The Black Sea turned turquoise. What's happening on Russian beaches? What to do on the beach if there is nothing to do? What's happening on the beach

Should nudists be fenced off? A Komsomolskaya Pravda correspondent looked at how they were relaxing in real life. candid beach in Koktebel [photo, survey]

Photo: Alisa TSARIGORODTSEVA

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GRANDMOTHER SAID: “SHAME!”

Well, morals... You should be ashamed! - Grandma grumbled when she learned that I was sunbathing without a swimsuit. And not on a wild beach, where there are no people at all, but in the very center resort village Koktebel!

The 10-year-old brother of my girlfriend, with whom we were looking for new experiences, reacted to this news much more enthusiastically.

I wish I could just get a glimpse of this “naked” beach! When I grow up, I will definitely go. It's a pity that my mother won't let me in now.

The only official nudist beach in Crimea is located in Koktebel right on the embankment. If you haven't been there, I'll tell you. It is located next to a public beach, the area is not fenced in anything, and there are no signs warning about nudists. Small toddlers are splashing in the water next to naked sunbathers and traditional tourists are sunbathing.

Sellers of corn, beer and baklava, just like on ordinary beaches, carry their food, but not naked, but clothed. Even animators and animal handlers with monkeys and reptiles can be found on this beach. At first glance, there is no difference, except that there are bare butts everywhere.

I’m not going to the nudist beach just like that - I explain to you and my grandmother (I’m a modest girl) - but on an assignment from the editor.

I want to understand whether special beaches for nudists are needed in Crimea or not.

The fact is that on the peninsula there are ongoing disputes over whether it is necessary to open a nudist beach in the resort town of Yevpatoria. This proposal, we recall, was expressed by the rector of the Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah, Archpriest Georgy Kunitsyn.

Father explains that although the church has a negative attitude towards nudism, because it is worried about the moral state of society, but since such a phenomenon exists, since there are people who adhere to such a philosophy, then it is logical to provide them with a special place so that they can rest as they please. I like it, but not in public places. In addition, the priest worries about people who, for medical reasons, need to sunbathe naked, but they have nowhere to go, there are no places for such treatment.

In the 80-90s, in the area of the Frunze embankment there was healing beach for people suffering from psoriasis,” said Father George. “Now people with this disease have nowhere to sunbathe.

It is expected that a special beach for nudists will be opened on Golden Sands. Officials are now deciding what area to use for this project and whether a fence needs to be erected there.

GUYS LINE UP FOR DATING

So, I'm on the beach in Koktebel. And I'm in a slight shock. It seems that everyone is just looking at me and waiting for me to undress. Honestly, I want to grab my bag and run for the hills.

I stand there like a pillar, staring with my mouth open. Naked men with piercings in the most intimate places are eye-catching - both young men and grandfathers. The earrings hang - both small, in the form of studs, and very long, like those of lovers of glamor.

Few people bother with depilation. Now I'm talking more about women.

Although no, one of them, bashfully turning away from everyone, immediately standing knee-deep in the sea, runs the machine over her hairy genitals. Phew, I don’t really want to get into the sea after something like that.

Nudist beaches will certainly appeal to girls who cannot do without male attention. If you are a lover of a quiet, secluded holiday, this is definitely not the place for you. The guys here are very active and not at all shy.

In the morning they came up to talk to us eight times! And this despite the fact that my friend and I lay quietly, didn’t look at anyone in particular (so that they wouldn’t think that we were wild and came here for the first time), and didn’t shoot with our eyes. And the men keep coming and coming. Why does this surprise me? Yes, because the behavior of nudists is radically different from normally sunbathing vacationers.

Judge for yourself, girls come to an ordinary beach in amazing swimsuits that favorably highlight their shapes, mini-bikinis, push-up bras... it would seem that this is fertile ground for fantasy. Choose any beauty and run to meet her. But no, many people are watching, only a few are coming. And in general, on public beaches Most often, married couples with children vacation.

But on a nudist beach everything is different. The guys come up to get acquainted one by one - it feels like there is some kind of secret recording - who is first, who is after, they chat for 20-30 minutes, offer to go somewhere together and, after we offer them to retreat, they make room for others.

