TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Valerie Harper in Looped On Broadway

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As if there were not already enough reasons to go to New York City, now there is yet another major reason to go. The theatrical production of LOOPED, an outstanding comedy just opened on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre at 149 West 45th Street.

Starring Valerie Harper as the late fabulously wonderful Tallulah Bankhead along with Brian Hutchison and Michael Mulheren, this is such a witty, catty and entertaining production.


Written by the noted New York City playwright , Mathew Lombardo who brought us “Tea at Five” the one-woman play which told the story of Katharine Hepburn in a monologue. It was based on Hepburn’s book “Me: Stories of My Life.”.


Kate Mulgrew was the star and it played to large audiences in New York City and then later at different cities around the country. We saw it at the Pasadena Theatre when we were in Palm Springs a few years ago where we and Matthew was staying at the Terrazzo Resort.

We first saw LOOPED at the Cuillo Centre for the Arts in West Palm Beach when it was in its previews. The audience roared with laughter! Director Rob Ruggiero has accomplished a remarkable job in casting the perfect actors for this production.


Based on a real event, LOOPED takes place in the summer of 1965, when an inebriated Tallulah Bankhead stumbles into a sound studio to re-record (or ‘loop’) one line of dialogue for her last movie “Die, Die, My Darling”. Ms. Bankhead was known for her wild partying and convention-defying exploits that surpassed even today’s celebrity bad girls. Given her intoxicated state and inability to loop the line properly what ensures is an uproarious showdown between an uptight film editor and an outrageous legend.


Valerie Harper IS Tallulah! She has Tallulah down perfect in her voice, her mannerisms and everything. She is the perfect Tallulah. Ms. Harper is such a joy to see in this production. She takes the "bull by the horn" and never gives an inch.

We have all seen Ms. Harper over the years and she is one of the finest actors today. She is so multi-talented. And of course she is a four time Emmy winner. This production is NOT for the faint at heart. You may be shocked, you may be surprised but you will also be in for one of the most exciting evenings of your life. You will take home with you memories that you will cherish for years to come. For those of you who well remember Tallulah Bankhead, this will be a wonderful trip down memory lane and for the younger audiences, this will be a very informative and hilarious reminder of what life used to be.


Tallulah Bankhead came up with so many witty and remarkable quotes. Two of our favorites are, "I;ll come and make love to you at five o'clock. If I;m late start without me..." and "Nobody can be exactly me. Sometimes even I have trouble doing it."


Before seeing LOOPED, be sure and dine at Chez Josephine’s Restaurant, 414 West 42nd Street and call 212.594.1925 for reservations. Dining there will certainly put you right in the mood to see LOOPED. Owner, Jean-Claude Baker is the perfect host and a fabulously wonderful person. You will end your day by having not just one fabulous experience, but TWO! Dining at Chez Josephine’s is a rare treat and one that you will never forget!


Matthew Lombardo certainly has a major hit on his hands and thanks to the talented and fabulously wonderful Valerie Harper and her co-stars, LOOPED is bound for greatness!


Should you see LOOPED? Why of course Daaaahling! and be sure and savor every minute of it. Matthew Lombardo has visited Palm Springs time in the past. Life is just way too short NOT to see Broadway shows.


However if you can’t get to Broadway, by all means visit your local theatre productions every chance you get.

Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

Visiting Gay Mykonos: The New Greek Party Resort

Mykonos has become an iconic Greek Island globally. Among the postcard picturesque whitewash buildings and blue roofed churches is a chic and vibrant culture that has led to it being dubbed the Greek St Tropez.

Popular with the gay community, Mykonos is fast becoming a leading party resort in the already saturated Europe market. With competition from the hedonistic Ibiza and the young and lively Greek resorts such as Malia and Kardemena, Mykonos is keeping ahead of the game with international DJ's playing and regular beach parties.

The party scene is headed by a chic atmosphere with an almost exclusive vibe. Dominated primarily by bars as opposed to clubs, many of the establishments are sea facing offering fantastic sunset views and amazing wind down sunrise parties. Caprice Bar offers an upmarket party atmosphere with stunningly beautiful views over the calm waters and the famous windmills. For many party lovers the party begins late afternoon with many getting swept up in the atmosphere and staying in Tropicana Beach Bar throughout the night instead of going back to the hotel for that all important power nap and something to eat.

Full Story from Travelbite

Click here for gay travel resources in Greece.

