Kansas City: The World War One Museum

World War One Museum We just recently got back from a trip to Kansas City, Missouri. We’d never been there before – it’s a beautiful city, with some great surprises in store for the traveler. World War One MuseumThe first of these we’re sharing is the World War I Museum. It sits on a grassy hillside in the middle of midtown, an impressive structure topped by a beautiful tower and a pair of giant sphinxes. I’ll admit, I don’t know much about World War I. I’m sure I learned about it back in high school, but boy is there a lot to learn and see. World War One MuseumThe museum has a number of parts – the main museum, accessed from the southern side of the structure, is a museum in the round, with several films to show you what life was like at the time, and many galleries leading you through the war year by year. World War One MuseumAs you enter, you see a glass bridge over a muddy field filled with poppies – an eerie sight – especially when you find out that there are 9,000 of them, and that each one represents 1,000 soldiers who died during the war. It turns out that poppies are one of the only things that will grow on a battlefield, because they thrive on the minerals in bones and explosives. World War One MuseumThere are also big guns, military vehicles, scale models of airplanes, and tons and tons of war paraphernalia. World War One MuseumOutside, there are two additional galleries, and the tower itself, which you can enter and climb to the top via elevator for some amazing views of Kansas City. There’s also another gallery below ground that shows the war from the German point of view. World War One Museum world-war-one-museum-10One of the things I learned (or relearned) – the US entered the war in 1917 after the British discovered a cable (message) to Mexico from Germany, encouraging Mexico to attack the US if the US entered the war, and promising to give Mexico the states if Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. It never came to pass, and in fact gave the President the impetus to bring the country into the war. But my childhood could have been quite a bit different. This is an amazing museum. You can spend a whole day here if you want, but allow at least 2-3 hours to explore. World War One Museum

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Highlights On the Way to Fethiye, Turkey

Turkey TurkeyMarmaris is a natural deep water harbour. Ferries link the Turkish mainland at Marmaris with the Greek Island of Rhodes. This is also an excellent starting point for a cruise east to Fethiye. Marmaris is now a very lively tourist town with many bars, restaurants and hotels. Perhaps you might spend a couple of days there before boarding? The change in atmosphere and environment will be striking! Marmaris TurkeyMarmaris may have lost some of its natural beauty because of its rapid development but there are still a few things to see as you start your Marmaris Fethiye Gulet Cruise.

  • Cleopatra Island in the Gulf of Gokova has both Greek and Roman ruins. Its real name is Sedir but it gets its nickname because it is said that Mark Anthony had fine sand delivered to create a lovely beach for his Egyptian lover.
  • Cennet (Turkish for ‘’paradise’’) Island is in fact a peninsula but not really accessible by land so your cruise gives you the chance to see it.
Your Route TurkeyCruises are full board with fresh local produce at every meal. You may try to catch dinner one day because there are plenty of fish in the sea. If you are unlucky you will not go hungry with the captain likely to BBQ lamb, chicken or both instead. TurkeyAs you head east you will immediately be struck by the natural beauty of the coastline. There are many coves and certainly two points of real interest very quickly.
  • Ekincik is a popular place to anchor. There is a small beach, hotel, restaurant and bar. You may decide it is a nice spot to spend the night.
  • Only a short distance further there is the famous Iztuzu Beach. It is a protected area because it is a nesting site for the endangered loggerhead turtle. By day it is a stretch of 5 kilometres of sand. Behind the beach is the delta of the Dalyan River which has come from the inland lake of Koycegiz, past the famous Lycian rock tombs and the ruins of the ancient port of Kaunos.
  • TurkeySarigerme a little way on has a nice beach but with the independence of your own boat you can drop anchor in any of the small coves en route.
  • As you sailturkey.com you can also enjoy the small islands that form a very popular day trip for those staying on the mainland. The 12 Islands Tour begins either in Gocek, a small town with an impressive marina or in Fethiye which is your final destination on this cruise.
Fethiye Fethiye is another town that has expanded tremendously as tourist numbers have increased. The population that includes the outlying villages and resorts is now approaching 150,000 and those number increase dramatically during the summer months. TurkeyWhile you are still on board there are a few places to see before exploring Fethiye on land later. One of those places is Tersane Island which was home to Greeks before the formation of the Turkish Republic in 1923. It has been uninhabited ever since though there are some tourist facilities manned during the summer. It is a chance to explore and have a final swim during your cruise. Incidentally a more famous Greek settlement is nearby; Kayakoy was abandoned at the same time. It is a popular tourist destination and restaurants cater for visitors from Fethiye which is perhaps 20 minutes’ away. That is a place to see at the end of your memorable cruise. Once you have taken a cruise like this you are likely to want to do another in the future. There are several popular routes just waiting for you to book.

