A New Way to Locate Dog Sitters in your City!
This is pretty cool! I know a lot of people board their dogs at these Doggy Daycares and Dog Hotels – but I did that once, and my little yorkie came back stressed out. She really needs to be with people 24/7.
You can search by city now and find dog watchers in your area!
Cage Free
Most dog owners love their dog too much to
keep them crated for hours on end, so why should that change when you
are out of town? Dog Vacay allows you to find a home environment for
your puppy, where they can get individual attention and roam freely
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them off at your favorite aunt’s house.
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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.
American Airlines and US Airways Possible Merger Today
Later today American Airlines is supposed to make a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT. Employees we talked to to AA say they expect to hear about the rumored merger with US Airways.
It is believed that 2 will merge – but will remain separate entities for a period of seven years. The current board at AA would be fired and AA would now play by US Airways rules and guidelines. The merger could yield $1.5 Billion per year in revenue and savings.
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!
Police Refuse to Allow Budapest Pride to Happen This Year
The gays in Budapest have struggled for years, for their freedom and acceptance. It’s a gorgeous city and a great value for travelers.
We were there last year for their gay pride, which had been on again, off again during the planning months. Police were unsure they wanted to provide the protection needed. In the end, the pride parade and march did happen – but over 1400 police were on hand to make sure no skinheads or fascists bothered or harmed the marchers.
The Budapest Pride is Hungary’s largest annual LGBT event. It has historically been known under several names, including Budapest Gay Dignity Procession (Hungarian Meleg Méltóság Menet) or simply “happy parade” (Hungarian Meleg Méltóság Menet). The parade has taken place each year since 1997, usually on the first Saturday of July, proceeding along Budapest’s most expansive thoroughfare, Andrássy Avenue, between the City Park (Városliget) and Elizabeth Square (Erzsébet tér). Though much smaller in scale than similar gay pride parades in Western Europe and the Americas, between a thousand and two thousand marchers typically participate in the Budapest procession. Radical right-wing demonstrators and hooligans have severely disrupted the Budapest gay parades held in 2007 and 2008, casting concerns with the Police in Budapest.
In
the past, sometimes anti-gay groups threw eggs, smoke bombs and bottles
into the crowds. Several years ago, Gábor Demszky, Budapest’s mayor
from the Alliance of Free Democrats party, condemned the violence
against the event for which he had expressed unambiguous support.
However, three non-governmental organizations accused the
government-supported police of doing little to stop the fascists.
Last year’s parade went off just fine, other than some anti-gay people yelling at us. But I am guessing the city feels the cost to have 1400 police on high alert was too much?
We received this press release today –
The Budapest Police Department has refused to grant permission for this year’s Budapest Pride march. The march had been announced for July 7, 2012, with a route from City Park to Alkotmány Street along Andrássy Avenue, by the festival’s organizers, the Rainbow Mission Foundation. This is not the first time the police have tried to prevent the march, and this year they again justified their decision to restrict our freedom of assembly with the claim that it is impossible to redirect traffic to another route. With the help of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ), we are filing a petition for review of the ban. We look forward to the Budapest Metropolitan Court repealing the police’s decision, which is expected to be announced in the next few weeks.
Banning the march is one of the means used to silence the LGBTQ community. The last two years have seen democracy, human rights, and the rule of law threatened in Hungary, and through its actions, the government has infringed upon the rights of many groups. The Basic Law, passed in April 2011 and in effect since the beginning of this year, the “family protection” law voted on last December, and the Hungarian Society for the Science of the Family founded in February all severely violate the rights of LGBTQ people. Banning the Pride march would only exacerbate the social marginalization of this community.
One of the themes we are highlighting in this year’s festival is the diversity of the LGBTQ community in Hungary. Given that the community is often invisible, our diversity of identities and experiences often goes unrecognized even within the community. For example, bisexual, queer, and trans people frequently find themselves marginalized and their voices unheard. LGBTQ people who are members of other marginalized groups as well (disabled people, national, ethnic, and religious minorities, etc.) are hardly ever allowed the opportunity to express their full identities. Mainstream society’s view of the LGBTQ community is restricted to a very narrow segment of the group, primarily gay men and lesbian women, and this picture is often based on explicitly homophobic and transphobic stereotypes.