From Athens to Singapore Part 1 of 12: Greece

by Mike Shaughnessy, Traveler

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Purple Roofs is happy to welcome back an old friend. Last time, Mike regaled us with tales of his trip through South America. This time, he brings us details from his two month trip from Greece to Singapore. Enjoy!

ATHENS:

This city was my first stop for three day visit before boarding the cruise ship. I left home for San Francisco airport noon Fri 23 OCT and arrived Athens 7:30pm Sat 24 OCT for the beginning of this two month journey.

The Lufthansa check-in lady suggested I also check my handbag in addition to my one roller bag so that I could travel hands-free. So I hesitantly handed her the small leather handbag to check with my one suitcase, as she said, two bags can be checked for free. The flight was smooth including meals and drinks, only a minor irritation of many hours delay of the connecting flight in Frankfurt due to bad weather in Germany.

Upon Athens arrival I navigated in the dark without a single misstep all the way from Athens airport, stopping at airport info for transport and city maps, the ATM for Euros, riding the new ultra modern clean metro to city center and then walking about three blocks to my reserved hotel.

After a refreshing shower I slept very well. Sunday morning the hotel-included breakfast was huge and wonderful and counted as two meals for me each day. The only major problem came when I unpacked and discovered that my Sony digital camera, its charger, spare battery and three camera memory sticks, all packaged together, had been lifted out of my handbag in airport operations somewhere between San Francisco, Frankfurt and Athens.

On Sunday most everything is closed in Athens but this gave me time to explore on foot and make plans. My first time in Athens was in 1970 as part of my seven month drive tour of 14 countries in Europe that year, right after my discharge from the Army. The second time in Athens was about 1985 as a couple day stop over on my way to Mykonos Island vacation, so this is my third visit.

Some observations: Athens is still a crowded city where one third of Greece’s population lives, I guess about 5 million people; there are still mostly dirty ugly architecture buildings but the millions of Euros from the recent 2004 Olympics has brought some new buildings, very clean streets and parks, a marvelous clean and safe new metro system, and thankfully all signs now are not only in the Greek language but also in English. This is now fall, the cooler rainy season with temps in the 60-72 range, there were thunder and rain showers off and on the first two days.

The ancient, narrow cobbled winding streets of the old Plaka neighborhood near the Acropolis (walking distance from my hotel) are a favorite place to stroll by millions of locals and tourists alike until the wee hours of the mornings. Something California did decades ago, in July of this year Athens implemented a no smoking law inside all public buildings, restaurants and hotels. Most but not all people have fallen into line and go outside to smoke.

In addition to the must-see Acropolis ruins on the hill, there is the National Archaeological Museum, the Herod Atticus Theater, the ancient Agora (marketplace) and just opened in June this year the huge Acropolis Museum built to house 4,000 statues and artwork from the Acropolis. In addition to the commercial ever-present hop-on hop-off $30 open top tourist sightseeing bus that has now sprouted in every major world city, Athens operates its own public “tourist bus” line #400 which for a single 5 Euro ticket good for 24 hours covers more sites than you can see with its 20 scheduled stops.

A big part of the educational ‘fun’ in traveling is learning new cultures and customs of your new friends. In general the Greeks love and take great pride in their history. Fresh fish is a big part of their diet (you can see the ocean from atop the Acropolis hill).

Being 30 minutes late to an agreed upon meeting time is considered being ‘on time’ - after all Athens has one of the world's worst traffic conditions - but with ever-present cell phones, if more than 30 minutes over, you should phone.

Dinner typically starts at 9pm, not 10pm which is customary in Spain. But best not to make any after-dinner plans as dinner will likely take all night. Sharing each other’s food at dinner is normal.

Most shops and businesses close up between 2:30pm to 5:30pm and therefore it is considered rude to phone someone at home between 3pm and 5pm, but after 5pm until 11pm is OK.

Then there are the Greek normal cultural non-verbal gestures; men friends may kiss on each cheek when greeting one another, similar to our handshake; a raising of the eyebrows means ‘no’; a tilt of the head down and to the side means ‘yes’; a raising of your palm pointed outward does not mean stop, it means ‘go to hell’. How would you know?

Athens has won the war on wires; there are no visible wires hanging anywhere on the streets but just as spectacularly, Athens totally lost the war on graffiti; ugly graffiti covers most everything everywhere.

Walking back to my hotel one evening I ventured off the main path and accidentally happened upon the corner full of night ‘working girls’; they were very aggressive coming right up and touching you.

