Paris Gay History and Art Tour

Everybody knows that Paris is a fantastic city to visit, with fascinating historic neighborhoods, amazing museums, fabulous shopping, and of course spectacular food. But many people seem not to realize that Paris is also one of the greatest cities of gay history. But so it is: I think Paris has so many other great sides that people almost overlook this one.  France was the first modern country to decriminalize homosexuality—in 1798, almost 2 centuries before the US. And from that time on, it was a relatively free city for gay life, and gay themes appeared more and more openly in French culture.

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Izamal, Mexico – Globetrotter Girls

Izamal - Dani

I still can’t believe I’m in Mexico! This sudden change of travel plans has made me very happy though – I just love this country. This is the third time in the span of a year that I find myself in Mexico – and none of the three trips had been on my agenda originally. However, all three of them turned out to be amazing, including this one, which happens to be another road trip around the Yucatán.

While last year’s road trip was a bit rushed, at only eight days, this time around my friend and I have two entire weeks, which is enough time for a circle around the entire Yucatán peninsula, including some spots I’ve never made it to.

One of those places is Izamal, which is, along with my beloved Valladolid, one of two ‘Pueblos Magicos’, or magic villages on the Yucatán. It’s easy to see why Izamal was declared a ‘magical village’ – a place declared by the Mexican Secretariat of Tourism to be a village that offers visitors a “magical” experience – by reason of their natural beauty, cultural riches, or historical relevance.

And it is easily one of the most beautiful Mexican villages I’ve ever seen. All the buildings are yellow! I could have spent days wandering the streets photographing the beautiful yellow buildings, the only thing that made it hard to stay outside for long periods of time were the defeatingly hot temperatures of 100°F (38°C).

By Dani – Full Story at Globetrotter Girl

Yucatan Gay Travel Resources

Other Gay Travel Events

Gay Friendly Peru Hotels – Nomadic Boys

Gay friendly Peru Hotels

Peru has historically been a very conservative society and quite hostile to its LGBT community. However, very slowly, more and more politicians are coming out in support of legislation favourable to the LGBT community.

More recently, in January 2017, President Kuczynski issued a decree prohibiting all forms of discrimination and hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity – a positive sign of Peru evolving, getting ready to take her place in the pink limelight.

This was also the same time of year we visited Peru and at no point did we have any problems finding hotels who would accept us as a gay couple. This is our 5 favourite and unique gay friendly hotels in Peru, which we tried and loved.

GAY FRIENDLY HOTELS IN LIMA

#1 BTH Hotel

Description: this is a very cool and trendy boutique hotel in the San Borja neighbourhood, close to Miraflores. We particularly love perving on the cute topless guy in their slick promo video. Everything from the decoration to the cute staff here makes you want to dress in your best clothes and spend hours flooding your Instagram gallery. We sure did!

Gay friendly Peru Hotels

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Pery Gay Travel Resources

Other Gay Travel Events

Chilean Machas a la Parmesana – Nomadic Boys

Chilean Machas a la Parmesana

Machas a la parmesana is a classic starter dish in Chile. It is razor clams baked in their shell, mixed with cheese, wine and more, depending on the recipe.

It was created in the 1950s in Viña del Mar by Italian immigrant, Edoardo Melotti Ferrari.

Parmesan cheese is traditionally used, but it can be replaced with the famous Chilean mantecoso. This recipe is courtesy of the Chilean Cooking School who we did a class with in Valparaiso and highly recommend them.

This recipe is enough for 2 people.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Chile Gay Travel Resources

Queer St. Petersburg, Florida

Queer St. Petersburg, Florida

It’s a hot and humid summer night in St. Petersburg, Florida and flood lights are streaming down hard upon Tropicana Field where the Tampa Bay Rays are about to face the San Francisco Giants. Every last ticket has been sold for this home game (a first for the Rays), and thousands are slipping into black T-shirts bearing the team’s signature burst. It’s a night of excitement here in sunny St. Pete, but also one of somber reflection. This is no ordinary baseball game.