In the evening, male activity increases. Particularly bold and confident people, despite the fact that we are already chatting with someone, come up and blatantly interfere in the conversation, trying to attract attention to themselves. Already at the ready - with ice cream, lemonade, flowers, with an offer to give a massage, paint a crab or seahorse on the chest or thighs, or take part in a nude photo shoot.

Everyone on this beach knows each other. Russians and Ukrainians come here on vacation year after year. Photo: Vitaly PARUBOV

HANDSOME GUY TOOK AWAY BY ANOTHER MAN

While my friend is admiring the toned torso of one of the tourists and wondering whether to approach him herself or not, the guy is literally taken away right in front of her nose! And not some gorgeous blonde with big breasts.

The friend is amazed, the picture unfolds before her eyes: a man, and not the first freshman, comes up to the handsome guy she has her eye on, chats animatedly with him about something, they go swimming together several times, and then they start hugging and leave, holding hands from the beach.

Immediately - we again opened our mouths - at the other end of the beach, a healthy hairy man of about 50 years old approaches a hitherto unfamiliar guy and asks to smear sunscreen back. Do you think the handsome guy is sending it to a well-known address? No, he rubs grandpa's back, chest and legs!

“MY HUSBAND LIKED YOU”

Not only men, but also girls offer to get to know each other better.

My husband liked you! Let's spend the evening together? - a tall brunette, who introduced herself as Natalya, tells me.

Her lover probably wanted her to be jealous of him? - I thought.

You misunderstood me. Everything is fine. We have been experimenting with such relationships for a long time. We love variety in bed. If you have a young man, let him join too,” the girl suggests.

The couple has been vacationing in Crimea for the eighth year in a row. It turns out that beach regulars have known them for a long time and, if possible, have fun with them.

Girl, don’t be so surprised, there are a lot of them here on the beach. You see, right on the seashore, a company of four people is playing cards,” points out the guy Ignat, sunbathing next to me. - These are swingers, they also often come here to meet couples like them.

Have you noticed a woman with long red hair? Lying opposite us is the “queen of the beach.” Even though she is old, she loves young guys very much. If you watch, you’ll see her with different people every day,” says our new friend Peter from Murmansk.

Girls, you are not lesbians, otherwise I have a fantasy of having a threesome. Want to? - the broad-shouldered brunette, who introduced himself as Ruslan, stuns us.

Oh, so you’re not on these matters? It's a pity! Although, maybe we can try? What if you like it? - Ruslan continues to convince us. - If you change your mind, don’t hesitate to call. By the way, I can also invite a couple of friends.

There are not many people with a normal orientation here,” my friend and I sigh.

And when we are already getting ready to leave the beach, young guys approach:

“We’ve been watching you all evening, but we were embarrassed to speak until you got dressed,” they hesitated.

I WILL COME HERE AGAIN, AND MORE THAN ONE TIME

I, as an unmarried girl and open to new acquaintances, here in Koktebel, I can’t hide it (don’t tell my grandmother) that I liked it. There are sociable, uncomplicated people around, a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere reigns. You definitely won’t be bored here for a second. I will come here again, and more than once.

But I don’t understand mothers relaxing on such beaches with their children: imagine, you are sunbathing under a canopy with your baby, you turn over on your stomach and see literally a few centimeters from you your neighbor, who is lying with his legs spread wide apart (so that there are no white folds on his body) . Or you are making a sand castle with your child, you raise your head, and a flabby man is waving his belongings above you. The spectacle, let’s say, is not entirely aesthetic and pleasant.

For debauchery, in general, all this, and for an even tan!

If you open nudist beaches - be they therapeutic, or just for those who like an even tan - then, in my opinion, they really should be behind the fence. This will be better for nudists, who will not be bothered by onlookers, and for other tourists, especially families with children.

OBSERVATIONS

Guys who come to a nudist beach for the first time sunbathe in swimming trunks until they get used to naked girls standing around and begin to control their erections.

There are few vacationers on the beach with beautiful bodies, like those on the covers of glossy magazines.

There are more nudist men than girls.

There are many vacationers with children.

The beach has a core nudist community who come here year after year. If you have lost the contact information of a new friend, do not be upset. Next year you will certainly meet him here.

