Salento Gallipoli, The Beautiful City – The Scruffy Italian Traveler

Salento Gallipoli If you have already been to Salento Gallipoli is for sure very familiar to you! Gallipoli in ancient Greek means The Beautiful City: and yes it is a beautiful city indeed! The ancient Greeks knew Gallipoli very well! Nowadays well known as the pearl of the Ionian Sea, and somehow the capital of Salento Gallipoli was one of the main ports of the so called Magna Graecia: it was a very important due to its strategic position by the sea. The beautiful city of Gallipoli has seen many different population on its soil: Vandals, Goths, Bizantines, Messapic, Normans, all lived in different periods in this area, but for sure were the Greeks to leave the biggest footprint. By the way, where the hell is Gallipoli? In Puglia, of course! To be more precise in Salento Gallipoli is located about 30 Kilometers South West of Lecce. It is a pretty big town, featuring an amazing old town, connected through the main street, Corso Roma, to the modern part of the town. Corso Roma is the promenade, where the locals and tourists usually go for an evening stroll (in italian we call it struscio), meet friends for an aperitif, or go for some shopping: it is the main center of the city, where during summer you can find also plenty of buskers entertaining the visitors.

By Sergio Scardia – Full Story at The Scruffy Italian Traveler

Apulia Gay Travel Resources

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Thirteen Surprising Things About Berlin – Globetrotter Girls

Berlin - Dani I’ve talked about Berlin a lot on this site, providing you with some useful guides for the city (check out:

…but returning after a year, several first-time visitors in tow, I noticed that there are quite a few things that I’ve never shared with you: The things I find surprising about Berlin, and the things people I show around find surprising and interesting. So without further ado, here are 13 things about Berlin that I find surprising and that might surprise you, too: 1 BERLIN IS THE VEGAN CAPITAL OF EUROPE This one is surprising – who would’ve thought that you’d find one of Europe’s most vegan-friendly cities in meat loving Germany? It seems like vegan cafes, bars and restaurants are popping up everywhere around the city, but I was skeptical when my friend Sam told me that Berlin was the vegan capital of Europe. A quick Google search revealed that he was correct though, and Berlin is in fact the city with more vegan restaurants than any other city in Europe, according to CNN. Germany’s first vegan supermarket chain, Veganz, was founded here, and Berlin is home to the biggest vegan festival in all of Europe. You can get vegan versions of the meat dishes that Berlin is famous for, doner and curry wurst, and you can get pretty much anything vegan: wine, cheese, ice cream, pizza… There are vegan versions of everything, and then there are of course the 60+ purely vegan restaurants and cafes in the city.

By Dani – Full Story at Globetrotter Girls

Germany Gay Travel Resources

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Cycling Catalonia

Cycling Catalonia We all know that Ibiza, Gran Canaria and Sitges are the holy trinity of Spain’s LGBTI holiday destinations. Look at what most gay tour operators offer and you’d be forgiven for thinking this was all Spain consisted of. Bustling beaches, a club on every corner and mornings spent nursing a hangover. And then there’s Barcelona. We’ve all been there and loved every minute. But what if you want a break from the bars a real getaway? Is there an alternative? We packed our bags and cycled across Spain to find out.

Cycling Catalonia

Putting Barcelona, the regional capital, firmly to one side, we opted for the Undiscovered Southern Catalonia (or Catalunya) package and began our eight-day route in the seaside town of LAmpolla [above], near Spains famous Ebro Delta. The Delta is hugely important to Spain. Not only is it the country’s second biggest rice provider but it also hosts over half of Europe’s bird species throughout the year from sparrows to flamingos.

