Category Archives: Places outside US
Russia Could Enact Anti-Gay Law Nationwide
Russia was never on the top of my short wish list, of places to visit. Now it looks like I will never go there!
Church would make it illegal nationwide to provide minors with
information that is defined as “propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism,
bisexuality and transgenderism.”
events that promote gay rights. St. Petersburg and a number of other
Russian cities already have similar laws on their books.
The bill is part of an effort to promote traditional Russian values as
opposed to Western liberalism, which the Kremlin and church see as
corrupting Russian youth and by extension contributing to a wave of
protest against President Vladimir Putin’s rule.
Samburov describes the anti-gay bill as part of a Kremlin crackdown on
minorities of any kind — political and religious as well as sexual —
designed to divert public attention from growing discontent with Putin’s
rule.
READ MORE AT ABC
Gay Travel to Vancouver Canada
The largest gay population in Western Canada lives in this ocean-wrapped and snow-capped city.
a year-round promoter of Whistler to the gay and lesbian community and
produces and promotes GayWhistler ski week, WinterPRIDE every year.
Alpenglow Productions Corporation (APC) is a gay and lesbian travel and
event company creating gay-welcoming destinations and events at partner
resorts. The GayWhistler/Alpenglow Team, in partnership, is dedicated to
bringing alternative vacation options to the gay and lesbian community
worldwide.
We have visited most of the gay resort destinations in the world and
nothing can compare to all Whistler has to offer. Though Whistler is
not a gay resort, it is gay friendly and your sexual orientation is not
an issue so we invite you to come and enjoy Whistler for one or multiple
seasons. GayWhistler officially invites you to come to Whistler, B.C
365 days a year.
Find out More about Whistler 2013
Gay Travel to Amsterdam Pride and Boats on the Canal
Gay Pride festivals exist all over the world, but the Amsterdam Gay
Pride festival is among the best on the planet.
Since early days,
Amsterdam has been at the forefront in striving for
equality for the gay & lesbian communities. Amsterdam is famous for
it’s liberal mindset and by organising a yearly Gay Pride the city
welcomes a safe environment for gays, lesbians
and transgenders to both visit and live in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam
and it’s gay and straight citizens really know how to party and turn the
Amsterdam’s historic centre into one big Gay Pride celebration for a
weekend in August. The entire city joins in the fun, with the the famous
Canal Parade being highlight of Amsterdam’s Gay Pride event.
The hugely
popular Canal Parade is a floating event involving up to 100
spectacularly decorated barges, floating through Amsterdam’s
Prinsengracht (the canal of the Prinses) . The Gay Pride Canal Pride is a
celebration of devotion towards equality of the gay and lesbian
communities and as such many large Dutch institutions such as the City
Council including the mayor of Amsterdam, the Fire Brigade, the
Amsterdam police force and large Dutch corporates and employers such as
the ING insurances, ABN AMRO and Rabobank have their own boats in the
Canal Parade.
The festivities starts on a Friday night with two large outdoor
parties. On at the Gay & Lesbian Reguliersdwarsstraat street and the
other party at the Gay & Lesbian monument on the Westermarket in
the centre of town.
Gay Pride and the Canal Parade is the
biggest recurring event held in the city and takes place over the first
weekend of August
every year. On Saturday afternoon, the highlight of the Gay Pride
festivities is the Canal Parade which begins at 14.00 and goes on
until around 18.00.
The Canal Parade begins outside the Central Station,
sails along the entire Prinsengracht, the Amstel River
and finishes at the Eastern Dock. The participating boats are
spectacularly decorated and put on a show with their onboard DJs and lavish parties, guaranteeing unbeatable entertainment.
The
Canal Parade is open to all possible organisations, companies and even
private individuals. One needs to apply for a license from the city
council and one needs to rent a boat from one of the Amsterdam based
boat rental companies such as the Amsterdam Boot Huren boat rental agency. A quick look at this website shows the Ivan Frank open boat as pretty much ideal or one could consider the Avanti barge for it’s beautiful feminine curves. Another boat rental agency worthwhile looking at is Canal Cruise Amsterdam.
Both websites are in Dutch, but if you call the contact numbers, they
will answer in English, as nearly everybody in Amsterdam speaks fluent
English.
The event still grows in size and in 2012 a total of
188 organisations and companies applied for a licence in the official
Canal Parade. 2012 also had a Turkish boat participated
in the Canal Parade for the first time. The Turkish boat represents the
20,000 odd gay and lesbian people living in the
Netherlands who are of Turkish descent.
