8/02

I went to Ireland last August to visit friends in Co. Cork. They took me to a beach called Garretstown about 10KM beyond Kinsale. When we arrived I took my top off without giving it a second thought, but I noticed that over a period of time many people were staring at me. Top freedom is not very common on Irish beaches, and most Irish women tend to cover their breasts all the time. However, I wasn't going to be deterred by this and I didn't put my top back on. The novelty factor wore off after a while, and I was able to sunbathe in comfort. I returned to that beach a few days later and went topless again. This time some of my Irish friends joined me. They enjoyed the experience very much and said they wished they could do so more frequently in Ireland.

--Martina, Munich, Germany