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Gili Air – The Scruffy Italian Traveler

Gili Air - The Scruffy Italian Traveler I had such a great time on the beautiful island of Gili Air! I enjoyed spending my day just doing just what I like to do the most, which is chillaxing 🙂 This is how my typical day on the island looked like. As soon as I woke up, after a refreshing calm night sleep, some fresh water on my face, just a bit of fruit to break the night fast, I was out for a good 1 hour jogging around the island before the heat hit too strongly (the island is very small, so in less than one hour you have been running all around it). Soon after, a refreshing shower in my open air shower overlooking the ocean! a super powered breakfast soon after; a refreshing dip into the ocean; relaxing on the beach; plenty of coffee and fresh fruits during the day; drinks at sunset (on the sunset beach of course!); beautiful dinners with fresh fish; and more drinks and good music after dinner. This is life, isnt it? I was not lucky with the weather: I visited in December, when the Monsoon storms hit very strongly the area, so I did not enjoy very much the underwater life. I did some snorkeling, but in all honesty I did not have much luck!

By Sergio Scardia – Full Story at The Scruffy Italian Traveler

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Must Do's in Gay Montreal

Rue St. Denis, Gay Montreal One year ago, gay actor-director extraordinaire Xavier Dolan shot Adele’s Hello video just outside his native Montreal. The world watched transfixed as our still-heartbroken heroine, wrapped in faux-fur, emoted amid rolling hills, epic maples and twirling leaves. The clip was a love letter to Canadian autumn. And yet, almost paradoxically, it was filmed in black and white. Don’t get me started. Similarly, standing atop Montreal’s imposing Mount Royal in fall, exploring the picturesque Parc du Mont-Royal thereon, is your chance to channel your inner-Adele in rich, explosive technicolor. Yes, the surrounding countryside provides the perfect playground for foliage followers. But gay Montreal – home to 1.65 million, the largest in the Quebec province and the second-largest French-speaking city worldwide after Paris – is the natural start to such an adventure.

By Jamie Tabberer – Full Story at Gay Star News

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Gay Chicago Keeps Getting Better

Chicago Gay Tourism ‘Remember to breathe,’ I tell myself, as the helicopter pilot’s voice rings through my ears, my body judders and 1,172 glittering high rise buildings unfold before me. The Chicago Helicopter Experience is shredding my nerves, but it’s also highlighting just how magnificent this 2.7 million-person city truly is. Grandiose skyscrapers pierce a skyline at once jagged and curiously neat – a result of meticulous urban planning after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Behind me, the staggering Lake Michigan disappears into the night like an ocean. Like the lake, gay Chicago – Obama’s hometown – is huge; the largest in Illinois. The state capital of Springfield – the former hometown of Abraham Lincoln – is a three-hour drive away, and home to just 117,000. The view is exhilarating, expansive, absurd, and in my book, about as glamorously cosmopolitan as America gets.

By Jamie Tabberer – Full Story at Gay Star News

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The Doors of Morocco – Keep Calm and Wander

Doors of Morocco - Alain Ladies and gentlemen, the beautiful doors of Morocco! On my first few hours in Marrakech, I noticed the old, repainted, renovated, run-down and pretty doors of the city. Their charming designs delighted me so I took a lot of photos until I became obsessed. There was even a time when all I was looking for were doors, doors, doors! However, the most interesting ones I saw were at Chefchaouen, nicknamed as “The Blue City.” They’re just not lovely but they’re very photogenic, too! You can’t resist taking a shot when passing them. If ever I’d have a house of my own in the future, I’d certainly design one of my doors like one of these pretty doors of Morocco below.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

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Benn Conger Inn – Gay Finger Lakes Bed & Breakfast

Benn Conger Inn Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay: Benn Conger Inn Bed and Breakfast sits high above the village of Groton, New York, in the heart of the Finger Lakes area. The Inn was built in the early twenties, and was state Senator Benn Conger’s private home. During the roaring twenties, the home became a haven Dutch Schultz, a well-known bootlegger and racketeer. Come stay with us, and experience hospitality fit for a king-pin. The Benn Conger Inn was built in the Colonial Revival style, and featues a Victorian-style cottage next door. The property was renovated in 2001, giving us a total of ten guestrooms. The Benn Conger Inn is a great place to relax in front of a warm fire, soak in a hot tub, or curl up in our livrary with a good book. You can also wander our 20 acre grounds, over rolling hills, through flower gardens, and along a bubbling brook and beaver pond. If you’re lucky, you might see a blue heron. Then soak in the sunset from your own large, secluded porch or our traditional gazebo. Our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast is just fifteen minutes from Ithaca and thirty five minutes from Syracuse. We’re a great place to use as a home base when exlporing the Finger Lakes region – you can hike, ride a bike, go out on horse-back, golf, play tennis, ski, hunt, fish, and much more. If you’re coming to the Finger Lakes area for business, romance, or just traveling through, we’ll offer American hospitality with the ambiance of an English Country Inn. Come stay with us at Benn Conger Inn the next time you take a trip to the Finger Lakes and Central New York state.