Full Story at Gay Star News

Catalonia Gay Travel Resources

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Gay Gran Canaria – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Gran Canaria Gran Canaria is a notorious gay destination in Europe, specifically in Playa del Ingles in the South. The island has always been a beacon of tolerance whilst in the olden days, mainland Spain used to have an extremely hostile conservative attitude led by the Catholic Church. The Canary Islands were a popular place to exile people who broke social rules and thought differently. During the harsh, repressive Franco years, Gran Canaria was too far away from the mainland to bother with, so they turned a blind eye to homosexuality there. From the 1960s, tourism really started to take off, attracting more and more foreigners and therefore even more tolerant attitudes. Today, the island is a playground for the gay boys, particularly in the famous Yumbo Centre a shopping mall in Playa del Ingles full of mainly gay bars, clubs and boutique Clone Zone type shops. Theres so many gay hangouts in Yumbo Centre to choose from, we’ve sifted through some of our favourites in our gay guide to the best gay bars, clubs and events in Gran Canaria.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Canary Islands Gay Travel Resources

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Gay Amsterdam – The Scruffy Italian Traveler

Gay Amsterdam - The Scruffy Italian Traveler Amsterdam is not a huge city, so I was surprised by the amount of gay bars and clubs of the city: there is something for every taste! Yes Gay Amsterdam has a lot to offer! The city throws one of the best Gay Prides too! Its doesnt run on the streets, but on the canals: it is a procession of boats, really unique! This year, 2016, Amsterdam hosts the Europride, so an even bigger crown than usual is expected! Most of the gay scene happen in the center of the city. There are a few hot-spots where most of the gay bars are concentrated: the choice is very vast. Amsterdam is the ideal location if you are into bar hopping, like me: as you know Scruffy Gios is a professional gay bars hopper 🙂 This is the Scruffy Guide to the top 5 bars in Gay Amsterdam!

Gay Amsterdam – Taboo

This is the perfect bar where to start your bar hopping! But I recommend you to visit it also a few different times along the way! Taboo is a very relaxed gay bar located on the main Amsterdam gay street, Reguliersdwarsstraat. It has an excellent happy hour in the afternoon ! This is the reason why it gets busy pretty early: plenty of professionals flock to this bar soon after work for a chilled pint or two. In summer, and anyway on a sunny afternoon, its terrace get very crowded: try it on a hot Summer Sunday night! Its relaxed atmosphere makes it the perfect bar to enjoy a chat with a few strangers and some hotties! The place gets also busy at night, during the happy hour at 2 am: of course I took advantage of it, just before heading to other bars!

By Sergio Scardia – Full Story at The Scruffy Italian Traveler

Gay Amsterdam Travel Resources

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Five Things You Didn't Know About Gran Canaria – Nomadic Boys

Nomadic Boys - Gran Canaria When we told our friends we were going to Gran Canaria for a summer break, the reaction went along the lines of… “You’d better return with plenty of STDs otherwise it NEVER happened!” OR: “Oh yeah Gran Canaria… one of my mates came back absolutely RUINED – literally: he got pissed with a few blokes he met in the sand dunes and ended up spending the entire night there!” Gran Canaria certainly has a fierce reputation and is hugely popular with the gay boy party crowd. And for good reason: Maspaloma Pride is one of Europe’s largest annual gay events. The beach near the sand dunes of Playa del Ingles is THE place to hang out during the day and then it’s on to the infamous Yumbo Centre in the evening – a shopping mall gay playground filled with bars, clubs and Clone Zone type shops. However, there is a completely different side to the island, begging to be discovered. Most will base themselves in Playa del Ingles and not make it past Yumbo or the sand dunes. So here’s our 5 things you didn’t know about Gran Canaria to inspire you to venture out beyond the pink Playa Del Ingles bubble.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Canary Islands Gay Travel Resources