The Gay Pride Canal Parade draws more than 500,000 gay and straight participants and
visitors to Amsterdam. The city gets very busy and most of
the Amsterdam hotels are fully occupied and may ask ridiculous prices
for their accommodation. as an alternative, one might also consider
renting an apartment in the city centre from Apartment Amsterdam.
Most of the apartments very high quality and are located on one of the
famous canals or in the Jordaan area of Amsterdam. If you do decide to
stay in an apartment in the Jordaan, don’t forget to visit the Anne Frank house or to have dinner in one of the many little restaurants close to the Noordermarket.
Gay Barcelona Tours and Guides
Not only is Barcelona beautiful, charming, sunny, delicious and fun, it
also has the unquestionable distinction of being one of the premier Gay
capitals in Europe.
The gay scene is here vibrant and integrated. Barcelona is
a modern city, with a modern outlook. It is open-minded and welcoming to all –
so head on down for a good time! From the beaches to the clubs, from the shops
to the beautiful architecture, you’ll have plenty to do, by day and by night.
Most of the gay scene is centred around an area called Eixample
pronounced Ay-Sham-Play and, for reasons that will become apparent, nicknamed
gayxample. Just north of the centre, Eixample is a modern and trendy district.
It is the heart of the gay scene, even though it’s not exclusively gay. It is
here that you’ll find all the bars, clubs and accommodation that you need for a
great night out.
When daylight comes again, and you’re looking for something a little
more peaceful, head out of the city into the beautiful surroundings which are
replete with nothing less than vineyards. Why not try a wine tour in Barcelona? The local
wine is delicious, and will put you in the right mood to head back to the city
to do exploring.
There are lots of great sightseeing tours in Barcelona if you want to catch all the best bits. Don’t
miss the Sagrada Familia, the Park Guell or the endlessly eccentric La Ramblas
pedestrian shopping street – it’s a must-see.
Barcelona is open and welcoming like almost no other city in the world,
which simply adds to its many charms. And if you still need an excuse to go,
the fabulous annual Gay and
Lesbian Film Festival is on from
the 18th of October to the 28th.
Now that you’re out of excuses, go and enjoy yourself!
Gay Travel to Australia for the Holiday Season
Thinking about what to do this holiday season?
The biggest event down under will be the 2012 solar eclipse, Turtle Cove has the
best vantage point in Australia with the path of the eclipse passing
right over our resort.from 5.45am to 7.40am on Wednesday 14 November 2012.
( Bloody early in the morning he…he..)
It
is rare for a total eclipse to be visible from land, so the excitement
is building for those who want to share in this once in a lifetime
extraordinary phenomenon.
Zinc
FM 102.7 / 4CA will be doing a live broadcast from our lawns on the
beach where the eclipse passes right above us causing a total
blackout.They will also broadcast live through all their channels in QLD
and other stations throughout Australia.
As this is such a unique once in a lifetime phenomenon
it would be unfair to cut out the rest of the world and keep this very
special day just for us.So for this one event only,Turtle Cove will have
all mixes of people of all beliefs and persuasions,if you get my drift.
BOOK NOW not many spaces left.
Xmas Day Dec 25th 2012
This
is the day that most people from down south and overseas want to get
away from your traditional Xmas day stuff.Rightly so just the thought of
sitting down for lunch all dressed up and stuffing yourself with food
in 30+ temperatures and 90+ humidity makes you feel faint.
That
doesen’t happen @ Turtle Cove,after all we are different and thus we do
our famous “Grazing Menu”Our amazing chef will deliver delicious
tasting platters every 45mins from 8am right through to to 4pm or so.
Every time a new platter arrives i will ring the xmas bell to let everyone know.
No
one should get dressed up and look pretty for the food,no,no,no…
everybody can stay in their swimmers,laze around the pool and
jacuzzi,take a plate and go for it.
Last
year was a blast and both our house and day guests loved every minute
of it. So bookings are essential,as it is already filling up.
New Years Eve Dec 31st 2012
Featuring a New Year’s Eve Dinner and Show
“DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER” with Vicki Vegas
Celebrates Vicki’s 25 years in the Biz with all the BEST known numbers/impersonations & stories ONE NIGHT ONLY! End
2012 in style with all the glitz & glamour,Sydney’s famous VICKI
VEGAS returns to Turtle Cove and transforms herself. This will be a
sensational 3 part floor show that will be like no other!!
