Dear Random Naked White Guy...

The issue is not being naked, it's the perception of that nakedness. ~Unknown

Dear Random Naked White Guy,

You swam up to me while on the topless beach in Montego Bay, Jamaica. That is a no-no as it goes against nudist etiquette. When I asked where you were from and you said Virginia, I knew there was going to be a problem. After many attempts at small talk, you finally asked me if I wanted a massage. After a vehement, "No," you asked if I wanted to go for a swim.  (SERIOUSLY?!) I responded that I was headed to dinner. At this, you bid me a great rest of my vacation and swam away.

No bubbling brown sugar for you,

Me

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See, this is why Americans should be banned from topless/nude beaches. They fail to see nudity and sex as two different entities. I never felt threatened or uncomfortable because I was submersed in the water and there was a security guard and other people around. It was just irritating to have my peace disturbed by this idiot. Oh! And then there was the guy who came down with this girlfriend who initially started off facing the ocean. It didn't take long before he'd shifted around and was facing me, at which point I covered myself. She whisked him away soon thereafter. I guess she hadn't anticipated he'd be trying to peek at others' tatas. Americans! LOL!

I discovered nudist beaches in western Europe a few years ago and have been a fan ever since. I was too excited (and surprised) there was one in MoBay. (They obviously have dealt with (idiot) Americans before because unlike other beaches I've visited, this one had female security. This shouldn't have to be.) The sun's rays and warm ocean water on my skin was sheer heaven! I wish we had a mainstream naturist mentality here is the US. Alas, I can only taken advantage when I travel. I'll take it.

Sunning Topless in Montego Bay Jamaica

Jerolim beach on Hvar island in Croatia

Calling on the LORD in Cairo, Egypt

 Never one to take the LORD's name in vain, after a hard day in Egypt I involuntarily let out a "Woo, JESUS!" before I caught myself. I had to go all the way back to my roots when my Mudear used to call on the LORD when she was dead tired. That was me today.

Dodging and ignoring the men was a constant battle. I had to be wary of men who sidled up to me making innocent conversation or offering to help me find my way. It turns into an offer to visit their family's shop or asking me a million questions about myself. Now I don't mind male attention & I'm accustomed to getting it while I'm out and about, but these people are aggressive! They don't take no for an answer. Thing is, they wouldn't dare approach an Egyptian woman. It is completely against societal norms.

As tough and easy-going as I am (yes, a contradiction), I shed a few tears the first day I was there. I found few could be trusted, the men were pushy and overbearing, and the women were of little help. Almost everything was a scam!! (No exaggeration.) It also did something to my psyche to be stereotyped and treated differently based on my gender and nationality. Funny, but I'm accustomed to discrimination based on my race in the USA when it happens. It's hard to explain. Determined not to let these factors get in the way of my enjoyment I adopted the look you see above and took to wearing my iPod, which I rarely do while traveling, so I could block out the advances of the men. If I couldn't hear them, they couldn't bother me. I also learned not to make eye contact with them as they saw that as an open invitation. I learned to say الذهاب بعيدا (pronounced em-shee), which means, "Go away", although that was of little help and not a very nice thing to say. Covering myself as much as possible helped, too.

A quick study, by the end of Day 2 I was negotiating with merchants, rudely pushing my way through lines and crowds, and staying in my place as a woman with the best of them.

Smiling at the Pyramids

Stranger in Town, But No Newbie

"How do you know where to go?" I am often asked of my travels. When I got off the bus in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) from Punta Cana after 4 hours, I marveled at the difference in feelings from when I got off the plane in Rome two years ago. Then, I was so nervous I stayed in the airport for 2 hours before venturing out into the city. Now when I arrive in a new city in a new land, long gone are those feelings of anxiety. As long as there's a way to get to the airport, I can always go home. That makes me feel like I'm never lost. I know how to get home. I'm not even sure if that makes sense, but that's how I see it.

Someone once asked, "What if you get lost?" Well, when I get to a city I've never been to before I'm already lost. The key is to find where I need to go. I help myself by studying the city's map before I go so that I am somewhat oriented to the city. I familiarize myself with major streets & landmarks so that I can gauge how far (or close) things are, which direction they are, and what to say when asking for directions.

Here's an example: Before I left Bávaro (Dominican Republic), I pinpointed the bus station on a map & located the street of my hotel in Santo Domingo. From there I could tell it wasn't within walking distance, so I would have to catch a bus or taxi. Forever frugal, I knew I'd have to ignore the hawking cabbies when I arrived and find a friendly local to point me to the right bus stop. This is where how to ask comes in handy. Instead of asking for Isabela Católica 155, a street or address they've probably never heard of, I ask how to get to Parque Colón, a park that had popped up more than once on various maps & was listed as a must-see site. That meant it was probably pretty popular and well-known. My hotel was a few streets from there, so I'd ask for further directions once I found my way to the park.