This article will be of interest to both men and women. Imagine the situation - summer, beach season is in full swing, you are on vacation somewhere on the seashore. We haven’t met anyone yet, but I would like to plunge headlong into a holiday romance. And suddenly you find out that there is a nudist beach here! The thought occurs to you that it would be nice to try to find a new acquaintance there. But the beach is unusual; there are probably some rules of behavior on a nudist beach that you don’t know about yet. To avoid getting into an awkward situation, familiarize yourself with these rules; they are actually very simple.

Let's start with the fact that you should try at least once to feel complete unity with nature, when you are completely naked, not in the confined space of a sauna or city apartment. In fact, people began to wrap themselves in skins and fabrics only 72,000 years ago (which, by the standards of history, is a completely minuscule period). Before this, they managed miraculously without clothes, and the genetic memory of this sits firmly inside every person.

So, you decided to show yourself and look at people. I hasten to reassure you right away: if you think that only people with the figures of Apollo and Venus sunbathe on such a beach, and against their background you will look like a “white” (albeit already slightly tanned) crow, then you are deeply mistaken!
The least likely thing you will surprise the regulars of a nudist beach is your imperfect figure, because people on such a beach gather with just the most ordinary physique, although everyone has different goals.
Someone really wants to get an absolutely even tan all over their body, someone is an ardent supporter of a “natural” lifestyle, and someone, like you, came here with the goal of meeting a man or woman for an easy holiday romance. And if meeting someone on a regular beach has the same goal, then on a nudist beach everything is somehow more confidential - you immediately show all your “charms” to still strangers. As well as they are yours.

What rules of behavior on a nudist beach must be strictly observed?

Greetings

When you arrive, say hello to your closest neighbors sunbathing not far from you with a smile and a nod. There is no need to look for the glances of all the nudists and nod in response, 2-3 people nearby are enough.

Selecting a location

Don't be too close to your beach neighbors. You should be separated by at least 5-10 meters, if the beach area allows it (there are very small nudist beaches, where you will have to make room and sit right next to someone.

Poses

Be mindful of your posture when bending over to lay out a towel or remove something from your bag. Hanging breasts and genitals dangling from side to side are unlikely to leave an aesthetic “after-look”, so to speak, on those around you. In general, be more careful with your poses. Even if you are the happy owner of ideal forms.

Attention to you

Get ready for the fact that you, as a newcomer, will receive increased attention from the old-timers of the beach. This is normal and is not associated with any abnormalities in your physique, so you have no reason to feel complex or twitch. Usually on a nudist beach there are not too many people who already know each other and any “new” body arouses increased interest.

Tip: Of course, you are worried and because of this you may forget about sunscreen. But you will expose places on the body with skin that is not accustomed to sunlight. So don't turn your first visit to a nudist beach into your last because of the sunburn. Take the cream with you or smear it on in advance, so that in the evening you don’t become like Comrade Saakhov from “Prisoner of the Caucasus,” when at the end of the film (at the trial), when asked to sit down, he said that he would rather stand.

Etiquette

Try not to “stare” too much around (although you really want to, because that’s what you came here for). Those who follow this rule deservedly enjoy the respect of the old-timers.
How can we take a closer look at the visitors to this beach? Yes, just by wearing dark glasses that hide your gaze. Or, picking up a book, pretend that you are reading, casting “thoughtful” glances into space as you turn the pages.

Photos

Rules of conduct on a nudist beach strictly prohibit any photography or video shooting! So it’s better not to provoke discontent from others, even if you take a camera or phone out of your bag to take a selfie. Any filming is negatively perceived by a naked person, as a sign of a gross invasion of privacy, remember this. When you meet one of the vacationers, you can retire with him (or her) to some beautiful secluded place and take plenty of photos without disturbing others.

Cold water

This applies exclusively to men. You know that cold (even just cool) water instantly shrinks your (even very impressive!) reproductive organs to microscopic sizes?
Remember this and be prepared to accept it as inevitable. Regular female nudist beaches know about this reaction and treat it completely calmly. So don't worry, men, this is not a reason to be upset.

Body hair

“To shave or not to shave? - that is the question!”...Again, it’s a matter of taste. Nudists themselves are calm about both its presence (both women and men) and its absolute absence. There is no condemnation of any of the options. You decide.

