1/04

I've been living here for a couple of years now. All of the beaches are about 50% topfree.

Being here for a while does make a person realize that the United States is very much in the minority as far as sunbathing goes. The beaches here are truly a nice and relaxing environment for everyone, whether you decide to wear a top or not. There really is no rhyme nor reason to who does and doesn't, it's up to the individual. Such a natural thing here that it is pretty much ignored. I have had many Spanish people ask me why America prides itself on freedom while at the same time being so puritanical... they are dumbfounded by the hypocrisy.

--Akex, Barcelona, Spain

7/02

My boyfriend and I visited Barcelona last year. I had never been to a European beach before, and I was quite astonished to see the number of women who were sunbathing and swimming topless. However, after a while this scene became normal and I decided that I too would remove my top. It felt exhilarating. Once the experience of going topless is enjoyed there is no going back, and now I find that swimming at public pools here in the US is much more restrictive now that I have to wear a top again.

--Belinda, Little Rock, Arkansas

7/01

My wife and I visited Barcelona, Spain two years ago after having spent time elsewhere in Spain. The beaches in Barcelona are topfree and no one pays much attention to the women who are topfree. Since my wife had already been topfree elsewhere in Spain she did not hesitate to take off her top. We saw women of all ages topfree, from teenagers to grandmothers, and secretaries sunning themselves at lunchtime. While few women walked on the beach topfree many went into the water topfree.

--Ted, Indianapolis, Indiana