Stripping Down for a Night at a French Museum

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Usually, when reporting where French is spoken, I worry most about my grammar. But in Marseille last month, the plus-que-parfait was far from the front of my mind.

Instead, I was a little more preoccupied with my own incredibly public social nudity.

I had traveled to Marseille, France’s second-largest city, to attend an exhibition about social nudity, the practice of being naked in public settings unrestricted by gender, in Europe. It was a special night: The last of five naked visits the museum had organized, held when it was otherwise closed.

About 150 naked people would be walking through the show, “Naturist Paradises.” I planned to join them. (I thought it would be more awkward to be the only one still clothed.)

But the visit happened to fall during a vacation I’d already planned to take with my mother. I live in London, where I am a general assignment reporter for The New York Times. She lives in New York. Our time together is precious.

I suggested Marseille. The city is vibe-y: great restaurants, great hikes, great wine.

There was just one caveat. I might need to step away one evening to report at Mucem, the Museum of the Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean, there.

My mom, who has long tacked our vacations onto her business trips, nodded.

What’s the story? she asked.