I bought an integrated three-day transportation ticket good on all types of trams, busses and trains; but found I did not use it much in favor of just walking most places. The roof top bar of my hotel has a great view of the Acropolis.

Departing Athens was as easy as arrival from the airport, only this time after walking a few blocks from the hotel back to the subway station I took a different Metro line which in 20 minutes time dropped me right off at Pireas where the cruise ships dock.

I board the Oceania Nautica, my home to the Greek Islands, Turkey and many more countries to come in the next seven weeks.

PS: Right in Athens main Syntagma Square there is a large electronics shop selling everything from TVs, video games, computers and … digital cameras. Some more of my Athens photos are at: http://picasaweb.google.com/SFO.Mike/200924AthensGreece#

GREEK ISLANDS:

There are over 2,000 Greek Islands but only about 200 of them are inhabited. I am visiting six of the 20 or so “major well known” Greek Islands on this world wind trip. These are the touristy islands, if you want pure relaxation it would be better to go to one of the lesser known smaller islands for peace and quite.

Crete: The first one I visited this trip is also the largest Greek Island; Crete, docking at the port city of Aghios Nikolaos (St. Nickolas). During Ancient Greece the continental land of Greece was much larger than today extending up to parts of France, Spain, Italy and North Africa all contained colonies of Greece. In those early 1,000 years BC ancient Greeks believed in their many mythological Gods. There was a god of fertility, a god of agriculture, and so on. The supreme God or father of all the Gods though was Zeus. The ancient Greeks believed that Zeus was born in a limestone cave on the island of Crete. Many Greeks would spend a year on a pilgrimage to reach that island cave site to make an offering to Zeus. In today’s Christian world the city of Bethlehem and the manger would be the equivalent of this limestone cave birthplace of Zeus. The Island of Crete has 5% of Greece’s population, 6% of its land mass, and produces 32% of its olive oil. One of the US military bases here was one of those shut down during the Clinton years. Cousin Peggy told me that her husband, Dwight, spent 18 months on Crete when he was in the air force. http://picasaweb.google.com/SFO.Mike/200926CreteGreece#

Corfu: When I first arrived on Corfu the winds were blowing and torrential rains were pouring. The forecast was for the same all day. Fortunately a couple of hours later the rain stopped, the sun came out and it was a pleasant day for a stroll around the historical city of Corfu on this Island of Corfu. While walking around the historical city my mind jumped back to hints of old Havana Cuba… because of the lack of maintenance on the old buildings that were falling apart, in various states of disrepair much like in Cuba. The island of Corfu is one of the most popular with summer vacationers, considered the greenest and prettiest of the Greek islands. The island was ruled for 400 years by the Venetians, then by the French until the British took control of it and finally was ceded back to be part of the country of Greece. It is the most northern of all the islands. http://picasaweb.google.com/SFO.Mike/200928CorfuGR#

Katakolon-Olympia: Technically this is not an island. It is part of continental Greece. The cutting of the Corinth Canal sort of makes this a man-made island but one you can drive to over the canal bridge. Ancient Olympia of course was the birthplace of the Olympic Games, first held in 776 BC. At that time the Olympic Games were open only to honorable Greek men and were performed in the nude, once every four years. Initially it was only a foot race, later boxing, chariot racing, discuss throwing and other sports were added. It also involved rituals to the Gods, primarily Zeus, in the various temples which were also on the site. It is estimated that the ivory and gold statue of Zeus here was about 40 feet tall. The games came to an end about a thousand years later around 400 AD when kill-sport Emperor Theodosius banned them. The site of Olympia, just like all the other major ancient Greek structures, was eventually destroyed by massive earthquakes. All of Greece is a very seismic active area. The modern Olympic Games began in Athens, Greece in 1896 to promote a more peaceful world. It was just ten days ago that the Olympic torch was lit here via the sun and began its journey to Vancouver Canada, the site of the next games. http://picasaweb.google.com/SFO.Mike/200929OlympiaGreece#