Kudos to the gay community! They are not backing down and plan to march with or without a permit!
The campaign video against the ban
2012 Budapest Pride for news and updates
If you love architecture, Hungary is STUNNING! It is a gorgeous city. And there a dozen or so gay bars and clubs. They have a couple saunas. There is lots to see and do and it is so inexpensive to eat and drink and sleep there. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
Gay Thailand – Phuket Pride Week April 23-28, 2012
Phuket, formerly known as Thalang (Tha-Laang) and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon (a corruption of the Malay Tanjung Salang, i.e. “Cape Salang”), is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Phang Nga and Krabi, but as Phuket is an island it has no land boundaries.
Phuket, which is approximately the size of Singapore, is Thailand’s largest island. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by two bridges. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea.
Pride comes to Phuket – April 23 to 28, 2012. Phuket Loves You (PLU)
Club is the organization selected to produce this year’s pride
celebration.
The goal for this year’s pride celebration is to create a
stronger sense of community within the Thai and Farang communities in
Phuket which is why this year’s theme, chosen by the Phuket Pride
committee, is “Join our Family”
PHUKET
is an international destination attracting visitors
from Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States.
With 17 sandy beaches, access to the amazing Pha Na
Bay with its dramatic rock formations, and numerous
smaller islands, PHUKET has vaulted to become one of
Conde Nast’s Magazines top ten tropical resort
destinations in the world.
And no wonder. From fantastic food, to world class
water sports (a top world snorkeling and scuba diving
destination), from fabulous shopping to a vibrant night
life, Phuket has something to offer every traveler.
And your money goes a lot farther here than in other
places. (You can life the high life in Phuket for weeks
for the same amount of money one week in Hawaii or the
Caribbean would cost you.) There are countless smaller
boutique hotels and guesthouses – both stylish
and inexpensive – as well as the usual array of
the world’s top hotel chains.
Get details for pride at Phuket Pride.
Gay Travel Guide Photos From Around The World
We get lots of people who send us cool travel photos – the last one is supposed to be a body of water in Montana – look at the clarity!! – I can’t read the writing – but it appears that image is from National Geographic. – I hope they do not mind we are running it . (NG has an amazing collection of travel images – with an Annual Contest.)
Be it known , 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.
If you have a cool photo to share – send it along – and we are happy to link to you.
Michael Snell
Best Conservatories and Floral Exhibitions
Ahhhhhh, Spring is in the air! Tree’s are busting out of their buds and flowers are popping up everywhere!
If you love flowers and appreciate the beauty of nature – here are some MUST SEE Conservatories around the country:
Franklin Park Conservatory – Columbus Ohio.
Built in 1895, Franklin
Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a botanical landmark two
miles east of downtown Columbus. It is a premier horticultural and
educational institution showcasing exotic plant collections, special
exhibitions, and a signature collection of work by glass artist Dale
Chihuly.
Set within the 88 acres of Franklin Park, the Conservatory houses 400
species of plants from a variety of global climate zones and features a
Victorian Palm House with more than 40 species of palms. It is
surrounded by botanical gardens and floral displays.
RIGHT NOW you can see –
Blooms & Butterflies: Now on view
Central Ohio’s iconic sign of spring returns! Get an up-close view
as hundreds of newly emerged butterflies are released into the Pacific
Island Water Gardens— a tropical haven where exotic butterflies of all
sizes and colors fly freely and feed on nectar from colorful blooms.
Learn about the fascinating life cycle and ecological importance of
these amazing insects during daily educational presentations and related
activities.
Orchids! Vibrant Victoriana
Awaken your senses on a dreary winter day and take a stroll
through a warm Victorian garden. Hundreds of orchids of all forms,
colors and sizes are artfully displayed in the Dorothy M. Davis
Showhouse. Explore the Victorian collectors’ fascination with the exotic
species through displays emphasizing the form, color and pattern of
individual blooms. Learn more about orchids in these special programs.
Cocktails @ the Conservatory
Spice up your humdrum work week with an evening visit to the
Conservatory. Stroll through warm, tropical plant collections and view
current exhibitions while enjoying live music, specialty cocktails, and
delicious appetizers. Reserve a table for your friends and colleagues!