The night kicks off with a scrumptious dinner big tropical seafood buffet.
This night is one not to be missed – FNQ’s biggest and best GAY NYE PARTY!
Dinner & show available to outside guests – bookings essential!
Accommodation is selling fast – 2 night minimum over this period
Turtle Cove is an Adults Only, Gay, Holiday Resort. Join us in Tropical Far North Queensland and experience the most fantastic piece of unspoilt Paradise in Australia.
Be assured Turtle Cove Beach Resort is not your ordinary Gay Hotel!
Come and explore our totally private, Absolute Beachfront,
slice of Gay Heaven and have the vacation of your lifetime!
London in October: The creepiest places to visit
Heading to London this autumn?
The Most Romantic Cities in Europe
The Most Romantic Cities in Europe
Gay and lesbian travelers looking for a romantic escape should look no further than the gorgeous cities of Europe. Traditional romance, mixed with a culture of laid-back acceptance, can be found in all of Europe’s major metropolitan areas. For a truly unforgettable holiday look no further than these five cities.
Amsterdam
Modern, cosmopolitan, and full of life, Amsterdam has long been recognized for its friendly and welcoming vibe towards gay and lesbian travelers. It boasts culture, canals, and cafes as well as the famous “coffee shops.” Travelers can spend the day visiting stately museums, paddle-boating on the canals, and biking through the historic center. At night, Amsterdam offers one of the best party scenes in Europe. Or, if you prefer something quieter, try the Candlelight Canal Cruise, with unlimited wine.
Paris
Known around the world as The City of Love, Paris is the ideal spot for a couples’ holiday. From strolling hand-in-hand along the Seine to climbing the steps of the Eiffel Tower, Paris offers unforgettable experiences for couples. You can also visit renowned museums and cultural hotspots, partake in the wine and culinary scene, or experience the exciting nightlife. Paris tickets can be easily obtained on the Eurostar train from London.
Barcelona
A bustling port city on the glittering Mediterranean, Barcelona is a modern, cosmopolitan place with sunshine, palm trees, art, culture, and plenty of romance. You can tour the architectural wonders of Parc Guel and la Sagrada Familia (above), visit the Museo Picasso, and stroll along the beach. At night, sample the delicious tapas and then hit the streets and join the nightlife. Though a bit further away than other cities, it’s possible to get there via the train through France.
Milan
Where else to experience la dolce vita, but in Italy? Another well-known romantic locale, Milan (above) offers some of the best style, culture, fashion, and cuisine in Europe. See the treasures of the Renaissance, or pick one of the many sidewalk cafes and watch the world go by. Milan is also known throughout Italy for its many gay-friendly clubs and events, such as PourHomme, Company Club, and GLounge.
Brussels
A convenient stop in between Paris and Amsterdam, Brussels is a lovely gem of a city in the centre of Belgium (above). Surrounded by history, couples can explore this smaller, less crowded city on foot and experience the pleasant, funky vibe. There are art galleries, museums, excellent shopping and restaurants, and amazing chocolatiers. Good LesBiGay neighborhoods include Saint Jacques quarter, Dansaerstraat, and Sint-Goriksplein.
A Final Note
Even in the most cosmopolitan of locales, you can sometimes encounter an unfriendly vibe. Even though most of Europe is accepting of gay and lesbian travelers, it’s possible to find small patches of closed-mindedness. If you catch a hint of any judgment or rudeness from individual waiters or hotel staff, it’s best to just pack up and leave. This is your holiday, and life is too short for that kind of unpleasantness.
Global Entry Fast Lane Speed Pass for Gay Travelers
Travel a lot to other countries? Now, you can skip the lines!
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that
allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon
arrival in the United States. Though intended for frequent international
travelers, there is no minimum number of trips necessary to qualify for
the program. Participants may enter the
United States by using
automated kiosks located at select airports.
read More
Gay Travel to Singapore Amazing Rooftop Pool
Infinity pool 55 floors above ground opens in Singapore! WOW!
While the water in the infinity pool
seems to end in a sheer drop, it actually spills into a catchment area
where it is pumped back into the main pool. At three times the length of
an Olympic pool and 650ft up, it is the largest outdoor pool in the
world at that height.
It features in the impressive,
boat-shaped ‘SkyPark’ perched atop the three towers that make up the
world’s most expensive hotel, the £4billion Marina Bay Sands
development in Singapore.
