One thing I’ve learned about Europeans since moving here is that many of them like to take their clothes off outside and 'get nekkid', as we would say in the South. That is to say, they are great fans of the outdoor shower. Our Dutch/French neighbors Marion and Jean-Marie are huge proponets of this. They shower outside all year at their other home in Holland. Marion (above) claims they are healthy as a result, never getting the flu or even a head cold.
Since they now spend more of their time in France than Holland, Marion recently asked Jean-Marie to install an outdoor shower here as well. Picture this: their house is on one of the main village roads, and they have a small walled courtyard at the entrance. Lacking a better space, they put the shower just inside the wall along the road, enclosed with an old wooden door. They dash out of the front door, in sun or snow, and into the shower. Marion says no one can see inside, though I think some of the tall grape harvesting trucks that go by have gotten an eyeful.
Ron was walking by their house the other morning and he saw steam rising from behind the wall. What, he inquired of Marion, is the proper etiquette for greeting a naked woman who is showering? She was inches away on the other side of the wall, so it seemed rude not to speak, but still….Oh la la!
I can never hope to keep up with the hearty Dutch, but I decided to see what the fuss was all about. On a warm sunny day, bien sûr. I peeked out of our gate to be sure the coast was clear, then toddled over in robe and slippers, towel and razor in hand. But then of course the village school class suddenly rounded the corner, on some sort of outing–so much for discretion.
It was quite pleasant showering en plein air, with the sun above and a trumpet vine creeping over the wall and tumbling into la douche. I could see the church steeple, and was serended by the birds. A nice moment with nature. When it’s 70 degrees, that is. In the buff, I'm defintitely the fair-weather type.
Our English friends Tony and Narissa, who live in a more isolated spot outside of the village, have an outdoor shower of a more rustic variety. It’s out on the lawn in the front yard, simply a hose thrown over a tree limb, with a nozzle attached and the shampoo sittiing on a nearby tree trunk. This is full exposure to nature in its purest form. There’s normally no one around, but Tony says Madame la factrice, our round, cheerful, and somewhat frumpy postwoman, has encountered the full monty so many times that it hardly shocks her anymore. But wait– she has just retired, and has been replaced by a hot young blond who is quite the French babe. Stay tuned to see how the towel story unfolds.
Photos: Above, the shower, au naturel, of Tony and Narissa. Both of them declined to be photographed for this story–chickens! At left: Be forewarned that you may not always have an appreciative audience while showering en plein air. Tony's cat Cléau
looks on, and though Tony's quite the hunk, she does not look particulary impressed.
Meanwhile, all this fresh air has made us hungry. Here is the simplest of salads for the last gasp of summer, a two-bean affair I whipped up the other day, with ingredients from the market and garden.
RECIPE: Salade Deux Haricots with Pesto
What makes this salad special is the fresh pesto, with basil straight from the garden. I used the fat white onions that are in the market now, but you could use red onions, sweet onions or chopped scallions as well. Don't hesitate to throw in some other raw veggies: a little shaved fennel perhaps, or thinly sliced yellow squash. This is better if made a few hours ahead.
- about a pound (450gr) of haricots verts (thin green beans)
- 1 large can white beans, drained
- as many grape tomatos as you like, cut in half if large
- 1 white or other mild onion, chopped fine
- freshly made pesto
(I used the pesto recipe here; you'll need only half of it, so cut it in half, or freeze the rest for a winter day).
Steam beans until tender-crunchy (start checking after about 3 minutes). Drain and cool, then cut into bite-sized pieces, about an inch long.
Rinse and drain white beans. Mix vegetables and beans in a large bowl and toss with pesto. Add sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Cover tightly and chill until ready to serve.
In the COMMENTS: In regards to Heather and Kent's 'vacation lifestyle', several folks inquired about health insurance when living abroad, so be sure to check out Heather's response in the Comments section. Sam of My Carolina Kitchen tells about her own vacation lifestyle in the Bahamas. Fun but 'not for sissies', well put! And Page reminds us about the 6 degrees of separation.
