Italian Beaches: A Whole Lotta Lovin' Going On

My family and I have been to more beaches than I can remember and while some have been better than others, one thing at Italian beaches stands out: at most of the beaches, or rather in the ocean at least -- there's a whole lot of lovin' going on. In fact, I'm sure the ocean ranks a lot higher than the drive-in or the back seat of a '69 Chevy when it comes to sneaking a little you-know-what with your significant other. While swimming with my wife the other day I couldn't help but notice that in front of, behind and on either side of me were young couples caught in a passionate embrace and more.

This is all well and good -- heck I'm not that old not too remember doing the same thing -- but it couldn't have been than 11:00 in the morning. We tried to dog-paddle away - I certainly respect the privacy of others, plus I'm a good dog-paddler - but I guess 11:00 AM is a time of day when there 'ol hormones are hitting 7 on the Richter scale because we swam right into the middle an aquatic lover's lane.

It's not for me to say whether this is the type of thing that should be going on, but the more I think of it the more I appreciate that being in the water with your significant other is a good thing when you can't afford to be anywhere else: at least from the neck down you have total privacy. Barring the fact that there is someone swimming around your feet with fins and a snorkel there's really nothing anyone on the beach can see. Come to think of it, it reminded me of a bunch of volleyballs floating in the water. Of course if a person's expression from the neck up is a caught-in-the-act-expression of moment-of-impact ecstasy; then I guess you can't help but draw a crowd.

Speaking of which, this is such a "normal" occurrence at the beaches around here (and I'd venture to say the Med in genera)l, that most people I don't even think even notice much less care about what's going on around them. By 1:00 in the afternoon the beach my wife and I were at was more crowded than ever, making the ocean a location that was pretty much standing-room-only. Yet amid the splishing and splashing another 10-or-so couples were oblivious to all the fun and frivolity - hastily making waves of their own.

I'm not sure if this type of thing can happen at American beaches. Culturally we're just so darn uptight. On one hand, we wear the smallest, tightest bikinis and Speedos, but on the other hand anyone caught at the goods in question is arrested for being a pervert. Plus you got lifeguards all over the place watching. How the heck can a young couple in love find a little privacy? I sure can't think of the last time I saw a lifeguard at a beach in Italy.

Beaches have historically been one of the last havens for lovers - especially at night, but at least over on this side of the Atlantic, "going for swim" during the day sure has a different connotation altogether!