Call 614.645.1800 for more information.
Thursdays, 5:30 – 10pm 21 and over
Full bar, featured cocktails, small plate menu
$11 admission, in return each guest receives $10 in tokens that can be used toward the purchase of food and drinks.
*It’s also the 200th Bicentennial Anniversary for Columbus this year! Lots going on! A great time to visit!
Read more about Gay Columbus and see they have been voted a hot new LGBT destination!
Golden Gate Park- San Francisco CA.
The largest and best known park in San Francisco is the
1,017 acre (411 ha) Golden Gate Park. Its history goes back to
1870 when the site was an area of wild sand dunes. At
the time, the area, known as ‘outside lands’, was well
outside the city’s developed limits.
The
main attractions of the park are located at the eastern
side. Here you find the Conservatory of Flowers as well as the
Japanese Tea garden and the adjacent M.H. De Young Museum.
The Conservatory of Flowers, a Victorian-style
greenhouse is modeled after the Palm house at the Kew
Gardens in London. It was
built between 1876 and 1883 and houses a collection
of tropical plants and flowers.
The M.H. De Young Museum has its origins in the
1894 Midwinter International expo. The Fine arts Museum,
temporarily built for the expo, was so successful that it was decided
to establish a permanent museum. The museum has a very
diverse collection, including paintings from the Laurence
Rockefeller collection.
Tea Garden. Following the success of the expo’s
Japanese village, a Japanese Tea Garden was constructed
to display the Japanese lifestyle. The garden, covering
5 acres, features a teahouse, sculptures, ponds, bridges
and many native Japanese plants.
Chicago, IL – There are actually 3 great gardens and conservatories in Chicago.
Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2391 N. Stockton Dr., located in the heart of the city and connected to the Lincoln Park Zoo – Step inside and be transported to another place and time! Take a journey to the Lincoln Park Conservatory where you will find
tropical palms and ancient ferns right in the heart of Lincoln Park.
Designed both to showcase exotic plants and grow the thousands of plants
needed for use in the parks, the Conservatory offers visitors a
tropical experience within its four display houses: Palm House, Fern
Room, Orchid House and Show House, which is home to the annual flower
shows. This historic facility continues to provide an escape to nature
to the millions that live in and visit Chicago. No matter the time of
year, Lincoln Park Conservatory is always green and lush. Come take a
stroll and let yourself be transported away. Admission is free.
Chicago Botanic Garden – is located just outside the city limits. Take a walk and discover early spring trees and shrubs in bloom,
including Joel bush cherry and Appalachian Red redbud, as well as
Autumn flowering cherry. Joining the host of narcissus and early tulips
in bloom are Lenten roses and Virginia bluebells.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Garden! Today, 2.5
million plants, 24 display gardens, and four natural areas thrive here.
Visit our anniversary website to view Garden milestones since the 1972 opening.
Located at 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022 • (847) 835-5440
Admission is free – However, it costs $20 to park.
Garfield Conservatory is just west of the city a mile or so. Visit one of the nation’s premier conservatories — six
multi-faceted greenhouses and two grand exhibition halls.
The Garfield Park Conservatory sustained catastrophic damage in the June
30,
2011 hailstorm, shattering approximately half of the glass panes
in the roofs of the historic Fern Room, Show House, and
ten propagation greenhouses. The glass panes in the Desert House
also sustained significant damage. The pathways, ponds and plants in
the Fern Room, Show House, Desert House and propagation houses are
covered with broken glass, and shards of glass hang dangerously from the
roofs. Until the roofs are repaired, rain will cause the ponds to
overflow, and direct sunlight will destroy and kill the plants that have
been so carefully and lovingly conserved for so many years. – It is still open to the public and the rebuilding continues.
The
Garfield Park Conservatory is open every day of the year. Located at 300 N. Central Park Ave., 10 minutes west of
downtown Chicago and easily accessible by automobile or
public transportation.
HAPPY SPRING!
New Customs Rule Would Affect Gay LGBT Couples
A proposed federal rule change would expand the definition of “family”
and allow non-married couples and others who live in one household and
are traveling abroad together to reenter the United States with a single
U.S. Customs declaration.
This would mean a gay couple could go through together, as a “family”.
