munich one nudistlake/beach openend a special section only for woman. (if i lived in Munich i directly started to apply for a job as securitymember at that lake )
About the German Sauna-scene an other tv station had a serie, as mentioned earlier.
In my country, the Netherlands, it will depending on the fact of the sauna/wellness center is small or big, is situated near or in a big city, is it good accessable, which day and time are you going? Is it nice wheater to lay outside in the sauna garden.
If you plan to visit a sauna in the Netherlands then may be you got to have a look at the dutch website "saunagids.nl", they have all information including a forum whith even more information, mainly in Dutch, but some also in English. One thing in generally i can say that i the Netherlands the ratio Men/ Younger Woman/ Elder Woman is always better during summer period even as in total less people visit the sauna. A lot of men only visit a sauna when it's very cold outside, but a lot o woman also visit a saunacenter in summerperiod because they also like to take a sunbed in the saunagarden.
In the rapidshare links section i will post a few examples about FKK (nudism) in Germany.

[dixler]

Originally Posted by FKKFan

As for saunabads, I think people here are getting the wrong impression. A lot, A LOT, of women cover up when they exit the sauna cabin and don't walk around nude. In fact, I would say the majority of nudity you will see are in dark sauna cabins, the light-therpy cabins, the open showers and maybe the whirlpool.

I've never been to Germany, but I read that most of the saunabads don't have mixed showers. I read they may have a mixed changing area, but that there are separate showers for men and women. Is this true? You would know, I wouldn't.

[SandyM]

So, maybe polki1 does come here fro the intellectual discussions.

[therocket]

Originally Posted by dixler

I've never been to Germany, but I read that most of the saunabads don't have mixed showers. I read they may have a mixed changing area, but that there are separate showers for men and women. Is this true? You would know, I wouldn't.

As a frequent visitor to the saunas in Germany you are correct. There are some showers for cleansing after the sauna that are mixed - however - the showers to wash your hair and your plums etc. are 85% not mixed.

This may sound odd but I think it boils down to a certain level of privacy. This is a theory developed by my wife who goes with me to these places.

Her thougt is, when you are in the sauna you can keep an eye on the other people in the sauna and control how much of your nakedness is on display. "I definately know when I'm being perrved" she said.

When you are in the shower the act of washing yourself is fairly intimate. She doesn't want some dude watching her soaping her flaps and with soap in your hair you can't keep your eyes open, or control of, who is perrving you.

My advise guys, if you are going to these places in Germany (or Holland or Switzerland or Austria), enjoy them for what they are. A place to relax and get cleaner then you have ever been in your life.

By all means grab a glimpse of the hot chick in the hot steamroom beside you. BUT don't stare, take pictures, get a hard on or make any sort of sexual advances. You will get tossed out and you will definately spoil it for everyone else, because soon these egalitarian naked oasis' will become single sex only.

I don't know about you but I like hanging out with naked chicks like it's perfectly natural.

Cheers and good health!
therocket

[therocket]

PICS!

Because every post needs a picture or two!

Even if a couple are puny.

[dixler]

I have another question about German saunabads.

I understand that they have female only days once or twice during the week. During those times, no male sauna customers are allowed.

What happens to male employees of the saunabad? Are they still allowed to work those days? And if so, are they kept segregated from the naked women?

Thanks for your input.

[stevin6]

Originally Posted by dixler

I have another question about German saunabads.

I understand that they have female only days once or twice during the week. During those times, no male sauna customers are allowed.

What happens to male employees of the saunabad? Are they still allowed to work those days? And if so, are they kept segregated from the naked women?

Thanks for your input.

So far as i know male employees could also work on the special "ladies-days", but that depends on the saunabad.
In the Netherlands, it's nowadays not so easy to find new and qualified employees. So in the bigger centers there will be always also male employees, but if not neccessary, they will only work in the kitchen, at the restroom, the reception etc., and not in the saunas area, but this also depends on the saunabad. (do you want to apply for a job? )
For about 2 years ago a well known very big sauna/wellness center fired an masseur/massage therapist when they found out he wanted often to touch and look at the intimate parts.

[dixler]

Originally Posted by stevin6

For about 2 years ago a well known very big sauna/wellness center fired an masseur/massage therapist when they found out he wanted often to touch and look at the intimate parts.

I have also read that in Europe massages are usually done with the person being nude and they include breasts and buttocks.

Is that true?

That wouldn't be a bad job, if you could just do women, and have your pick from them.

[stevin6]

Originally Posted by dixler

I have also read that in Europe massages are usually done with the person being nude and they include breasts and buttocks.

Is that true?

That wouldn't be a bad job, if you could just do women, and have your pick from them.

In massage salons it could be different, but in sauna/wellness centers all cliënts are fully nude with a towel only covering the intimate parts. And the massage usually don't include the intimate parts. But as an exeption we had once a sauna center where some masseuses/massagetherapists did also the intimate parts by men. That was a result of the fact that the (former) owner also owned several erotic-massagesalons and some sexclubs. Due to criminal activity this man is now in jail.