Santorini: This island is the site of an old volcano and Santorini is likely the island visited by the largest number of tourists in the summer season, which has already ended by now. It is a crescent shaped island as one side of the volcano fell off in a massive explosion allowing the center cauldron to fill with ocean water. The inside vertical cliff of the cauldron extends about one thousand feet straight up out of the ocean. The high rim of the crater is topped with many bright white-washed homes giving the appearance from a distance of snow capped mountains. There are three ways to get from the ocean up to the village at the top of the rim: walk 580 steps up, rent a donkey to ride up, or ride the new cable car and be there in three minutes. Either a donkey or the cable car each cost 4 Euro. The first major eruption of this volcano, considered the largest in the last 10,000 years, was in 1,650 BC and some speculate it might have covered the lost city of Atlantis. The most recent eruption, much smaller, was in 1956. http://picasaweb.google.com/SFO.Mike/200930SantoriniGreece#

Delos: This small island is no longer inhabited. Today it is just one huge pile of rocks, lots of ruins from magnificent buildings of long ago when it was both the religious and political center of Aegean. Today this island is basically one big open air museum of ruins. It is located just a few miles from the port of Mykonos Island.

Mykonos: One of the most famous islands of Greece was made so by Jackie O. Mykonos town is a colorful maze of narrow paved with white washed stone path ways with side to side white washed homes usually with bright blue doors and blue painted shuttered windows. It is a reflection of the Greek flag which consists only of blue and white colors. On the hill above the village is the five wind mills and along one edge of the port the cluster of restaurants, bars and shops referred to as little Venice. The locals have a healthy understanding of how to have a good time and this is the island where you can party until dawn in one of the several clubs. All buildings are no more than two stories tall by law on all the islands, because of the earthquakes. If you build more than two stories the state has the right to tear down your home. Mykonos Island also has some of the best sandy beaches. It sort of strikes me that many of the villagers on the Greek Islands share one existence similar to San Franciscans: living every day with the knowledge that sooner or later the next big earthquake will send their little white cube houses tumbling into the sea. http://picasaweb.google.com/SFO.Mike/200931MykonosGreece#

Rhodes: One of the seven ancient wonders of the world (all are now totally gone except for the pyramids) was the Colossus of Rhodes. They are quite sure that the Colossus of Rhodes existed as a massive 105 foot tall statue but they cannot agree on where this huge statue stood on Rhodes or what it even looked like. Most agree that it certainly did NOT straddle the entrance to the harbor with one leg on each side of the harbor entrance, this version of its location is pure fiction, but not much else is agreed upon. Rhodes struck me as one of the more beautiful islands with its massive walled old town. Many of the ruins and castle here were rebuilt by the Italians during the years of their occupation. Rhodes, in Greek Rodos, means the flower rose. It is a UNESCO cultural heritage location. In mythology Rhodes was the island of the Sun God Helios. There is also some Turkish influence since this Greek Island lies only a few miles from the coast of Turkey. http://picasaweb.google.com/SFO.Mike/200932RhodesGreece#

Check back next month for Mike's visit to Turkey!

Gay Park City, Utah

You may have missed Sundance Film Festival in January - and if you love cinema and celebrity spotting, it's a must-go event - but there’s still a huge variety of reasons to visit this winter.

It’s not simply thanks to its postcard-like setting amidst snow-covered mountains soaring up to 10,000 feet into deep blue skies. Nor is it solely thanks to the incredible skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities available at its three principle ski resorts - Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and The Canyons Resort. It's not just due to its status as a liberal blue island in a sea of red, making it a natural choice for gay and lesbian travelers looking for some queer-friendly outdoor fun this winter.

It's for all these reasons plus the genuinely friendly welcome you’ll receive whether whizzing down the slopes, sipping an après-ski drink at the lodge, or enjoying some up-and-coming rock band at a bar on Main Street downtown. If this isn't enough, here are another seven reasons to put Park City on your travel gaydar this winter.

Full Story from SDGLN
Click here for gay travel resources in Utah.

Moseying Through History: Santa Fe's Museums

by Linda, La Casa Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Ask five different people what's great about visiting Santa Fe, and you will get way more than five answers. People enthuse about the food, the inclusive community, the unique shopping opportunities, the sunshine 325 days a year, the rich tri-cultural history, the vibrant arts scene, and much more.

They may forget to mention that the heart of the city is very compact. A multi-faceted Santa Fe experience is available on foot, while saving your automobile rental dollars for something more gratifying. This is especially true for museum buffs. Between the art galleries and the historical buildings, half the town looks like a museum, but eleven museum collections reside within five blocks of the central Plaza.