Communication

When it comes to conversations, do not try to impress your interlocutor with deep philosophical arguments about the differences in the positions of ancient Greek thinkers on topics of the world order. Any “light” topics are welcome, politics, religion, finance are not recommended. You are on vacation, after all! Flirt, seduce, and do not frighten your interlocutor with abstruseness.

Just in case, bring a swimsuit (for women) or swimming trunks (for men). In general, it’s better to come straight to them, rather than putting shorts and T-shirts on your naked body. This is in case you suddenly find yourself on the beach alone (this happens!), or after meeting someone you like you go to a regular beach, or you want to take a walk (run for ice cream, for example) without burdening your body with shorts.

If suddenly..

No man is safe from an unexpected erection on such a beach. If this happened during a conversation with a young lady, apologize and just plunge into the sea. If it’s a bit far from the sea, turn over on your stomach and just wait for a while... This happens to beginners, there’s nothing wrong with it. On the contrary, young ladies favorably perceive such a reaction of the male body to their charms.

Acquaintance

The methods of dating in such a place differ little from dating on a regular beach, which I described in the article.
Of course, no one will play volleyball naked, and in general everything happens much simpler. All you have to do is approach the person you like and offer them a drink or fruit, remembering to smile and look into the eyes, and not below the waist.

I wrote a short story about my experience visiting a nudist beach, you can read it here.

Here, in fact, are all the simple rules of behavior on a nudist beach, following which you will comfortably spend time in a rather exotic environment for you.

Use it and enjoy it, just like everything else in your life!

Read the real story about dating on a nudist beach.

Let's smile one last time:

At the height of July, I spent a couple of days in Sochi. No matter what the skeptics say, people Black Sea coast so many. It seems to me that Sochi is a special zone.

There is no logical connection between the level of service, prices and the number of vacationers. Whether the city is bombed tomorrow or its improvement happens, it doesn’t matter, people will drive as they did...

Olympic Park looks pretty good:

However, it’s better to go for a walk in the evening, when the heat subsides:

And during the day there is nothing left to do but swim on the beaches. Hundreds of vacationers flock to the Adler embankment, which creates the feeling of a giant anthill. These are mainly those living in the private sector:

There are bridges on the shore, many sun loungers and umbrellas:

Half of the vacationers sunbathe in very bizarre positions. In general, there is a feeling that many people come to the embankment to drink and sleep:

Swimming is prohibited closer to the Olympic Park, which, however, does not stop people at all:

10.

11.

There are no nudists, although I did notice a topless girl once:

12.

An ordinary picture: a guy offers to take a photo with a crocodile. There are a lot of flayers who walk along the beach with stabbed animals. There don't seem to be any legal methods to counter this. The only thing we can do is ignore these dubious entertainments and not give their owners a penny:

13.

But if you really want a photo as a souvenir, you can use the services of mimes and all sorts of girls painted to look like statues. This pleasure costs 150 rubles, but some scumbags film it brazenly and for free:

14.

There is also a tradition of leaving “geotags” on Adler Beach:

15.

There is also a beach in the center of Sochi. It is less crowded with “wild” tourists; mainly those who live in nearby hotels swim here. The atmosphere here is better and not as crowded as in Adler:

16.

Drinking alcohol on the beach is prohibited, but a couple under an umbrella is quietly sipping beer in bags:

17.

Every 50-100 meters rescue post:

18.

The toilet business is one of the most popular on the embankment. They sell condoms in the men's restroom, and there is a TV in the women's restroom:

19.

20.

VIP massage, VIP beach, etc. Lots of all kinds of luxury at a reasonable price:

21.

Stalls on the embankment. I have already talked about the range:

22.

Excursions attract with a variety of offers, but upon closer examination everything is the same:

23.

Chips and corn are offered at every turn:

24.

There are no places in hotels. We had to rent rooms for three of us in different hotels, because everything is packed to capacity. The same situation applies to the private sector:

25.

Finally, a couple of photos of the Resort Embankment:

26.

Number of passengers traveling on planes to Black Sea resorts, has already increased 1.5 times compared to last year, as calculated at Vnukovo airport. Another news - the Black Sea has turned turquoise due to algae blooms. Environmentalists say this is an indicator good quality water. AiF checked what was happening on the beaches of the Krasnodar region.

Sochi: where to eat and swim?