Nowhere does the proposed rule change mention gay or lesbian partners.
The wording specifies “two adult individuals in a committed relationship
wherein the partners share financial assets and obligations,” not
including “roommates or other cohabitants.”
Customs estimates an annual savings of 72,600 “burden hours” under
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The government believes the change
would effect more than a million travelers a year or four minutes per
response.
At present, gay couples traveling together must each go through Customs separately.
Read more at Steve Rothaus / Miami Herald.
Gay Travel and Sodomy Laws
Our buddy Lyndon over at Focus on The Rainbow, tipped us off to this scary story today.
When you travel to foreign countries you must be aware of their laws relating to sex. What is the age of consent? Do they have a sodomy law?
Two men from California are learning that the hard way as GayStarNews is reporting
using several sources. The two men were arrested Wednesday after being
seen by someone from the dock where the ship they were on, a Celebrity
Summit cruise ship, organized by Atlantis Events, was docked and the individual alleges the two men
were engaged in sex. – Was he peeping in the windows? Or were the guys outdoors in public view?
The ship carrying about 2,000 passengers departed Puerto Rico (not so gay friendly) on
Saturday and arrived in Dominica on Wednesday. It departed for St. Barts
without the men, who are being held in a cell at police headquarters in
the capital of Roseau.
John Robert Hart and Dennis Jay Mayer both
in their 40’s were arrested on the ship by local authorities and will
appear in court today on charges of suspicion of indecent exposure and
sodomy. The ship had been docked in the Caribbean country of Dominica
which outlaws sex among gays.
The cruise which had been organized by the gay travel company Atlantis
Events in West Hollywood, CA warns all travelers of potential sodomy
laws which are in effect in the various countries their planned cruises
take travelers.
I guess I would question Atlantis. And why they choose to take gay travelers to area’s who are against gays – when there are thousands of beautiful destinations worldwide to choose from. What’s next, a gay cruise to Uganda? How about St. Petersburg?
The penalty in Dominica for same-sex sexual activity is up to 10 years in prison.
In an update from one of the sources GayStarNews used in doing their article, Dominican News Online, the website reported
the charge of “buggery” (sodomy) would be dropped and they had been
charged with indecent exposure. The sodomy charge was dropped because as
Police Chief Cyrille Carrette told the website Wednesday evening, that charge will take too long to expedite, hence the men will only be charged with indecent exposure.
The ship sailed on without the two men to continue the scheduled cruise.
If
found guilty of the indecent exposure charge they could be fined $370
each and could face up to six months in prison according to a report by the Associated Press via The Washington Post.
UPDATE – the 2 men have been released after paying $3000 in fines! They were paraded thru the streets to a bank, to withdraw money and crowds yelled slurs at them! They admit they were half naked, on their balcony. But that’s all.
Mayer and Hart say they were taunted all night long in a jail cell with no light, no water, and no toilet. The courts wanted to have their rectums inspected for signs of anal sex, but that was eventually dropped.
Dennis Mayer said he has no doubt they were arrested in Dominica because they were gay.
Police
said it was because they were seen having sex in public on the balcony
of their ship cabin. Mayer said they were not having sex, but were
‘partially clothed’.
AGAIN, I ask, why does Atlantis or anyone gay support these anti-gay ports?! It’s ridiculous.
Gay Travel To Russia – Feds Say NO
The federal government has advised gay and lesbian travellers
visiting St. Petersburg, Russia – to
take extra precaution in the wake of a new law in the city banning
“homosexual propaganda.”
Canada’s ambassador has written to the Russian government to
express deep concern, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said.
“We are all deeply concerned by this legislation that runs
contrary to core Canadian values of freedom of speech, of human rights
and the rule of law,” Baird said on Friday during question period.
read more at CNEWS
(photo above –
Russian gay activist
Nikolai Alexeev and Alexey Kiselev were arrested in January in the far
north city of Arkhangelsk, Russia after a series of actions in sub-zero
temperatures in defiance of a “gay propaganda” law that was passed there
last year similar to the ones under consideration in St. Petersburg,
Moscow, and nationwide, according to Alexeev’s Facebook page.
Pictured, they unfurled a 20 meters rainbow flag in front of the entrance to Arkhangelsk Parliament.)
