Masterpieces of the Louvre – Keep Calm and Wander

Masterpieces of the Louvre - Keep Calm and Wander

The Louvre Museum is the world’s largest art museum. It is renowned for Leonardo Da Vinci’s, Monalisa. If you only have limited time to spare inside, here are 10 masterpieces not to miss at Louvre Museum in Paris.

Ideally, this museum should not be seen in rush. There’s so much to see here and I’d say that spending a half day here would be great! If you’re really into arts, then spending a whole day here would be a day you won’t forget. The Louvre Museum is beyond Monalisa. There are certain rooms and galleries that have only few people – where you can be almost alone with the works of the master artists.

Tips in Visiting the Louvre Museum. I have three tips for you. First, buy the ticket online to avoid the line. Second, go early to avoid the crowd. Make it your very first thing to do in the morning. Third, get the audio guide to get the story / descriptions of each masterpiece – in your language of choice.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Paris Gay Travel Resources

Paris Gay Games – Summer 2018

Paris Gay Games 2018

The world’s LGBTQ communities will come together this August in beautiful Paris, for the 10th iteration of the Gay Games. Already, Paris has 5,000 athletes registered—a higher amount than previous hosts have reported this early in the process. Athletics and aquatics are the most popular sports, and golf is already sold out.

Organizers say they have more than 800 volunteers and a large number of organizational partners helping with Gay Games 10. They are confident in attracting more participants than previous hosts. The maximum capacity is 15,000 participants, and Paris officials say they expect 40,000 visitors—and some 300,000 spectators.

We spoke with Manuel Picaud, the co-président of Paris 2018, to get the scoop on the event.

TP: How will the Paris Gay Games differ from past iterations of the Games?

MP: Paris 2018 will host the first Gay Games in a French-speaking country—the same country where the Olympics were born. France is very passionate about sports. It will also be the site of the Olympics in 2024, the Rugby World Cup in 2023, the Golf Ryder Cup in 2018 and the Women’s World Championship of Soccer or Handball in 2019.

Gay Games in Paris will also be for the first time in a real capital city, in a city of culture and of art de vivre. Paris 2018–Gay Games 10 is also organized by a federation of organizations that has never been seen before. That means organizers have huge experience with organizing large sporting and cultural events like the International Tournament of Paris for 15 years.

And many national sports federations are committed to the success of the Gay Games. Finally, never has a city had such institutional support even from the President of the Republic (high patronage), the national and regional governments and, of course, the City of Paris.

By Paul Heney – Full Story at Travel Pulse

Paris Gay Travel Resources

Most Popular Paris Queer Friendly Hotels – Gay Star News

Paris queer friendly hotels - pixabay

If you’ve never been to Paris before, there is an enormous list of must-do tourist essentials that will easily fill your time during your stay. Climb the Eiffel Tower. Wander around the Louvre. Stroll along the Seine. Sit in cafe and look intellectual…
But Paris is more than just the obvious sightseeing cliches. Each time that you return to this city you discover a little more, experience something different, and immerse yourself in the day-to-day rhythm of the French capital.

One of the key ingredients for a great Paris experience is the right accommodation.
You need something that’s within your budget. You’ll also need a location that puts you in the heart of the action. If you’re an LGBTI traveler, then you’re going to want a hotel that’s happy to welcome you.

We’ve checked the available statistics and consulted a few experts to see which hotels in Paris are currently the most popular with LGBTI visitors:

Hotel du Vieux Saule: Popular, great-value hotel in the heart of Le Marais.

By Gareth Johnson – Full Story at Gay Star News

Paris Gay Travel Resources

Paris Day Trip – Paris Gay Friendly Tours

Paris Day TripParis-Day-Trip is a french company based in Paris. We provide private tours around Paris and surroundings using our own guides and vehicles. Our main concern is to give the customers a full understanding of what they see in a fun, hassle-free and confortable way. We take care of everything 😉

A licensed official guide comes to your hotel to pick you up in a premium car or van, drives you to the museum, castle, landmark, and guides you inside. The entrance to landmarks where cues are expected are always scheduled to avoid lines.

We are used to work with customer requesting hight standards.

See the Paris Day Trip Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Paris Day Trip Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Inside the Palace of Versailles – Keep Calm and Wander

Palace of Versailles, the Hall of Mirrors

Out of the 700 rooms inside the Palace of Versailles, the Hall of Mirrors is the grandest of them all! If you don’t find it stunning or be blown away by its frescoes and craftsmanship of every thing inside, I’m not sure if you’re still human. LOL… It is here where I spent a long time gazing up at the frescoes from end to end. They’re just not interesting but they also seem to be alive!