The hotel, which has 2,560 rooms costing from £350 a night, was officially opened yesterday with a concert by Diana Ross.
The
Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, estimated to have cost £2billion
when it opened in 2004, was previously the world’s most expensive hotel.
Gay Travel to Greece – Skiathos Gay Weekend July 2012
Unfortunately, we just discovered this – or we would have shared it earlier. It’s a little late to book now – but maybe next year!
While Mykonos
has long been considered to be the most gay-friendly island in Greece,
with a tradition of welcoming gay holidaymakers stretching back to the early 1960s, other islands also welcome gay travelers.
The
popular island of Skiathos, perhaps better known as one of the locations
for the movie version of “Mamma Mia!”, is presenting its first Gay
Culture Festival July 12th-15th, 2012.
The 1st International Gay Culture Festival will take place on July 12th to 15th on the cosmopolitan island of Skiathos Greece. This festival is organized with the initiative of the Hoteliers Association of Skiathos. Young artists from all over the world will join their forces for the G Festival and various events will take place, from beach parties to poetry reading.
You can watch a little video teaser online.
They have an official website as well Skiathos Gay
Gay Travel in Tallinn Estonia with new LGBT Map site
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of 159.2 km2 (61.5 sq mi) with a population of 416,536.[1] It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, 80 km (50 mi) south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg.
In Tallinn, where medieval meets both classical and modern, you have every chance of experiencing a unique, relaxing and fun holiday or city break with sightseeing opportunities up in the air, at street level and underground!
Tallinn is the perfect place to shop around, unwind and enjoy yourself in great company. It is full of surprises – a party to remember!
The locals know how to make your Friday or Saturday night out rock, in every sense of the word. You’ll be left wanting more… and we’re happy to help you!
A warm welcome to Tallinn, the capital of positively surprising Estonia!
GayMap Tallinn 2012 edition announces the capital of Estonia being now more gay-friendly than ever
More gay-friendly restaurants, more cafeterias, more hotels for LGBT travellers to choose from – Tallinn, the medieval yet modern capital of Estonia is truly more gay-friendly than ever before.
GayMap Tallinn is available as a pocket size city map distributed for free all over the town including Tallinn Airport, the Port of Tallinn, Tallinn Tourist Information Centre and Tallinn Traveller Info Centre. GayMap TALLINN is also available through the best service partners’ network and readable/downloadable online at tallinn.gaymap.ee – the daily updated LGBT tourism information service for Tallinn, which includes a full list of gay friendly partners and services plus a list of events and parties in town!
Tallinn, the northernmost capital in Baltic States, offers visitors a lush cultural scene with a wide scale of sightseeing opportunities. The brand new GayMap Tallinn 2012 edition allows LGBT visitors to easily navigate through the diverse cultural setting and enables them with the possibility to create an individualized holiday according to their own desires. This includes, but is not limited to a wide array of entertainment and city life, tours in nature, and shopping opportunities.
Bubble hotels in Popping Up in France and Estonia
We first came across Bubbletree’s playful transparent tents sometime last year.
Now they are being used to create an entire hotel in France! Just 12km from Marseille, a handful of these bubble tents have been placed amidst the beautiful forests of Bouches-du-Rhone,
allowing guests of the Attrap’Rêves Hotel to experience nature up close
and personal. 189 euro a night!
They are popping up everywhere. You can also watch the stars right from a comfortable bed without having to sleep
in a sleeping bag.
Now in Estonia, one of the three so called “Baltic states”, now features its
own unique hotel – A Bubble-hotel “Mullihotell”. The hotel is situated
near the beach in Rannakula district. It resembles a tent, which is
partially transparent and has a rounded shape. “It’s a unique
opportunity to stay in the pristine nature and enjoy the beauty right
out of a comfortable bed,” – states Mullihotell website. $116 – 129 euro per night.
The diameter of the bubble is 4 meters, height – 3 meters. The room has a
comfortable bed, table and chairs. Executive Director of Mullihotell
company Ermil Miggur said that the tent holds its shape due to the air
pumped into it. The round part of the tent does not have any support,
only the corridor is strengthened. If the generator stops working, then
the “bedroom” part of the bubble deflates, but the corridor not so it is
easy to leave the room.
Watch a video now on YouTube
Monkey Orchids Dracula simia from Peru
This is the rare Monkey Orchid, found only in high elevations of Ecuador
and Peru, especially the Peruvian Cloud Forest. The primate-esque flowers are formally known as Dracula simia.