30 Dolphins Beach Themselves and Get Saved in 4 Minutes
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS YET?
About 30 Dolphins stranded and saved by local people at Arraial do Cabo (Brazil) in the morning at 8:00 AM on March 5th 2012. They seem to be swimming close to shore and perhaps got caught in the waves….
Sunbathers and swimmers at a beach in Brazil this week found themselves
having to step up to try and save the group of around 30 stranded dolphins
in peril, who washed up on the shoreline.
Mehr
als 30 Delphine sind heute am frühen Morgen des 05.03.2012 in Arraial
do Cabo (Brasilien) gestrandet und von Einheimischen gerettet worden.
WATCH THE DOLPHIN VIDEO
GAY Russia – Not So Much
Lawmakers in Russia just passed a draconian censorship law that would
impose stiff fines for anything construed as “the promotion of
homosexuality” in Saint Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city.
Reading, writing, speaking or reporting on anything related to gay,
lesbian bi or trans (LGBT) people would become a criminal act. This ban
on “promotion” would also target Pride parades, literature, theater, or
NGOs that openly serve LGBT people.
All Out, a community of
almost a million people around the world fighting for full equality,
made a little video to send the Governor a message.
Pass this law – We
Won’t Go There.
WATCH DON’T GO THERE
More Amazing Travel Photos From Around the World
This statue, created by Bruno Catalano, is located in France
Airport in the Maldives is located on an artificial island in the middle of the Indian Ocean
Zhangye Province of Gansu . The color is the result of an accumulation for millions of years of red sandstone and other rocks.
In the resort town of Skagen (Denmark) you can watch an amazing natural
phenomenon. This city is the northernmost point of Denmark, where the
Baltic and North Seas meet. The two opposing tides in this place can
not merge because they have different densities:
Twice a year in the Gulf of Mexico rays migrate. About 10 thousand stingrays at a time! WOW!
These trees grow in the forest near Gryfino , Poland . The cause of the curvature is unknown.
Many of these photo were sent in by readers – If you own rights to any of the featured images and do not
wish to appear here, please don’t hesitate to contact us for direct
removal.
Malephotog (at) gmail.com
Foreign Transaction Fees and Exchanging Currency
On my very first trip to Europe (from the US) I was told to just take my credit card and use it as my currency – and use local ATM’s if I wanted cash out. I was told I would get the best rate. True. But no one told me I was also going to get slapped with a 3% charge on very transaction! (once called a currency conversion fee).
If you’re planning a foreign trip, double-check with your credit card
issuers to find out how much using your credit and debit cards will cost
you: Many have increased their foreign transaction fees, though some,
in a move to attract rewards-hungry consumers, have recently decided to
buck the trend and drop the fees.- as of 2012.
Depending on what city you plan to visit, sometimes, a currency exchange booth is the best bet. On my last trip to Prague in 2011, I was able to exchange American currency for an excellent rate with almost no fee at all. But, you have to ask around. If you can ask your hotel or another trusted source, you are better off. Some of these places will rip you off.
BUT BE WARNED, your American currency MUST BE PRISTINE. If it has the tiniest flaw or tear, they will refuse it.
Also, the AIRPORT is probably the worst place to exchange money. Avoiding exchanging money here at all costs!
Know, before you go!
My Favorite Best Pools From Around The World
(Maui, Hawaii)
I was looking through my library of books yesterday and came across Kelly Kleins , Pools
. (Calvins ex-wife)
This book is from the eighties but went into a reprint a few years ago. Anyway, Inspired by a desire to design a new pool for her own Long Island
backyard, Kelly Klein sought out and put together the most arresting and
iconic photographs of swimming pools in all their various forms to
create this unique and stunning book. The photographs are as inspiring
as they are moving, revealing an incredible wealth of styles and designs
in climates and cultures across the globe, and evoking the sensations
of rest and nostalgia, the clarity of water and light, the coexistence
of coolness and warmth, and the insinuations of sex and romance that can
bring such character to a swimming pool.