Favorite Reads/TV Series: OK I admit it, I'm a hopeless fan of that high-brow English soap, Downton Abbey. and here in France it's back, fraught with the usual crises and hand-wringing. Will Matthew and Mary really tie the knot? Will the Abbey be a victim of hard ecnomic times? To see Series 3 in the states you'll have to wait until January, so if you want to re-visit Series 2 to get ready, get it here: Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey Season 2 (Original U.K. Edition)
12 thoughts on “Our Naked, Steamy Neighbors”
I’m not sure I understand the argument that showering outside prevents colds or flu. I rarely get either, but stick to my bathroom at home. Relatives in the south (U.S., that is) have an outdoor shower to wash off sand from the beach. Now that makes sense. For me it’s not about being a prude, but I guess it just seems to be too much trouble to take towels, soap, razors, shampoo, etc. outside when it all is sitting right there in the bathroom to begin with.
We are on the next series of Downton, but I will not spoil the story for you.
It is on at 10 on sunday evenings.
You can get C.D’s.
Very funny post Lynn! And oh how I love a good bean salad. I love the idea of using the last of the summer pesto. I’ve still got a bit of that as well.
My sister and brother in law used to live in fancy Scottsdale Arizona, and had the PERFECT outdoor shower. It was off the bathrrom, completely enclosed and accessible from either the bath or the pool. It was landscaped to a (desert fair-the well and it was about 6ft X 8 ft. Rob used to wash the dogs in there! I want one, but I do not think we would get the same effect in Maine! Most of the time, it would be full of snow!
I love the salad and the pesto recipe and thought you’d like to know that I make pesto this way: I almost never use pine nuts and prefer almonds but have used pecans, walnuts and/or hazelnuts all to good effect. AND a friend turned me onto this trick and I have adapted it…substitue chicken broth for some of the olive oil! She does about 2/3 broth to 1/3 oil, but that blend reallly loses something for me…I go about 60 oil/40 broth. It’s lighter, of course, and I think it must be healthier, since I could eat pesto with a spoon!
It also supposedly, freezes well, but I cannot confirm.
The new condo is shaping up so nicely, but as usual…more project than $$$. I so enjoyed reading your articles in “Country French”, a magazine your readers can get in the Sttates at Home Depot, and which is the perfect “dream” mag…my condo is about the size of one of the living rooms!
Only you can put an article with outdoor naked bodies with Salade Deux Haricots with Pesto and make it work so beautifully! We shower outside here in New England, but only in the heat of the summer! NOT WINTER! OUCH!
If I ever get to visit your chateau, Lynn, I have to try that shower, but not in winter; can’t imagine!
The bean salad sounds great, but I don’t make my own pesto; probably could buy it already prepared.
BTW, are there more postwomen than postmen in France? Very few in the USA, I think.
Forgot – got a good laugh from get “nekkid” – it’s been a long time since I’ve heard that.
Re freezing pesto, comes out better if you leave out the cheese. Add the cheese when you defrost and serve.
Salut Lynn,
Still laughing here. What a fun story…thanks for sharing!
I am with you, sounds fun in fair weather.
Most of the houses in Seaside, FL have outdoor showers, in secluded spots. I have enjoyed showering in a few of them myself. 🙂
Think of the benefits of not cleaning ring around the bathtub and scrubbing tile grout! On St. Croix, Virgin Islands, we spent an anniversary weekend at a cottage with an outside shower and a very private pool. Pictures haven’t surfaced yet, like those of Kate, thankfully! Loved the story!!!
Debbie Ambrous
http://www.AFrenchOpportunity.com
Lynn, you ALWAYS write wonderful posts (!),but this one is right at the top of the list! Your decsription of those women postal carriers walking past the full monty sent me laughing out loud!
AND!Even better! A heavenly haricots verts recipe,too! (YUM!)
The weekend’s off to a terrific start!
THANK YOU!!
(PS Linda, I grew up in Scottsdale,Arizona! What a small world! When my family moved there in 1953,Camelback Road was dirt! )