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In Love With Iceland

Iceland I’ve fallen for this island nation, and I’ve fallen hard. My first visit in 2009 has resulted in two subsequent visits, and I can’t help but dream about a return. I am not the only one. Iceland’s charms have long bewitched travelers. From the first Norse explorers who settled upon the land in the North Atlantic and built a society to the Americans who were stationed here during World War II and never returned back to America, the island beckons. An Off-Broadway play by Drew Larimore titled Out of Iceland, which starred openly lesbian singer/comedienne Lea DeLaria, also noted this magical draw Iceland has on visitors. The protagonists find themselves both mysteriously pulled to Iceland’s center. Larimore explains the island’s magnetism with Iceland’s colorful folklore including the people’s wide-spread belief in hidden people, trolls, and elves–some can’t help but think that maybe there is something bigger than us that attracts us to the land of fire and ice. It’s not just magical hidden people that bring visitors to Iceland, the men and women here have been known to hold special powers as well, or more likely overpowering charisma. A visit reveals ex-pats living all over Reykjavik. Manny S. originally visited from Chicago, but ultimately stayed for an attractive job and an equally attractive man. “I was first interested in Iceland because of the music scene. Many of my favorite bands came from this tiny country, so I decided to come for the Iceland Airwaves music festival. I loved everything about Iceland on my first trip here!” he says. “In the following year, I returned to Iceland twice to drive around the country and meet more people.” Sitting next to him, his partner Pall grabs his leg to get his attention. “Little did I know that I would soon meet the man who would become my husband and am still happily living in Reykjavik after eight years,” the two smile at one another. They aren’t the only ones; it’s easy to see mixed-national couples all over. Just look for the couples speaking English. It’s easier for the Icelandic partner to just speak English as Icelandic is notoriously hard to learn and converse in (though Manny has picked it up after eight years). What was once a not-so-easy-to-get-to destination, the country is now embracing its mid-Atlantic location by attracting large numbers of tourists from both North America and Europe. IcelandAir has increased its service from the United States and Canada, and last year opened up a new direct service from Denver.

By Joseph Pedro – Full Story at Passport

Iceland Gay Travel Resources

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Ah, Firenze! – Dolly Travels

Duomo - FlorenceYes! We are in Firenze….that is Florence, in English. Florence is my favorite city in Italy. Although I do enjoy being in most of the other Italian cities, Florence is the place where I feel like I have come home again. Florence is not as big as Rome, and its historical treasures are more recent than Rome’s. While Rome was the center of civilization in its time, Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance; art, literature, music, the architecture of the grand palaces are the treasures here. We had reservations at the Accademia Galleria for 9:00 a.m. Last Friday. We got there early and the guard let us in. We had the place almost to ourselves for twenty minutes or more. We were able to see Michelangelo’s “David” without so many other tourists in the hall. I have seen this statue many times, but I never get tired of looking at that guy. The workmanship still amazes me. The muscles of his torso and limbs are so well defined. The veins in his hands, arms and feet stand out. I know I could start an IV in that right hand without a problem. Then there is the Duomo. We walked past here our first night back in Florence. The beauty of this cathedral still brings tears to my eyes. Our apartment is not far from the Duomo, so we walk past it every day. However, this nighttime view is one of my favorites. Only a few people were out that night and there was no traffic. Our view was unobstructed as we walked around the church. Getting around Florence by foot is really quite simple. Florence is not hilly like Rome, and most of the must-see sights are within a short walking distance from the center of the old city. Piazzale Michelangelo is one exception, though. It sits high on a hill, overlooking the Arno River. Getting there is quite a hike; however, the views from the piazza are worth the trip. If one really doesn’t want to walk up the hill, city buses make that trip frequently. The white church on the hill is San Miniato, just above Piazzale Michelangelo. Today we outdid ourselves. This is our last full day in Florence. We started our day early, getting to the Uffizi Gallery for our 9:00 appointment by 8:20. Once again, we were early, and the door guard let us in. The Uffizi has the largest collection of Italian art in the world, so going there is a must. We went straight to the Botticelli room, as that room can get so crowded that it is impossible to see anything. After two hours in the Uffizi, we went to the Bargello Gallery then to Santa Croce church, where many famous Florentines are interred. Among them: Leonardo di Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo, Macchiavelli, the composer Rossini, plus a large monument to Dante Allegheri, father of the Italian language, though he is not buried here. Frank wanted to go to our favorite leather shop, so we did that. Frank made a purchase and we visited with the owner, who, like several others in Florence, have become our friends. So now we are going to relax for a bit, then prepare dinner, as our friends, Massimo and Magda, are coming here for dinner. Tomorrow we will leave Florence and go to Venice for a few days. Our trip is going by quickly. There is always some place that we want to see that has to be bypassed, as we simply run out of time. However, life is good. Being in Italy is indeed “la dolce vita”, the sweet life. Until next time, Ciao for now, Dolly