The orchid was only named in 1978 by the botanist Luer but is in a
family containing over 120 species mostly found in Ecuador. Up in the
cloud mountains the monkey orchid can flower at any time – it is not
season specific. It scent resembles that of a ripe orange.
The Monkey orchid (Orchis simia) is an orchid species of the Orchis genus.
It is known for its pungent odor, which some say is similar to that of feces! Nice right?!
Its scientific name is Dracula simia, the last part nodding towards
the fact that this remarkable orchid bears more than a passing resemblance
to a monkey’s face – although we won’t go as far as
to be species specific on this one.
The Dracula (genus) part of its
name refers to the strange characteristic of the two long spurs of the
sepals, reminiscent of the fangs of a certain Transylvanian count of
film and fiction fame.
Gay Travel to Iceland – Reykjavik and More!
Iceland is a great destination for LGBT travelers, gay people are equal in the eyes of the law and have enjoyed marriage rights, in churches from the year 2010.
Iceland is proud to have the worlds first openly lesbian primeminister and to show support in action one third of the population shows up for Reykjavík Gay Pride.
The gay scene and society in Iceland is small but active and open, it exists mostly in the capital Reykjavík but the northern branch in Akureyri is getting stronger each year. Iceland as a gay friendly destination has gotten great reviews, it has landed on various top ten lists and gotten 5 pink stars by Diva magazine.
With its gay friendly atmosphere Iceland has come a long way since the Gay rights association, Samtökin’78 were founded in 1978 by brave, but few people. Now in the year 2012 we stand equal to straight people in the eyes of the law. The Reykjavík Gay Pride has become one of the biggest celebrations of the nation with 100.000 people attending the parade and the down town festivities and prejudice towards lgbt people are on retreat.
Ask someone in Iceland: Do you know any gay people; we can almost guarantee that the answer will be positive, this has helped the progression of gay rights in Iceland. As soon as someone you know and love has come out, gay rights are also yours to protect because they protect someone you love. Regarding transgender rights Iceland has a long way to go but we are hopeful that we can celebrate equality in the year 2012.
Check out these events!
Reykjavik Gay Pride
Always held in the second weekend of August Reykjavik Gay Pride is one of the biggest festivities in Iceland.
Dates for 2012: August 7th-12th
Gaypride.is
Pink West:
Amazing LGBT trip to the Westfjords of Iceland pre and post Reykjavík Gay Pride
Dates: August 13th-15th
Pink West
Pink East:
Magical LGBT trip to the Eastfjords of Iceland pre and post Reykjavík Gay Pride
Dates: August 6th-8th & August 13th-15th
Pink East
Bears on Ice: Four day event from September 6th
Bear event in the world´s northernmost capital
Bearsonice.org/
Rainbow Reykjavík: January 31st-February 3rd
LGBT winter festival, mixture of nature, culture, wining, dining and great parties:
Rainbowreykjavik.com/
Death Threats in Croatia for Gay Pride
I have always wanted to see Croatia.
Croatia has a double ‘personality’ with its thousand Adriatic islands adjacent to picturesque mountains
and lakes. But it’s also a survivor of the bloody Balkan wars where massacres and ethnic cleansing ravaged
the land in the 1990’s. Narrow-minded socialist thinking still expresses some sharp intolerance toward gays and lesbians. But time, peace and prosperity have helped in the healing of war scars while new national legislation has given first-time recognition of LGBT partnerships. (from 2006).
THIS WEEK, Several government ministers in Croatia announced they will join a gay pride march
set for this weekend amid threats of violence from opponents, saying it
was a test of democracy for a country due to join the European Union
next year.
Last year’s event, held in the Adriatic city of Split,
plunged into violence as police failed to protect the marchers from
angry locals who pelted them with eggs and rocks. Several people were
injured and at least 30 arrested.
Several nationalist and war veteran groups have issued warnings
against this year’s June 9 march in Split, calling it a “shameful
provocation by sick people to which we will respond.”
I can tell you, we were in Budapest last year, 2011, for Gay Pride, and nearly 1500 police tried to protect the 1500 marchers. And it was kind of scary. This year Police said they would NOT do it again and tried to cancel Pride – but Parliament overruled, and said they MUST protect the marchers again this year!
But back to Croatia.
Croatian Gay Pride revelers are being threatened with violence by members of a rightwing Facebook group, according to reports.