Sochi maintains the brand of an elite resort. True, in June the weather was not pleasant. But the Confederations Cup matches are taking place in the city, and the atmosphere is festive. Further summer program It’s also busy: you can attend performances by Cirque du Soleil, ice shows, and music festivals.

Yes, holidays in Sochi remain expensive. However, places have appeared where you don’t have to shell out 1,000 rubles for lunch - many inexpensive canteens have opened in the city. In restaurants, chefs offer dishes prepared from local products: Cossack lamb ribs, borscht with donuts and lard, dumplings.

Two-story cars roam the streets sightseeing buses with an open top. “There were no such things in the city before,” says localV. Mikhailenko. - I myself recently took a ride from Sochi to Olympic Park and listened to a review lecture.”

“I came to Sochi for the first time,” says Tatiana Babchinskaya. - My husband and small child and I settled in Imereti Lowland- near the Olympic Park, Sochi Park. We also visited Rosa Khutor. Everything is very beautiful, European - impressive. But Adler was unpleasantly surprised: the chaotic tent trade does not make the resort beautiful at all.”

The beaches of Sochi, while there are few tourists, remain quite clean. However, locals recommend going to the Olympic Park for swimming. “There is an open sea, and even before the Olympic construction, when there were wild beaches“, the locals preferred to swim and sunbathe in this place,” advises V. Mikhailenko. “Now everything has been improved, and the quality of the water has not deteriorated.”

Housing (cost per day):
Bed space (hostel)	from 500 rub.
1 room apartment	from 1.5 thousand rubles.
Hotel room 3*	from 4.2 thousand rubles.
Room in a 5* hotel, with breakfast	from 42 thousand rubles.
Nutrition:
100 g kebab	from 200 rub.
100 ml dry red wine
	from 180 rub.
Lunch for 1 person in the dining room	from 350 rub.
Beach:
	for free
Chaise longue+umbrella	from 150 rub. at one o'clock
Water park ticket	1.5 thousand rubles, children under 5 years old free
Dolphinarium ticket
Skypark, preferential, children under 5 years old	for free
Sochi Park

Anapa: warm sea, seaweed, low prices

Shallow sea sandy beaches: Anapa is a resort specifically for families with children. And the city was filled with tourists from the very beginning summer holidays. Among the new entertainment: the Bora Bora water complex, the Sukko Valley park, and the Zip Line extreme attraction.

“We are 100% loaded,” says the hotel owner Eduard Bedrosov. - But early booking now almost none. Although 7-8 years ago, when the economic situation was more stable, rooms were sold already in January. And we haven’t raised prices for several years.”

“In my opinion, a holiday in Anapa is a little cheaper than at other resorts in the region,” says the tourist Elena Vdovichenko. - But there are few places where they accept bank cards, so I advise you to take more cash with you.”

At the end of July - in August, algae appear in the Anapa Sea. Their scientific name is “vagrant cladophora”, and in common parlance - Kamka. When the water temperature rises to 23 degrees (and last year it reached 27-28 degrees), the Kamka begins to multiply quickly - it grows up to 120 meters in a day. These algae are filamentous, and it is almost impossible to get them out of the water. Local authorities are trying to solve the problem: they are negotiating to purchase equipment for algae removal abroad. By the way, they are also common on other beaches in the world, for example in Italy.

Housing (cost per day):
Bed space (hostel)	from 500 rub.
1 room apartment	from 1.8 thousand rubles.
Hotel room 3*	from 4 thousand rubles.
Room in a 5* hotel, all inclusive	21.3 thousand rubles.
Nutrition:
100 g kebab	from 160 rub.
100 ml dry red wine
	from 150 rub.
Lunch for 1 person in the dining room	from 350 rub.
Beach:
	for free
Chaise longue+umbrella	from 100 rub. at one o'clock
Water park ticket	1200 rub., children under 5 years old free
Dolphinarium ticket	800 rub., children under 5 years old free

Gelendzhik: embankment, mountains, pine trees

This year, Gelendzhik updated its embankment (by the way, the longest in Europe - 12 km) - a new section overlooking the sea was built. There are bike paths and sports equipment here. There are flowers all around. In general, everything is as best resorts peace.