Less than one week prior, a 29-year-old gunman rushed into Pulse Nightclub in Orlando (just 105 miles away) and massacred 49 people while wounding 53 others. As a nation grieved, the Rays sprung into action by creating an impromptu Pride Night to benefit the victims and families of the shooting. It included a tribute to the victims, the singing of the national anthem by LGBT choral group Una Voce, a showcasing of the Pride flag on the field, and tens of thousands of fans donning free shirts that read “We Are Orlando” in rainbow colors. It was incredible.

But this is only one reason to love St. Pete, a quirky sun-drenched metropolis whose cultural attractions, stately downtown and LGBT friendliness are often overshadowed by other Florida cities. Some facts about Pinellas County: It is Florida’s second smallest county, but home to nearly one million people and by far the densest in the state. It boasts 35 miles of sandy beaches and a total of 588 miles of coast- line. It is the birthplace of both Wikipedia and Hooters and its mid-June Pride celebration is the largest in the Sunshine State. In short, it’s an interesting place.

I begin my weekend by cruising the Pinellas Byway away from the city and toward my hotel in sunny St. Pete Beach. The tollbooth attendant greets me with a fist bump (an auspicious beginning), and soon I am checking in at the Kimpton Hotel Zamora (3701 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach Tel: 888-809-1588. www.thehotelzamora.com), a Gulf-facing Mediterranean-style resort adorned with dramatic white archways, curvy balcony rails, and gangly palm trees standing guard on all sides. I am checked in by a slender young man and his senior counterpart. I believe both are gay and were handpicked just for my arrival. I enjoy their banter as they check me in (and check me out, if you know what I mean).

By Jason Heidemann – Full Story at Passport Magazine

St. Petersburg Gay Travel Resources

Los Robles, LLC – Savannah, Georgia

Los Robles, LLC

Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:

Los Robles was built in 1905 by a rice baron and has weathered many lives since the family left the house in the 1950’s. Richard & Robert bought the house in 2003 and named it Los Robles (Spanish for The Oaks).

They began hosting guests in December, 2010 and today Los Robles has three bedrooms for guests (two queen bedrooms and one king bedroom) that share two baths on the second floor.

The first floor offers guests a large parlor living room and a smaller library for relaxation and reading, a grand dining room and a front palazzo to enjoy the outside. Kitchen facilities are not available to guests.

Savannah, GA (1733) is probably the most beautiful historic small city in the United States. Los Robles (1905) is a historic residence in the Victorian/Thomas Square district of downtown Savannah, just 1.7 miles from River Street and the Savannah River. Between Los Robles and the river you can explore Forsyth Park and the Landmark Historic District laid out in a logical grid of over 20 squares. The only city in the world designed this way.

Savannah offers many varied restaurants and drinking establishments (Savannah is the Hostess City of the South), great shopping and you may carry your drink on the streets between stops. Trolly tours, carriage tours, bike and walking tours of the city’s history and sights are always available as well as many ghost tours (Savannah is the most haunted city in the USA). A stay of at least two to three days is recommended to take in the full beauty and charm of Savannah.

Come and immerse yourself in a city of history, beautiful architecture, Live Oak tress dripping with Spanish Moss and Southern Hospitality at Los Robles.

See the Los Robles, LLC Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in Georgia.

Eating Out: Barcelona

Barcelona - Pixabay

According to an August 2015 report from LGBT Capital, an investment firm based in London and Hong Kong focused on the LGBT consumer market, Spain is Europe’s most valuable LGBT travel destination, with in-bound gay and lesbian visitors pumping in some $6.8 billion to the economy. That puts Spain second behind the US ($21.5 billion) among the 14 global nations counted in the report.

From Alicante to Zaragoza, Spain calls gay travelers to some 11 destinations country wide, but few come as hot as beautiful Barcelona. From bustling Eixample (locally, Gaixample), the city’s gay epicenter to the nude beaches of seaside gay-magnet Sitges, southwest of the city, Catalonia’s capital sizzles year-round.

