River Island, a place to swim; use the spa; walk; ...and why not read?

I thoroughly enjoyed a recent stay, at River Island ( 18-21 December, 06). I had some goals. a) A little carer's respite leave; b) try to lose a few kgs; c) take some photos for the River Island (and Sydney Naturist) website(s); and, particularly: read a book that had recently come into my possession: "Only in Holland. Only the Dutch".

The author is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. His book is described as being "useful to visitors" but "not just another travel guide." The book is based on the time that Mr Resch spent, working as a consultant, in the Netherlands. The blurb, on the back page claims, that the book "takes a behind the scenes look at Holland and its people and offers an insider's perspective on the many intricacies and fascinating facets of Dutch culture."

Well! I'm not altogether convinced that, even after working and living among the Dutch for some time, anyone, from any other country, in the case of Mr Resch, the U.S.A., can claim to have a 100% insider's perspective and to be providing an absolutely purely scientic, un-biased insight into the psyche of the Dutch.

I have been in Australia 50 years and would not claim to be able to do that regarding Australians and their (our) way of life.

The reason for writing about this here, is, not only because I read the book, at River Island, but also because Marc Resch emphasises what the Free Beach Action Group, based in Sydney, in particular its founder so often claims, i.e., that Europeans, such as the Dutch see naturism as something that their fellow countrymen have a right to enjoy, if they wish to.