By Dolly Goolsby – Full Story at Dolly Travels

Florence Gay Travel Resources

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Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast – Dolly Travels

Sorrento Sorrento is a lovely coastal town, nestled in the southern shore of the Bay of Naples. The city itself is narrow and long, with many hills, narrow, winding streets, walled pathways leading to Marina Piccola on the eastern side and to Marina Grande, the old Fisherman’s Village, on the western side. Hotels in the center of town are on fairly level ground, with most of them having lush gardens and some with swimming pools. Other hotels are up on the cliffs, high above the city, but the view of the bay from those cliff side hotels are incredibly breathtaking. Sorrento is the birthplace of limoncello, that delicious lemon liqueur. Lemon and orange groves are abundant throughout this region of Southern Italy, with lemon groves outnumbering the oranges. The trees bloom and produce fruit year round. Limoncello is made from the peel of a knobby yellow fruit, which has such an intense flavor. The seductive, addictive lemon flavor surfaces in many foods, many specialties of the region. One of my favorite desserts: lemon sorbet with limoncello poured over, plus ice cold limoncello to sip. In the background you can see Frank’s dessert: light, airy sponge cake with lemon cream filling, topped with whipped cream and wild strawberries. It doesn’t get any better than this. These desserts were the finale for a delicious seafood dinner at our favorite restaurant in Sorrento, Ristorante Delfino in Marina Grande. Other food specialties are cheeses made from the milk of water buffalo that are raised in the countryside south of Amalfi. These animals were originally imported from India. Now raising them iin Campania is a huge enterprise. We went to our second favorite restaurant in Sorrento, called Inn Bufalita, that specializes in all things buffalo. We had a salad made with cherry tomatoes, small balls of Bufalo mozzarella, fresh basil and arugula. That was fantastic, Frank had a buffalo steak, which did not impress him. When we went to Paestum, I asked Raffaele, our driver, if he knew where the “buffalo roamed”. Laughing, Raffaele told me that many people have images in their minds about the milk coming from the American Bison. “I always explain that this milk and the milk products come from the water buffalo, but somehow many people cannot connect water buffalo with this southern region of Italy”, he told me. Then he asked if I would like to see the animals. “Of course!”, I replied. Raffaele drove us out to one of the farms. There the buffalo are kept in large enclosures, but that ensures that they only eat the food provided by the farm. Raffaele then told us that, just like clockwork, when it is milking time, the animals start heading for the milking shed. “The buffalo are very organized and time conscious”, he said. There you have it; my love of the food of this Amalfi-Sorrento region is one of the many reasons that I will keep returning. Most of my readers are well aware that I am an incorrigible “foodie”, so you will probably read more about food while I am on this trip. Until next time, Arriverderci, tutti. Dolly

By Dolly Gollsby – Full Story at Dolly Travels

Campania Gay Travel Resources

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Flemish Fairy Tale Town Of Bruges Is Europe’s Hidden Travel Gem

Bruges The above picture perfectly captures an impossibly quaint, engaging side to Bruges. But it’s not the side of the city I was initially introduced to. I arrived in here alone, by train, at 11pm one perfectly clear, chilly Friday night in March – without currency, a map, or phone battery. Go me. No matter, I told myself. I’d soon find my hotel. The seventh largest ‘city’ in Belgium (population 120,000) is actually tiny and thus, I hoped, instinctively easy to navigate. Failing that, I’d ask a passerby for directions. Until I realized there weren’t any. No traffic, no pedestrians, no cyclists – there weren’t even any lights on in any of the charming townhouses I was admiring. A friend later explained, Bruges just doesn’t have the nighttime drinking culture I’m used to (in London at least). It was as if the entire town was asleep. It reminded me of Christmas Eve, or a childhood tale of an enchanted town: at once magical and eerie, and so, so understated. Note: not boring, understated. In all honestly, it was one of the most surreal travel experiences of my life.

By Jamie Tabberer – Full Story at Gay Star News

Belgium Gay Travel Resources

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