The Frescoes. The paintings on the vaulted ceiling shows the political successes of France under the royal leadership of Louis XIV. Their colours are as bright as they were before and you can’t help but look at them with great admiration.

This 73-meter Hall of Mirrors used to be a balcony of the palace overlooking the royal gardens. It connects the Queen and the King’s apartments. But, because of bad weather, the design was changed in 1678 to become what it is today. It took 6 years to build it.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Paris Gay Travel Resources

Visiting the Moulin Rouge – Keep Calm and Wander

Moulin Rouge - Paris - Alain

Moulin Rouge needs no introduction. Especially, if you’ve seen the award winning movie of the same name, starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. I’ve seen it three times because I used it in my class back then. The movie fascinated me, partly because my favourite colour is red. LOL Ok, well, because I’m an Ewan fan, that’s why.

So, one early morning (2AM) in Paris, after dropping off a friend of mine at her hotel, I walked for 3 kilometres. The subways were already closed and I had no choice but walk. Armed with a google map on my phone, I braved to walk, instead of taking a bus for two transfers before reaching my destination. Fortunately, google maps felt that I was nervous walking alone in such ungodly hours in a big city. The app led and showed me to well-lit streets, where the bars and cafes were still littered with people. Some of them were hanging out outside, enjoying a fag and a joint. Then, I realized that I was in a bar district where the famed Moulin Rouge still stands.

I intended to visit Moulin Rouge at night, but I unintentionally found it in an hour I didn’t expect. No, I had no plan to watch the cabaret shows because I can’t afford it. It was already enough for me to stand outside and gaze at the big, red windmill on the roof that’s still spinning.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Paris Gay Travel Resources

The Pyramids of the Louvre – Keep Calm and Wander

Pyramids of the Louvre

The Pyramids of the Louvre Museum are Photogenic at Night – so forget about Monalisa. There are only few people visiting the famed museum in Paris at night and you can get all the selfies you want. Seeing Monalisa? Ha! Good luck getting a good view and a selfie with her.

The Louvre Pyramid is also a beauty during the day. But, I didn’t have that same feeling of awe while visiting it at night. It’s really a good thing that on my first night in Paris, I went here and boy, I was flabbergasted. It’s a postcard perfect view wherever you’ll be and whichever angle you’ll take.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Paris Gay Travel Resources

The Eiffel Tower – Keep Calm and Wander

Eiffel Tower - Alain

There’s no doubt that the magnificent Eiffel Tower is France’s most photographed and most visited attraction. You’ve never been to Paris if you’ve never seen or visited the Eiffel Tower. And when you’re in font of the towering structure, what would you do?

Strike a pose. Take a selfie. Ask a stranger to take a photo of you. Or in my case, set up the tripod and click the timer. Then pose, like nobody is watching.

The magnificent Eiffel Tower needs no introduction. We all know what it is and we all dream to conquer it one day. Whether you look at it from afar or stand at the bottom of it, this masterpiece will sweep off your feet away. Boy, it did to me! Can you imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower? I can’t.

By Alain – Full Story at keep Calm and Wander

Paris Gay Travel Resources

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.

Read more

The Blue Walk – Lesbian Tour Operator

The Blue Walk Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay: Travel at the speed of you. Leave the tour buses behind. With The Blue Walk discover new places, have authentic experiences, and reconnect with a simpler way of moving through life. Enjoy leisurely, small-group, walking vacations along beautiful coastlines, village squares, and open spaces of Europe. Less about history or architecture, our passion is sharing the sights and surroundings of select destinations. Live large on the French Riviera, tour Northern Italy via rail, island hop through Greece. Discover the meditative quality of walking by large, lovely bodies of water, the expansiveness of taking in the canopy of blue sky. Take time on your own to explore an out of the way gem or sit quietly over a coastal outcrop. It’s your vacation. We create opportunities for unique experiences that touch the heart and mind to be remembered long after returning home. No hiking boots or backpacks required, just lovely walking trails, coastal meandering, and urban strolling. Based in 4 and 5-star hotels, travel with a friendly group of like-minded people who soon become friends. Our vacations, perfect for couples, multi-generational, friends, and solo-travelers alike, are designed with lots of options to serve a variety of activity levels.

See the Blue Walk Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

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