See the Benn Conger Inn Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in the Finger Lakes Region

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The Nomadic Boys Meet The Scruffy Italian

nomadic-boys-and-gios Stefan and Sebastian are two bloggers known as the Nomadic Boys. They are a gay couple: we met in London a few years ago, and we are friends since then! They traveled all the way from Europe to Asia a couple of years ago and ate their way around Southeast Asia for almost two years. Recently they have relocated to South America, planning to travel around the area for a few years and tell it all in their blog! If you have never bumped into them take a look at their blog and to their Instagram account! They are absolutely gorgeous! Why am I talking about the Stefan and Sebastian? Because when planning my first trip ever around Southeast Asia I took inspiration from their posts… that is how I discovered the Gili islands, which honestly were completely unknown to me! The Nomadic Boys wrote a few months back (you can read their complete reportage here) a complete ironic gay friendly review about the Gili Islands. This review helped me clear my mind and decide which of the three islands to choose for my holidays: they compared the three islands to the Destiny’s Child! The tourism in these beautiful Islamic islands is increasing and each of them is specializing in attracting a different type of travelers: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air, all equally beautiful, cater to different lifestyles. First of all: Where are these islands located? The Gili islands belong to the beautiful country of Indonesia, and are situated off the northwest coast of Lombok. Lombok is one of the biggest islands of the country, just a short hop from Bali.

By Sergio Scardia – Full Story at The Scruffy Italian Traveler

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Morocco Rocks the Kasbah

Morocco kasbah-du-toubkal-main-lodge The only time I ever thought about Morocco was when Casablanca was on Turner Classic Movies or someone mentioned Bogie and Bacall, but that changed abruptly when I was offered an opportunity to participate in a leadership retreat in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. My journey began in Marrakech. I flew Royal Air Maroc, traveling on a fresh-off-the-assembly-line Airbus. Very new. Very big. Very full. With only 36 hours to explore Marrakech, I immediately searched out my hotel, the Riad Balkisse (4 Derb Charij Riad El Muhka, Tel: 212-5243-81998. www.riadbalkisse.com), which was admittedly not luxurious, but clean, hospitable, extraordinarily affordable, and located within Marrakech’s red-walled medina, a fortified labyrinth built by the Berbers in the 11th century. Originally intended to keep invasive marauders out, the walls can no longer contain this thriving urban center of nearly a million residents, plus many more tourists. Marrakech is a mix of ancient and contemporary influences. A university student told me that the dominant attitude throughout the city is “open Islam,” which accepts many Western ideas about other religions, human rights, women’s rights, education, and sexuality. Residents and tourists in mini-skirts and designer jeans engage with women in veils and men in traditional fezzes. Music is a mix of world, Western, and Berber rhythms and instruments. Architecture blends ultra-modern with classic Moroccan elements like tiles, interior fountains, and lavish textiles. Outside the medina, streets are congested with cabs, scooters, and buses. Luxury hotels and over- priced restaurants are crammed along main traffic arteries along with trendy boutiques, banks, and the ubiquitous Starbucks.

By Stephanie Blackwood – Full Story at Passport Magazine

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Ten Interesting Facts About Gay Argentina – Nomadic Boys

Gay Argentina - Nomadic Boys “Latins are tenderly enthusiastic. In Brazil they throw flowers at you. In Argentina they throw themselves!” Marlene Dietrich was definitely on point. The Argentinians are an extremely passionate hot blooded bunch with their own unique style of Spanish, spoken with a strong Italian-like charisma. They will instantly embrace you into their lives and in return you will no doubt quickly fall in love with them. We sure did and after spending 2 months with them, here’s our 10 interesting facts about gay Argentina. #1 QUEER TANGO Nothing evokes the passionate spirit of the Argentinians better than this very famous sensual and seductive dance. Tango is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Argentina. At its inception in the 1880s, it was danced between 2 men, but very quickly the concept of same sex tango dancing got lost…. Until 2002 when it became fashionable again with queer tango schools popping up across the country.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

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