“I love Gelendzhik for the mountains, sea and pine trees,” admits Anna Zubova from Khabarovsk. - This year I was pleasantly surprised that all the stalls had a uniform style. Everything is located on one side and does not spoil the view.” New entertainment has also appeared at the resort. This is a Roman park, where you can see dramatizations of the life of the ancient Romans, and the largest fountain in the region. A large gastronomic festival will be held in mid-July: the most famous chefs in Russia will compete in their art and hold master classes.

Housing (cost per day):
Bed space (hostel)	from 500 rub.
1 room apartment	from 2 thousand rubles.
Hotel room 3*	from 4 thousand rubles.
Room in a 5* hotel, with breakfast	12.5 thousand rubles.
Nutrition:
100 g kebab	from 150 rub.
100 ml dry red wine
	from 160 rub.
Lunch for 1 person in the dining room	from 180 rub.
Beach:
	for free
Chaise longue+umbrella	150 rub. at one o'clock
Water park ticket	1400 rub., children under 5 years old free
Dolphinarium ticket	adult 900 rub., child 600 rub., children under 5 years old free

Dolmens, waterfalls, caves

What is a must-see in Sochi and its environs?

A. Staroverov, Murmansk

Among the most popular excursions in Sochi is, of course, a trip to the sites of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games and to Krasnaya Polyana. But in the vicinity of the “summer” Russian capital there are many other completely unique attractions.

So, in Skypark you need to walk along one of the longest in the world pedestrian bridges. Its length is 439 m, height 207 m. The bridge is held by 8 cables.

Don’t forget to visit the Matsestinskaya Valley - its healing hydrogen sulfide springs. In her clinic, everyone can visit a doctor and get a referral for a bath course.

Another point of attraction is the Eagle Rocks, where, having climbed to a height of 379 m, you will see the sculpture of Prometheus.

Agur waterfalls are cascades of water falling into Blue Lake, in which you can swim. However, in the Sochi region there are waterfalls on almost every river, and a route called “33 waterfalls” was even created for tourists. It is interesting to visit the Vorontsov caves, which have 10 entrances, and the Volkonsky dolmen - the only monolithic stone house in the world. He is at least 5 thousand years old! Scientists are still wondering who and why it was built. In total, there are 200 dolmens in the Sochi area.

It turns out that it’s not so easy to go to a nudist beach for the first time and not feel awkward. Especially if you are a woman. “Instead of feeling the joy of the body, I felt like Cersei from Game of Thrones on a walk of shame,” artist and designer Lorin Branz shares her feelings.

The author writes that men on a nudist beach feel at ease and at ease and stare at women with all their might - but it was hard for her, a woman, to stop being shy. And gender inequality is to blame for everything. And this is how it was - in her own words. You can also see the original photographs there. The photos in this text are not related to history and are for illustrative purposes only.

“I spent a week’s vacation with my husband in a town where there was a nudist beach. And I desperately wanted to go there, no matter how uncomfortable I felt. My husband was not delighted with such a wild idea, but agreed to go with me. I began I’m downright obsessed with this idea, and there are several reasons for this.

By the age of 31, I had overcome an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, and a bunch of other “invincible” dangerous things. A year ago, at 30, I took part in a holiday bikini parade. It was the first time I'd ever worn a bikini, and I found it very... liberating. I was in my fourth decade, and I was enjoying the look of my body, listening to the complaints of other women who had already begun to age.

Noticing wrinkles and new spots, you begin to realize how beautiful you were at 20 years old. If only there was a way to make a young woman enjoy what you have this moment! The time of my juicy body was also coming to an end, and I decided that I needed to do something. And for some reason it seemed to me that going naked to the beach was a great idea. It seemed.

I called my husband and told him to take his swimming trunks. He reminded us that where we were going, swimming trunks were not needed. I laughed and decided to take my favorite and most beautiful swimsuit with me, in case I chickened out. I never wear makeup to go to the beach, but here I found myself doing beauty spruces: let everyone see my boobs, but never dark circles under my eyes!

As we drove to the beach, I became more and more nervous. I decided to read the book I had brought with me, Sex Objects by Jessica Valenti. This proved fatal to my mood. The foreword itself shook me to the core, and by the fourth page I realized that I was crying.