With flamboyant fiestas including the legendary Sitges Carnival (February), Bear Pride (March), Pride Barcelona (late June into early July), and wild Circuit Festival (which celebrated its 10th anniversary this August) for visitors to enjoy, count Barcelona’s globally recognized culinary scene among the seductions, too.

From its beachfront snack bars (xiringuitos) to its 23 Michelin-starred restaurants, Barcelona’s food scene runs as hot as its men. Even going for coffee here is on an amorous level, per the Catalan phrase “Fotem un café?” or “Let’s make love to a coffee.” On that appetite-whetting possibility alone, here are just a few of the myriad ways to eat your heart out in Barcelona.

LA BOQUERIA

LA BOQUERIA - BarcelonaWith Catalonia designated the European Region of Gastronomy for 2016, Catalan cuisine, reaching back to medieval days has lasting African and Arabic influences, exemplifying the saying that “the history of the world is found on the plate.”

Based primarily on ingredients cultivated, foraged, and harvested from Catalonia’s bountiful seas, valleys, and mountains, the Catalan menu dances to its own exotic beat. Typically cooked in wine, brandy, or extra-virgin olive oil from some of the oldest olive trees in Europe, Catalan dishes characteristically contrast sweet and spicy or sweet and sour accents.

By Jeff Hailman – Full Story at Passport

Barcelona Gay Travel Resources

Visiting Lake Titicaca – Nomadic Boys

Lake Titicaca - Nomadic Boys

When we were planning our trip to Peru, we were close to skipping Lake Titicaca altogether, mainly because of all the bad press it receives about being so touristy. But if you avoid the tourist traps, you will discover some of the most beautiful, serene and tranquil places in Peru, such as Amantaní island. You can have an authentic experience, living within a welcoming community, rich with culture and no foreigners for miles.

Lake Titicaca is considered to be the origin of the Inca civilisation, where the creator god, Viracocha made the moon, sun and stars from the islands in the centre of this large lake. It is also believed to be the birthplace of the first Inca king, Manco Capac, the sun god’s son.

Lake Titicaca - Nomadic Boys

Lake Titicaca straddles the border of Peru and Bolivia at an altitude of 3,800 metres (12,500 feet). It is not only the world’s highest lake, but also one of the oldest, thought to be over 1 million years old. There are several indigenous communities living here, the most prominent are the Uros in the floating man-made islands, the Quechua speakers of Amantaní Island and the Taquile people of Taquile island.

Lake Titicaca gets a bad reputation mainly because of the Floating Islands of the Uros people. Most tour companies in Puno will sell you a day trip to the Uros Islands with promises of a unique and authentic indigenous experience. Regrettably, you won’t get it here.

You can’t help feel like it is completely staged and orchestrated for tourists. The experience involves a 30 minutes well rehearsed talk about their way of life and how the islands are made. Then you’re swiftly directed to their handicraft souvenirs and invited to take a $25 tour in their water taxis. Unfortunately, they are quite pushy with the way this is done, which makes you doubt the authenticity of it all.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at SOURCE

Peru Gay Travel Resources

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Denver Museum of Nature and Science

When we were recently in Denver we visited the Denver Museum of Nature and Science which is a remarkable museum for everyone to visit. It is one of the finest such museums in the country. The Museum has been there since 1908.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceAmong the many wonderful things to see at the museum are the world famous wildlife dioramas. They have specimens from six continents. The dioramas have re-created the habitats using paneled backgrounds, special lights and carefully crafted reproductions of plants and flowers . The Museum has 89 wildlife dioramas.

Among the dozens of different things that the museum has are a Planetarium, IMAX Theatre as well as exhibits on everything concerning nature and science including space. Needless to say, this is a VERY LARGE museum full of thousands of things to see. While we were there, they had a very special exhibit, VIKINGS: Beyond the Legend that included a very large collection of items and the visitor’s stood in long lines to get a glimpse of the exhibit.

It was VERY popular for young and old alike. The exhibition takes you back to Scandinavia in 750 to 1100 CE. The exhibits includes examples of the work of highly skilled craftspeople who used textiles, wood, metal, bone, leather, glass and ceramics to create pieces for domestic life, ornamentation as well as what they used in battle. It will take you several hours to visit the museum so be sure and give yourself enough time. They also have a cafe and gift shop.