Start at the New Mexico State Capitol Building to see a sample of paintings, sculpture, photographs, lithographs, pottery, weaving, and just about every other New Mexico art form that doesn’t require live performance. There is no charge for admission to the Capitol building, which is interesting in itself as the only round U.S. state capitol. The surrounding grounds have sculptures representing many of New Mexico’s outstanding artists, as well as landscaping with a variety of native plants. You may take a self-guided tour, or arrange for a guided tour by appointment: www.collectorsguide.com/sf/sffa10.shtml.

When were you last asked to touch the sculptures in an art exhibit? Just north of the state capitol, the Bataan Memorial Building Atrium Gallery features the Touching Beauty exhibit. Sculptor Michael Naranjo lost his sight, the use of one arm, and most of the use his other hand in the Vietnam War. Nevertheless, he pursued his sculpture. Follow the artist's vision, as you touch and explore the bronzes with your hands as well as with your eyes: www.collectorsguide.com/fa/fa116.shtml.

Located in the newly developed Railyard District, SITE Santa Fe does not hold permanent collections, but rather presents exhibitions of contemporary arts. Biennial exhibitions, developed around particular themes, provide a showcase for internationally recognized artists. They open in even-numbered years, usually in midsummer. Additional, shorter exhibitions and lecture series vary throughout the year: www.sitesantafe.org.

Also in the Railyard District, you find El Museo Cultural. El Museo was developed to showcase and promote Hispanic culture and learning. Although Northern New Mexico traditions are featured, the art, history, and culture of the larger Hispanic community are celebrated as well. The museum also hosts community-oriented events, classes and workshops. www.elmuseocultural.org.

Moving to the north, locate the Santuario de Guadalupe. This large, adobe structure has a somewhat mysterious history - some sources suggest it was built in the late 1600's, others cite early 1700s or even 1800s. Clearly, there has been rebuilding and remodeling at various periods, and the Santuario now serves as a museum and a popular site for weddings and community oriented activities. You can visit to see a collection of Mexican baroque and Italian Renaissance paintings, and New Mexican santos (carved images of saints.) A large statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe graces the patio to the north, and rose gardens glorify the image.

Onward to the five museums closest to the Plaza, in the heart of the city:

The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum is the only museum in the United States dedicated entirely to the works of a woman artist, and is the most-visited museum in New Mexico. O'Keeffe's works rotate through the museum throughout the year, with approximately 50 selections on view at any given time. In addition, the Museum presents special exhibitions either devoted entirely to O'Keeffe's work or combining examples of her art with works by her American modernist contemporaries: www.okeeffemuseum.org.

Founded in 1917, the New Mexico Museum of Art focuses on work produced in or related to New Mexico. Long-term exhibits are augmented by special projects devoted to a particular artist or New Mexico theme. The west wing of the museum houses St. Francis Auditorium, one of Santa Fe’s premier performance spaces. www.nmartmuseum.org

The Spanish colonial government built the adobe Palace of the Governors in the 1600s to house its representatives. In this, the oldest continuously occupied public building in the United States, exhibitions draw on the museum’s collection to highlight New Mexico history. An additional attraction is the Portal Program, where over 900 Native American artists rotate to sell authentic arts and crafts from New Mexico, the Navajo Nation, and parts of Arizona: www.palaceofthegovernors.org/.

Step through the Palace of the Governors courtyard, and enter the New Mexico History Museum. Initially opened in 2009, the core exhibit tells New Mexico history from the pre-colonial era to the present. Although tangible artifacts are generously displayed, the emphasis is upon the interweaving of peoples and events which developed present-day New Mexico: www.nmhistorymuseum.org/.

A block from the east side of the Plaza, you'll find the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum. The Institute is a multi-tribal four-year fine arts college, and the Museum provides exhibit space for work by contemporary Native American artists, including IAIA students. It also serves as a resource for training the students in skills which prepare them to work as museum professionals: www.iaia.edu/museum/info.php.

Those who wish to venture a bit farther afield can catch a ride on the city Museum Bus route to Museum Hill, with four more extraordinary offerings:

Museum of Spanish Colonial Art: www.spanishcolonial.org/

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, and Laboratory of Anthropology: www.indianartsandculture.org/

Museum of International Folk Art: www.internationalfolkart.org/

The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian: www.wheelwright.org/

Lastly, the city hosts two additional museums eight blocks from the Plaza, on the Old Santa Fe Trail:

The Santa Fe Children's Museum provides hands-on educational exhibits, and a climbing wall helps kids burn off some energy in a safe environment. www.santafechildrensmuseum.org/

The Bataan Memorial Military Museum tells the tale of the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery Regiments, who were captured on Bataan when the Japanese overran the island in 1942. They endured captivity for one and a half years, losing half their members in the ordeal. The collection of artifacts and memorabilia from World War II is steadily growing. www.angelfire.com/nm/bcmfofnm/museum/militarymuseum.html.

