No, not me. Sorry (?).

For a conservative government city, Ottawa has many little quirks. For instance, Four-Twenty aka National Pot Smoking Day is celebrated on Parliament Hill and there is a yearly Zombie Walk (where you can meet zombie hockey players and people with a bad headache). We also have interesting alternative places such as the Prince of Wales Bridge… and let’s not forget about “Maman”, the huge spider.

I’ve just added one on the list: apparently, Saturday was Naked Bike Ride Day. And by “naked”, I don’t mean without a helmet. I mean naked.

Okay, not French “naked” (which would have been really naked), but North American “naked”, so nether regions were covered. Apparently, participants actually started naked but the police gently reminded them that being naked in public is against the law. On the side note, sadly, the police escorts chose to stay in uniform.

The bikers still took Rideau Street and the Byward Market by surprise. The look on people’s face was priceless—I think some bystanders were more embarrassed than the cyclists.

I’m always surprised to see how nudity or even partial nudity is controversial in North America. Remember the Janet Jackson Super Bowl scandal? All that for a nipple? I’m pretty positive it would have been a non-event in France. I mean, we all tan topless anyway, it’s not like French men haven’t seen breasts and nipples before.

Actually, breasts and nipples are usually the first thing I notice when I go to France, on the cover of magazine, on advertisings, in the media… Every time, it reminds me that culture is quite different from one side of the Atlantic Ocean to the other.

Some people are more conservative than others and I completely respect that. I grew up in an artsy family and lived in hostels when traveling so I’m pretty cool with my body and I’m not exactly modest. Which doesn’t mean I walk around wearing skimpy skirts, expose a visible thong or show a plunging neckline every time I step out of the house. But let’s just say I’m perfectly fine getting dressed/undressed while having a conversation with a close friend or family and I master the art of changing clothes quickly on a packed beach.

Biking naked? Nope. The naked part doesn’t bother me but there is too much traffic downtown Ottawa. Plus let’s face it, all that pollution can’t be good for the skin, can it?

Alright alright… pictures of the event below, full set on Flickr! If you are at work, make sure your boss is not peering over your shoulder!