The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Boulevard just east of downtown and you can visit their website, http://www.dmns.org.which will give you full details about their exhibits. The museum is open 7 days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM. Their phone number is 303 . 370 . 6000 and a very special THANK YOU to Maura O’Neal in the Press Department at the Museum.

Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceAfter you spend your day at the Museum you will be ready for a very delightful dining experience and we can not think of anyplace better than RACINES RESTAURANT which is located just southeast of downtown and a few blocks northwest of the Cherry Creek shopping district of Denver.  Their address is 650 Sherman Street and call 303 . 595 . 0418 to make reservations. Check out their website at www.racinesrestaurant.com.

This is a fine upscale restaurant and has been welcoming guests since 1983. They are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night. You can dine at the bar or a booth, however we prefer dining at a table and their dining room has a great  warm atmosphere.  They also have an outdoor patio which is always packed on nice days. They have free parking in their garage next door with valet parking. They are open Monday thru Thursday from 7 AM to 10 PM, Friday hours are from 7 AM to 11 PM, Saturday hours are 8 AM to 11 PM and Sunday hours are 8 AM to 10 PM.

Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceThey offer a complete menu to please any guest. We started off with their French Onion soup which was prepared perfect followed by a salad and then for our entree we had the lamb shank which was prepared perfectly. For dessert we had a banana cream pie and key lime pie. Table service was impeccable! Our server, Sam knew exactly how to take care of patrons and she was an extremely professional server. The restaurant was packed with patrons who were all enjoying their dining experience.

In our travels from coast to coast we dine at a lot of different restaurants.

Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceJust because a building has four walls, some tables and chairs and a freezer/refrigerator full of food, does not make a great restaurant.  To have a great restaurant it is all about the people involved in the restaurant… the owners, the manager, the chefs, cooks, servers, host and bartenders. Racines has it all!

The manager, Ms. Baker has been with the restaurant for years and years and she knows the proper way to run a restaurant as does the owners. It is such a joy to have a wonderful dining experience and Racines knows exactly what to do to make their guests happy. They have a huge following that dines with them all the time.  Thanks Racines and thanks to the owners and to Ms. Baker and staff for having such a great restaurant! This is certainly a MUST DINE AT restaurant in Denver. This is THE place to be and to be seen and to mingle with other guests.

Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married).

Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

Colorado Gay Travel Resources

Weekend in San Jose, California – Keep Calm and Wander

San Jose, California San Jose is a great place for a weekend getaway. As the center of Silicon Valley, the city is packed with surprises you’d never experience in other California cities. San Jose offers more than the prestige of Silicon Valley, though. It’s a cultural hub, too. If you go around the city, you’ll find interesting historical gems that make the city culturally unique. Here’s how you can spend your perfect weekend escape in vibrant San Jose, California’s first state capital. A great way to start your weekend is a visit to the Tech Museum of Innovation in Silicon Valley, the most innovative place on earth. Whether you’re a geek, a nerd, or somewhere in between, this museum is for both children and adults. It’s educational, informative, interactive, and entertaining. You’ll have so much fun here that you won’t notice how fast time flies. For lunch, fill your tummy with glorious seafood at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant and enjoy the spectacular view of the city and surrounding hills from the sixth floor. After lunch, visit the Winchester Mystery for its bizarre architecture. It’s said that the house is haunted, and to understand the house’s history and intriguing fame, you should join the Mansion Tour. From there, take a lift to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph which has been rebuilt five times. Even if you aren’t religious, you’ll be amazed looking up at the stained glass windows and antique pipe organs. Before sunset, take a stroll through Willow Glen, with tree-lined streets, cafés, and bars. Take notice of the charming architecture here, too. In the evening, check out the Original Gravity Public House if you like beer. There’s a rotating menu of both local and international craft beer. This place also serves high-quality gourmet sausages.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

South Bay Gay Travel Resources

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