After I got off the bus, I found a nice young lady waiting to cross the street so I asked her which bus stop would have a bus to Parque Colón. She was more than willing to help. After adjusting to Dominican Spanish, I got directions and asked her how much it would be so the driver wouldn't charge me some exorbitant fare. Once I got to the bus stop, I asked another young lady there which bus I needed. She explained that I needed a gua-gua, un coche, to get to my destination. I was confused. A car? At the time I didn't understand what she meant. She knew this and GOD bless her heart, she stood with me until this car full of people stopped and she told the driver where I wanted to go. She surprised me by walking off afterwards. I'd assumed she was waiting for a ride, too. I hurriedly thanked her and hopped in. (See, that's why I'm not afraid to travel. There's always someone willing to go out of their way to help.)

The driver dropped me off at what I thought was Parque Colón. Turns out, it was Parque Independencia. Not a problem. I was closer to my hotel than I was previously. I checked the map in my guidebook and saw I was within walking distance of my destination. I asked a man how to get to Parque Colón and he told me it was a direct shot down El Conde. (I had to strain hard to understand the lilting Spanish of the DR.) As I walked, I realized I must be in the heart of Zona Colonial. I'd read about it online and in the guidebook. How exciting! There were cobbled streets, old 16th century buildings, stores, lively shoppers, and restaurants. Within 10 minutes, I was in Parque Colón. Once there, I asked a passerby how to get to Isabela Católica, the street of my hotel. I checked against my map & knew I could take it from there.


As I was turning down my designated street, I was accosted by a tour guide who tried to sell me a slew of services and steer me toward certain hotels. Little did he know that although I was a stranger, I was no newbie. I'd done my homework and was set. I peeked through the window of his office where a nice German couple was being railroaded. I thanked him profusely and was on my way, thankful I'd done my homework.

Three minutes later, I was checking into my hotel and dropping off my luggage to head out and explore Santo Domingo, doorway to the "New World."

Sunset in Mazatlán, Mexico

I'd read from online reviews about the wonderful sunset views from my hotel, so after walking the Malecón in the late afternoon, I hightailed it back to my room to get ready for the show. It was difficult not to stop at all of the interesting sights along the way, i.e. Diablo Cueva (Devil's Cave), but I made it just in time.

Once in the room, I pulled a chair onto the balcony, repositioning it until I got the perfect view, readied my camera, and waited for the magical event. Suddenly, the sky was awash in shades of bright orange and pale pinks, yellows, and blues. Slowly, the sun appeared to sink until it was sitting on top of the water. After bobbing in place for a while, it shrank to the size of a tennis ball. I continued to stare in silent awe until there was nothing left but rainbow layers of yellow, pink, orange, and blue hovering above the rippling ocean.

There is no greater artist than nature.

Progression:

A Train and Rain to Venice

I'd better write this quickly because I'll soon be asleep. I'm sitting on a train to Venice & rain has begun to fall. Moving vehicles (train, plane, boat, car, carriage) always put me to sleep and the addition of rain serves to heighten the sensation.

I have this section of the train to all myself and it's so peaceful sitting here watching the green hills and mountains, tucked around sleeping villages, roll by.

It's just...so...dreamy....

Exhausting Rome

Four exhausting days in Rome was sheer heaven! Jam-packed with activity, I can now say I have truly seen the birthplace of Western civilization up close & personal.

While dodging cars & motorscooters (even on sidewalks) and being jostled along by hurrying Romans, I was able to accomplish the following:

• Colosseum
• Roman Forum
• Pantheon
• National Museum of Rome
• Vatican Museum
• St. Peter's Basilica (Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel)
• St. Peter-in-Chains
• Arch of Constantine
• Mammertine Prison
• Trajan's Column
• Trevi Fountain
• Santa Maria della Vittoria

I tried to make the Capuchin Crypt, but it was closed for renovations. That would have been quite a site! The thought of seeing 5,000 decoratively arranged bones is both chilling and exciting.

With all there is to do in Rome, it's enough to call it a day and head back to the USA. I'm certainly tired enough. However, the ghosts of Pompeii, the birth place of pizza, and Michaelangelo's David await my arrival. Who am I to disappoint?

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1. The Rise & Fall of Rome (The white represents its growth)
2. The column that St. Peter was chained to at Mammertine Prison
3. The chains that held St. Peter
4. YWCA: My haven at the end of the day
5. Davi from Brazil and me
6. Free, cool, refreshing water from public fountains
7. World's most luxurious McDonald's
8. In front of the Colosseum
9. The Vatican
10. Cobbled streets of the Roman Forum (same streets walked by Julius Caesar)
11. Grave of Julius Caesar with fresh flowers on it
12. Severus Alexander and Septimius Severus - African rulers of ancient Rome (National Museum of Rome)