B92 notes that over 400 Facebook users joined the now-defunct group,
which has been dubbed, “Blood will flow in the streets of Split, there
will be no gay parade.”– the group even threatened.
“The group says its goal
is to point out to the public that it was unacceptable to hold the
“immoral manifestation” which should be held on June 9 in Split.
According to the group, the manifestation is “poisoning children”.
“What
are they proud of, their disease?”, “Every normal person is sick of
parades of mentally ill people (gays). They don’t care about the fact
that someone’s child has to watch the sick people”, “Gay bashing June 9,
2012”, “Don’t parade, go get some treatment!” are just some of the
comments posted on the group.“
An investigation of the group and its origins is reportedly underway.
“We will try to determine who the author of the group was and we will
act in accordance with the law,” Split-Dalmatia Police Spokeswoman
Marina Kraljević-Gudelj told the site. “After that we will inform the
state prosecution.”
Gay Travel to Amsterdam Holland and Keukenhof
Keukenhof – known as the Garden of Europe – is the one of the best places to view the abundance of spring flowers in the South Holland region of the Netherlands.
Amsterdam’s flower market – the Bloemenmarkt – reflects the country’s passion for cut flowers and plants.
Around seven million bulbs are planted each year in the park at Keukenhof, in an area of 32 hectares.
The Bloemenmarkt – set on the capital’s Singel canal and said to be the world’s only floating flower market – has a score of stalls where you can buy all sorts of plants, flowers, bulbs and seeds.
The mild climate of Holland, with its wet springs makes it an ideal place for bulb cultivation.
DID YOU KNOW???
Tulips originated in the east and were brought to Holland from the Ottoman Empire in the mid 1500s.
In springtime, the lowland area by the North Sea is carpeted with fields of gladioli, hyacinths, lilies, daffodils, crocuses… and, of course, tulips.
Keukenhof – literally ‘kitchen garden’ – is part of the hunting grounds of the ancient Teylingen estate.
This year, the theme for the Keukenhof exhibition is Germany: Land of Poets and Philosophers.
The patchwork quilt of colours in the Keukenhof park, just outside Lisse in South Holland, is a veritable feast for the eyes.
The bulbs of Keukenhof are re-planted each year according to the current trends and in collaboration with a number of gardening magazines.
The best way to appreciate the full glory of the Dutch spring is to hire a bike and cycle one of the tourist routes among the bulb fields.
GAY PRIDE in Amsterdam is happening August 1-7, 2012
Special pricing and packages available NOW
Call DAVE at 1-800-942-1280
*All photos are owned by their respective owners and I disclaim any ownership. No infringement or copyright is intended.
If you own a particular photo/s and would like it removed from this site, please contact me raphaelsmp (at) gmail.com, with your proof of ownership then I’ll remove it within 24-48 hours.
St Stefan in Montenegro…Not So Gay Friendly?
So I am debating where to plan my next European adventure. While I love Prague and Budapest, and I can’t keep going there every year, when there are other places I want to see.
A friend recently suggested planning a trip around Montenegro. I said, “WHERE?!”
Montenegro is the pearl of the
Mediterranean, unique in many ways, is situated in the south of the
Adriatic. Nowhere else can you find, so much natural wealth, beauty,
mild beaches, clear lakes, fast rivers, and gorgeous mountains in such a
compact area as in Montenegro. In the morning you can wake up along the
beautiful Adriatic coast, have lunch on the banks of Skadar Lake, and
enjoy an evening walk in the Montenegrin mountains. Montenegro cannot
leave you indifferent.
Not only an excellent choice for holidays, Montenegro has many other
remarkable characteristics: history, culture, tradition, good weather
conditions, clean air, beautiful nature, the blue Adriatic Sea….
Everyone should visit Montenegro. This little country combines features
of both the Balkans and the Mediterranean, near Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia,
Italy and Albania. Despite its small size, Montenegro offers great
diversity and abundant natural beauty.
And my friend said ST STEFAN island and hotel resort is a must. The resort includes the islet of Sveti Stefan and part of the mainland,
where the Villa Miločer part of the resort is located. An Adriatic
playground for the rich and famous from the 1960s to the 1980s, the
hotel is now a 5-star franchise hotel of the international group of Aman Resorts,
completed in 2009 and operating under a 30 year lease. Formerly an
island, Sveti Stefan is now connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. The resort in total contains 50 rooms, cottages and suites on the island and 8 grand suites at the Villa Miločer.