Included are pools in all
shapes, sizes, colors, and settings, from Tangiers and Miami to the
ancient magnificence of Hadrian’s Villa; from Coney Island to the Côte
d’Azur; from the robber baron 1880s through the prosperous 1990s, and
captured by great photographers such as Lartigue, Stieglitz, Munkacsi,
Weston, Mapplethorpe, and Weber. Republished in its entirety from the
original first edition of 1992, including 187 photographs and a note
from Esther Williams, Pools is a classic of modern design photography and an inspiration to aesthetes and creative homeowners alike.
But it got me to thinking – what are some of my favorite pools……..
(Caldea Spa, Andorra)
(BIGGEST pool in the world San Alfonso del Mar in Chile)
(Hard Rock Hotel Bali Indonesia )
(Mykonos Greece)
(Mirage – Las Vegas)
(Caesars Palace – Las Vegas)
(Costa Rica)
What is YOUR favorite pool??
Columbus Ohio Celebrates 200 Years
People who live in Columbus Ohio know it’s a great place to live! But the tourism board is working hard to prove to people it’s a great place to visit, too!
We have done several articles on Columbus, since our visit last Spring.
A new article in the Columbus Dispatch says what we discovered last Spring:
During the past five years or so, Ohio’s capital city has been getting big props from major travel trendsetters.
“Lord knows, there are a million rankings, but we have been doing
really well with them lately,” said Scott Peacock, media-relations
manager at the Experience Columbus convention and visitors bureau. “I’d
say in the last two years, it’s really taken off.”
The high point was in August, when National Geographic’s
website named Columbus one of the 10 best fall destinations in the
world, alongside places such as Zanzibar and Dublin (the one in Ireland,
not the one along I-270).
Columbus turned the BIG 200 this year! There are events and happenings scheduled all year long!
You can also stop by their LGBT specific page for what to see and do.
Columbus Ohio is a highly recommended place to see and visit.
Finger Monkeys from The Rain Forest
I just had a friend get back from a gay travel vacation to the Amazon rainforest by way of Brazil.
A bit of geography trivia! The Amazon Rainforest also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America.
It encompasses seven million square kilometers (1.7 billion acres), of which five and a half million square kilometers (1.4 billion acres) are covered by the rainforest.
This region includes territory belonging to nine nations. The majority of the forest is contained within Brazil, with 60% of the rainforest, followed by Peru with 13%, Colombian Amazon with 10%, and with minor amounts in, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and France (French Guiana).
The Amazon represents over half of the planet’s remaining rainforests, and it comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world.
My friend was telling my about these finger monkeys!! He took some photos – but his dud not turn out that great = so I found these to share.
Finger monkeys are, as a matter of fact, pygmy marmosets.
They are also known by the names “pocket monkey”and “tiny lion”.
This cute little primate hugs and grips on to your finger so tight that it pulls your heartstrings and
you wish you could take it home with you.
The finger monkey is the tiniest living primate in the world. It’s so small that it can hold on to your finger.
These primates belong to the family Callitrichidae, species Cebuella and genus C. pygma
How adorable?!
Man Overboard on Gay Cruise Identified
That man overboard, from the Atlantis Cruise, has now been identified as 30-year-old Kenneth John
Gemmell, a native of Bailieborough, Co Cavan, Ireland. Gemmell was a
flight attendant with UAE airlines stationed in Dubai.
In a statement, Royal Caribbean indicated that Gemmell was seen going overboard at 7:10 am local time and that fact was confirmed by surveillance cameras aboard the ship.
Edward Owen at The Examiner reports that the family is seeking information to bring some closure to their situation:
They are issuing an appeal to anyone on
board the ship who might have met Kenneth during the cruise, to touch
base with them. And they particularly would like to hear from the
person who witnessed him going overboard. The family has said they want
nothing more than to understand what drove their son, who had just
turned 30 last Tuesday, to this.
The family says that some
information has already come their way. One party told them that
Kenneth may have been arguing with a ship’s crew member (perhaps a
bartender) in one of the bars late Thursday night or early Friday
morning. They were also told that the crew member, a man they
understood was sharing a room with a Canadian citizen, left the ship in
Cozumel.
Because of the lack of information, a
family spokesman told examiner.com that some members of the family are
finding it hard to accept that Kenneth actually went overboard.
Anyone
who has information on this tragedy is asked to email Michael at
michael-at-mhynes.com. The family says they just want to know what
happened to their son.