"There is nothing special about being a sex object. The manifestations of sexism are the way women are treated as objects, the way women sometimes turn themselves into things, the way we constantly throw aside our humanity and thereby lose self-esteem is not uncommon. Object status is what connects me with many others. This does not mean that all women are subject to being turned into an object in the same way. For some, especially women from the periphery, this experience is much more cruel and unpleasant. than I can imagine.

Even though I've been writing about feminism for years, I still don't have the words to describe what it's like to live with it all: the teacher who asked me out a couple days after graduation; the college ex-boyfriend who tied a used condom to my door and wrote "slut" on my chalkboard; Politico reporter who wrote an article about my breasts."

I took it all so close to my heart that it hurt me. And I understood why I needed to go to a nudist beach. I knew this already, but I couldn’t formulate it. I am doing this in order to take back my body, which has long been owned by society. I do this because I’m angry at the teenage boys who I awkwardly winked at, trying in such a stupid way to seem desirable. I want to show the world that my body is not theirs to force into any shape or size, to decide what happens to my ovaries or how high my breasts should be. I'm doing this for myself, damn it.

I'm not a beach person at all, my ancestors came down from the snowy mountains. Pale and doughy, like a Russian rag doll, I look like I need to wrap myself in wolf skin to keep warm in any weather. But I pushed all these considerations aside when we went down to the beach.

This particular beach started out as a regular beach and gradually became nudist. At the first moment I was dumbfounded. I saw several middle-aged women basking naked in the sun, walking along the beach - and were not ashamed of their bumps and bumps. It was amazing, I wanted to dance naked under the sun or under the moon - together with these women. I thought that I would definitely bring my future daughters here so that they could see unretouched real bodies.

My flight of fancy was rudely interrupted when I saw a group of guys, fully dressed, playing football nearby. Suddenly I not only didn’t want to take off my clothes, but I also wanted to run and hide. I asked my husband why these guys were dressed, and he replied that there was no need to be naked here. It was strange and dishonest.

We walked further, and I realized that that group of women was the only one. The rest of the vacationers were elderly men, whose flabby households fluttered in the wind. We had almost reached the end of the beach when a portly, gray-haired man about my father’s age approached us and said that the beach was becoming too rocky any further and it was not worth going there. Maybe his intentions were the purest, but a past unpleasant experience whispered intrusively: “He wants you to stay here so he can look at your tits.” I tried to ignore this little voice.

“This is not New York,” I reminded myself. “These are nudists, this is a respectable beach.” We took the advice and stopped here. I tried to be cool and took off my bra first. And almost immediately I saw that my old gray-haired acquaintance was looking at me and grinning. I covered myself in fear. The man began to walk along the beach, and I tried to calm down. “Get your body back,” I told myself.

Forcing myself to undress completely made me feel vulnerable. Like a snail without a shell under the scorching sun. I tried to position myself on the sun lounger so as to cover my most intimate parts. My horror was only slightly tempered by pleasure: a fresh breeze blew across my bare chest, and it was pleasant.

Having suffered internal defeat, I looked at my husband. He lay quietly naked and ate a lobster roll. He was quite comfortable - a state that I had never even dreamed of. Angered by this fact, I felt an even greater desire to relax and have fun. I took out a book to take my mind off things. I tried to read, but I couldn't concentrate. Eventually I realized that I was trying to hide behind the book. With the title "Sex Object", how ironic.

I asked my husband to take out and open the umbrella. Usually I do this, but now it seemed to me that the body movements that need to be made for this would look strange when I was naked. And he, without any embarrassment, continued to indulge in the joys of the beach: warming his butt in the sun, chewing goodies, swimming. In a last attempt to have fun, I also went for a swim. The water was great. But instead of feeling the joy of my body, I felt like Cersei from Game of Thrones at the walk of shame.

I returned to the chair and lay for several minutes, looking at people. Mostly I saw men looking around. Two couples passed by. In both cases, the men walked completely naked, dangling their balls carefree. And the women shyly covered their breasts with a towel. Feeling defeated, I put on my swimsuit.

Probably, my whole idea was not very successful, but I’m still glad that I did it. This fueled my desire to try and increase my body acceptance to the point where I would feel free to play with men on the beach (no matter what they thought of me). Oddly enough, I want to try again - only on a different beach and in the company of women. Hopefully by the time I'm 32, the world will be more ready to see my boobs and I'll be more ready to show them off."