My only worry is that Serbia is not so gay friendly. Many of those little countries over there are not so gay friendly!
In an article called HONEYMOON FROM HELL it says.. If embarking on a tour across Europe is your ultimate goal, same-sex
couples should skip a stop in Montenegro. Located on the Balkan
Peninsula, Montenegro decriminalized homosexuality in 1977; yet deeply
ingrained anti-gay attitudes continue to permeate the culture in this
conservative Eastern European nation. Similar sentiments are reflected
in many of the former Soviet Republics, including Belarus and Ukraine,
according to Collins.
Gay-friendly destinations in Europe: most western European countries, Czech Republic, Slovenia (western), Hungary!
Gay Travel to Anti Gay Countries – Would You Go?
I don’t know about you, but I have no desire to go to countries that are anti gay! I work too hard for my money to spend it in countries that hate gay people!
I came across this writer on Huffington Post this week, Laurence Watts, who says there are at least
10 Breathtaking Sights You’ll Miss If You Boycott Anti-Gay Countries.
I can see them in books, right?
Me personally, I have no desire to go to Libya, Dominica, Jamaica, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Uganda,Pakistan/Afghanistan, Namibia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Iraq, Russia and even Dubai. Sorry. I am not going. When there are hundreds of other places that welcome gay people.
Laurence goes on to say, “I’ve been to dozens of countries where homosexuality is illegal, and
where our government warns people not to go. Through common sense, I’ve
managed to enjoy my visits.” – why walk on eggshells and have to look over your back all the time? And act straight? Seriously? You really want to go spend money in Uganda when they want to kill you???? You go Laurence, and take some pictures for the rest of us.
Gay Family Treated Like Second Class Citizens at London Heathrow
Two gay dads traveling with their children claim they were
humiliated by border officials who refused to believe they were BOTH
parents.
Seething civil partners Tony and Barrie Drewitt-Barlow
said “horrendous homophobia” confronted them when they landed with three
of their five kids at Heathrow.
Businessman Tony, 47, said
yesterday: “The woman asked who I was. When I told her I was their
father, she asked who ‘he’ was, looking at Barrie.
“When I said he
was my civil partner and also the children’s father, she sneered and
said it was ‘biologically impossible’ for us to be their parents.
“It was horrendous – it made my blood boil. We travel abroad a lot and this has never happened.
“We’ve faced homophobia before but it was like going back in time.”
Tony
and Barrie, 42, made history in 2000 after they traveled to the US and
used donated eggs and a surrogate mother to have twins.
Saffron and Aspen became the first children in Britain to be registered with two dads and no mother after a court ruling.
Gay Travel Brazil – A Murder every 24 Hours
The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association is holding its 2012 Convention in Brazil this week, while violence against gays in that country is making headlines – again.
“Murders of gays and lesbians [in Brazil] are on the rise,” according to the online news site The Daily Beast.
“Attacks against gays have climbed steadily for most of the last
decade, with 272 murdered in 2011—one every 36 hours, according to GrupoGay da Bahía, a leading gay-rights group that tracks anti-gay violence.
This year, GGB reports, it’s even worse, with 75 murders in just the
first 10 weeks. That’s one every 24 hours.”
These statistics are shocking for a country often cited as one of
the gay-friendliest in South America. However, reports of gay-murders in
Brazil are not new. According to a January 2011 article by Gay City News, there were 121 gays murdered in 2007, 187 in 2008, 198 in 2009 and 250 in 2010.
– I am wondering what is the count of locals being murdered vs tourists?
Sérgio Carrara, a professor at the Institute of Social Medicine at
UERJ, the State University of Rio de Janeiro, believes that the number
of gay-murders is likely under reported. In the same Gay City News
article, Carrara is quoted as saying, “The absence of a law against hate
crimes means most of these crimes are treated with silence.”
While Brazil allows same-sex marriage and is home to one of the
largest gay pride celebrations in the city of São Paulo, its efforts to
pass measures designed to curb anti-gay violence have failed.
As word of Brazil’s gay-murders spread, it is possible that U.S. LGBT
travelers will decrease their travel to the country. As part of the 16th Annual Gay & Lesbian Tourism Report
by the gay travel research and marketing firm Community Marketing,
Inc. 81% of gay men and 84% of lesbians in the U.S. report they would
“avoid destinations that have a reputation for anti-gay violence.” Um, yeah!