Make your stay in Santa Fe special by staying in the fully-furnished, historic José D Sena House. We have been happy to live in Santa Fe for over thirty years, and would like to help you have a happy stay in our historic dwelling. Here in the Guadalupe district, you will be near the Plaza, the Lensic Performing Arts Center, the Sanbusco Center, the Railyard District, and the Santa Fe River, as well as downtown museums and a bus link to Museum Hill.

You will be staying in rooms with 12 foot ceilings, in which you can still see hand-hewn boards and vigas, along with bits of the adobe that originally served for the roof. But never fear, there are modern touches such as electricity and indoor plumbing! See our home page at www.lacasasantafe.com for our rates, and for clickable links to information about nearby restaurants, shopping, museums, outdoor activities, and more. You can contact us at 505-231-6670, or lacasasantafe@comcast.net.

Sydney Mardi Gras Mixes Pride and Politics

The Australian annual ‘Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade’ on Saturday witnessed tens and thousands of people dancing and carousing their way through the streets of Sydney – some attired in classy costumes; while others ‘clothed’ merely in body paint and barest-minimum leaves.

The parade – which began in 1978 essentially as a protest march by homosexual and transsexual men and women – is currently one of the world’s biggest and most glitzy gay pride events.

This year’s event featured the theme, “History of the World” - a peek at gay history; and boasted the involvement of as many as 9,400 participants. The nearly 135 floats, which rolled out from William Square, were led by the well-known transsexual Amanda Lepore, who was scantily-dressed in a diamante G-string, and seated in an open-top Mercedes.

Full Story from Top News

Click here for gay travel resources in Sydney, Australia.

Exploring the Cevennes Mountains in Southeastern France

by Helmut, La Vieille Maison, Durfort, France

Email Helmut | Visit the La Vieille Maison Website

Visit the Purple Roofs Southeastern France Page

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The Cevennes: large protected mountain areas, unforgettable landscapes, abundant nature, and an original and intriguing history: an ensemble of unique, protected tourism resources.

Mount Cévenole is a series of crests, stretching from Aigoual (1 567 meters) to Mont Lozère (1,702 meters), its slopes covered in a vast carpet of oak, chestnut trees and shrubs.

The Cévenol hamlets and villages nestled therein are one of the region's hidden treasures. The southern flank of the mountain is dotted with Mediterranean streams, natural vestiges of nature from another time, such as the Cirque de Navacelles.

To the west, the desertscape of Causse Méjan plays host to living species that thrive in a continental climate, such as bisons or Przewalski horses. The gorges of the Tarn snake beneath its feet.

This land of traditional values and hospitality is opening up to the idea of a tourism that respects both man and his environment. A large part of this region is classified as a National Park or a global biosphere reserve. Locals born here or elsewhere have the know-how of true artisans, and still raise goats, sheep and cattle here. Visitors can enjoy products fresh from the land, artistic creations, a personalised welcome. basically, may share this region with its inhabitants for the duration of their stay.

"...a land of freedom and independence, where man has often found refuge. Shepherds, pilgrims, persecuted Protestants, rebels, '70s hippies, and minorities of all kinds have come to the Cevennes to escape the law and the hard ways of the world. This reputation endures still, but now that a return to nature is in style, this area has also been revealed to be one of the best for tourist destinations and landscape." --Guide du Routard Languedoc Roussillon 2006

The Cevennes has never been a single united geographic or administrative area. It is currently divided into 5 departements and 3 regions, whose boundaries have changed greatly over the years. This mountainous chain, starting at the Narouze sill and reaching the level of the Canal du Centre, has often been described as the division between the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

However, history and culture have fashioned a little country emerge from this vast area that is keenly aware of its own identity, and which the Scottish writer Stevenson named, in 1878, as "pure bred Cevennes" or the "Cevennes from Cevennes", which has been memorialised in literature, especially by Jean-Pierre Chabrol, as "La Cévenne".

The Cevennes is, simultaneously, a region, a culture, a memory, identities and a claim of belonging. This Cevennes only exists through the people who have made it and who perpetuate it. It is identifiable by the vectors of its character: Protestantism, anthropisation of the landscape, chestnut trees, and silk.

