My husband and I had never talked about going nude. I was always pretty modest in how I dressed, and honestly, the whole idea just wasn’t something I saw myself doing — ever.
We were 25 years old and on our first trip to Croatia. While reading the port handbook, my husband got excited about spending a day at Zlatni Rat. He didn’t tell me it was famous for being a nude beach. I thought we were just going to another sunny beach for swimming and relaxing, like we did back home in Denmark.
When the cab dropped us off in the big parking lot and we walked down to the beach, I immediately noticed something was different. Right at the entrance there was a big sign and a “dividing line.” Then I saw two guys and a girl standing there completely naked, casually drinking beer. My jaw dropped. I turned and gave my husband that classic “I know exactly what you’re up to” look.
He smiled innocently and convinced me to at least walk down the nude section with him “just to see what it’s like.” I was nervous, but I agreed to go a little way with him.
The farther we walked, the more relaxed the people around us seemed. Everyone was minding their own business — talking, sunbathing, swimming — like being naked was the most normal thing in the world. Most of them were Europeans, who clearly had a much more casual attitude toward nudity than we did growing up in conservative Virginia.
Eventually we found a quiet spot far enough from the entrance. My husband spread out our towels and, after a few nervous moments, took a deep breath and slipped off his swimsuit completely. He tried to act casual about it, but I could tell he was excited. He lay back and closed his eyes, clearly enjoying the feeling.
He told me I didn’t have to take anything off if I wasn’t comfortable. After watching him for a while and seeing how relaxed he looked, I surprised even myself… I reached back, untied my bikini top, and took it off. That was a huge step for me. I lay there with my breasts exposed to the sun and the breeze for the very first time in public.
To my own amazement, I actually enjoyed it. The warm sun on my skin felt incredible, and after the initial nervousness faded, I felt surprisingly free and peaceful.
That day at Zlatni Rat opened a door for both of us. What started as my husband’s sneaky idea became our shared adventure. Ten years later we’re still enjoying the nudist lifestyle together as often as we can.
I never thought I’d be the kind of girl who would go nude on a public beach — especially at 25 — but I’m so glad I did. It felt scary at first, but it turned out to be one of the most liberating experiences of my life.
If you’re even a little curious… I say try it at least once. You might surprise yourself too.
The following year we went to Croatia again, this time with a group of our friends. We rented a small boat and went on a trip along the picturesque rocky shores. The trip was supposed to be quite ordinary, but our naturist experience made itself known. Lol. But that’s a story for another time.