The Cevennes landscape is not very high, but it has steep slopes and a succession of crests and narrow valleys that are completely enclosed.

To survive here, man had to completely adjust to the land. It's area that has been built upon, humanised, and its landscapes tamed. Geographers, historians and visitors recognize its two principal traits: the terraces and the water systems.

The Cevennes feature a gigantic amphitheatre of terraces: the natural slopes have been replaced by the continuous piles of terraces, bancels or faissas, running from the valley floor right up to the hill crest. This gigantic work often required that stone and, especially, earth was transported on men's backs using large baskets called terrairaus, which were also used for carrying manure and bringing in the harvest.

The region's water supply also creates a paradox: a shortage in one moment, and too much the next. The Cevennes Mediterranean climate is typified by dry summer periods which are followed by diluvial rainfalls that causes deep and highly destructive erosions and flooding that are as sudden as they are violent.

Man has, through his water system, structured the whole of the territory with a very tight network to both protect himself from this destructive water and to capture it, store it and transport it to satisfy his needs.

Paragliding, mongolfieres, and kayaking are just some of the activities that allow you to come into contact with the beauty of nature in this part of France. The region is close to the Mediteranean Sea - you can enjoy the beauty of the French Coastline and its culture.

At the border of this national park, you'll find a 500 year-old, typical cevennol stonehouse and silk factory - La Vieille Maison-Halte Gourmande. Our home is located in the calm countryside on the borders of the Cevennes Mountains, in a small dale, encircled by woods and vinyards. From this old stonehouse, you'll enjoy a wonderful view into the valley and onto the Cevennes mountains. Across a long arch in stones where, every year, the swallows come to build their nests of loam, its entrance leads up to the inner covered courtyard - a great place to sit in the shade during the warm afternoon hours, or to enjoy gourmet diners from our halte gourmande.

From the courtyard, you have also access to the balcony, covered with the Wisteria, and to the ancient part of our guesthouse, with its rooms and dining facilities for the winter, as well as the spacious living room with its chimney. The terrace on the roof is encircled with thundred-year-old ancient Wisteria - the perfect place to rest or dine in the spring or fall.

Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus Releases New Gayborhood Map

The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus unveiled the third installment of its Gayborhood map and merchant guide this week, with a fresh, new look that represents several local agencies’ commitment to heightening the city’s reputation as a top LGBT travel destination. The map was spearheaded by PGTC’s marketing committee, which began working on redeveloping the agency’s existing guide nearly a year ago.

The newly designed product, which was again sponsored by original partners Center City District and Enterprise Rent-a-Car, also garnered sponsorship from Philadelphia Magazine, which served as an editorial and production partner.

Tami Sortman, president of the PGTC, said the redesigned guide reflects the increase of gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses throughout the city.

Full Story from Philadelphia Gay News
Click here for gay travel resources in Philadelphia.

New Gay Marketing Survey Planned in 14 Countries in Europe & Latin America

Stretching through 14 countries right across Latin America and Europe, the world's largest gay market research study ever to be undertaken is about to launch. Developed by Out Now - a leading specialist global marketing agency - the new study will survey lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people living in fourteen countries. From Mexico's border with Texas right across the world to Israel and to the top of Sweden - this will be the most comprehensive study of its kind ever to be undertaken.

With an overall population of three quarters of a billion, these regions are home to more than 35 million lesbian and gay people living diverse lives. It is the first time a gay community targeted market study has been conducted across so many countries at one time.

The countries being surveyed in the "2010 Out Now Global LGBT Market Study" are: in Latin America - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay; and, in Europe -- France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK. The study will cover many areas including consumer habits, incomes, education levels, media usage, parenting, relationships, travel, employment, discrimination, equality concerns, aspirations and more.

Full Story from PR Newswire
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Olivia Lesbian Cruises Celebrates 20 Years

Olivia, the definitive leader of lesbian travel, celebrates its 20th year of chartering cruises and resort vacations. Morphing from the groundbreaking record label in the 70's to the largest company catering solely to lesbians today, Olivia has continued to change and grow to meet the needs of the community it has served for almost 4 decades.

"Olivia was created to serve a lesbian market that ranges from women who must live quietly in suburbia, to women who have the freedom to walk the streets holding hands. I am extremely blessed to have been part of this amazing experience. When the company launched 35 years ago, I never dreamed Olivia would become the company that it is today," says Judy Dlugacz, President and Founder of Olivia.

Olivia chartered its first cruise in 1990, a 600 passenger ship with Dolphin Cruise Lines. "When we first began, no one wanted our business," said Jill Cruse, Olivia's VP of Guest Experience. "They were afraid of a backlash. Now we are one of the biggest clients of Holland America and Club Med resorts. We have over 2000 passengers on our Caribbean ships and go everywhere from the Galapagos Islands to Africa."

Full Story from PR Web
Click here for gay travel resources.

MA: Springfield Ranks High as a Gay Friendly City

Nobody ranks Springfield along with San Francisco, New York City or Northampton as one of America's gayest cities, right? Wrong. Actually, Springfield rates higher than those gay-friendly Meccas in a new survey published by The Advocate, a monthly magazine that chronicles gay culture.

In a top 15 of gay-embracing communities, Springfield finished in 13th position, between San Diego, Calif., and Asheville, N.C. The top three, in descending order, were: Iowa City, Iowa; Burlington, Vt.; and Atlanta, Ga.

The findings comes as a surprise to gays and just about everyone else in Springfield, better known as the birthplace of basketball and hometown of Smith & Wesson firearms, than as an oasis of gay culture.

Full Story from Mass Live
Click here for gay travel resources in Massachusetts' Connecticut River Valley.

Vancouver's Pride House: A Safe Place for Gay/Lesbian Olympians

So about five of us were lounging around the TV at a gay hangout called Pride House on the west end Friday, when the mayor suddenly walks in. No, that’s not the start of a cheeky joke, it’s actually a summary of how we spent our day.

Gregor Robertson was there because that’s what you do when you’re a progressive politician who made his money selling organic juice and still rides his bike to work when weather permits: You embrace whatever constituency will hug you back.

It would seem like he's got enough to do with a city of two million people and the Winter Olympics in his front yard, but he seems like a guy who can multitask.

Full Story from NJ.com
Click here for gay travel resources in Vancouver.

Philadelphia Gay Tourism spotlights 'Gayborhood' With New Map

The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus will launch a campaign aimed at making it easier for the city’s visitors to get around.

The campaign will inclulde a map of the “Gayborhood” and include listings and information about gay-friendly businesses in the city. It will highlight restaurants, hotels, retailers, bars and restaurants and other businesses. The Gayborhood is an area in Center City encompassing roughly from 13th and Locust streets to 10th and Pine streets.

The Gay Tourism Caucus, will release the Gayborhood Map and Merchant Guide on Feb. 22, said the campaign is further acknowlegement that the gay travel market is booming business, an estimated $54.1 billion market worldwide.

Full Story from the Philadelphia Business Journal
Click here for gay travel resources in Philadelphia.

Many Gays/Lesbians Stayed Home for Vacations in 2009

In a down economy, "staycations" are just the ticket for LGBT people desiring a little escape, and are a bright spot in a gay travel industry hit by last year's recession, according to the recently released "14th Annual Gay and Lesbian Tourism Report."

The online study, conducted in October and November 2009, compiled responses from 4,726 self-identified gay and lesbian consumers of LGBT media and events. (The Bay Area Reporter was a participating newspaper.) A majority of respondents were gay men (75 percent) and white (87 percent) with lesbians (25 percent), bisexuals (3 percent), and transgenders (1 percent) rounding out the survey. Other ethnicities that responded to the survey included Latino (5 percent), African American (3 percent), Asian (2 percent), and other/mixed (3 percent). The report was released at the end of 2009.

Business and cruise travel were hit the hardest, in spite of more LGBT individuals hitting the high seas during the past year than their heterosexual counterparts (as had been the case in previous years), indicating that "LGBT travelers are a viable cruise market even in down economies," according to the report.

Full Story from the Bay Area Reporter
Click here for gay travel resources.

Australia: Gay Travel Expo in Sydney February 26th

More than 20 travel exhibitors from places as exotic as South America through to Asia will bring the best travel deals to town on February 26. The Out Gay and Lesbian Travel Expo, at the Marriott Hotel from 5.30pm, will bring together the best in gay and lesbian travel opportunities.

The man behind the expo, Out Travel’s Reece Farmilo, said it was a chance for the community to talk to supportive travel and tourism operators from around the globe.

“Out Travel has been up and running for three years, and over that period we have build strong relations with airlines, wholesalers, tour operators and hotels who are very supportive of us as a specialised gay travel company,” he said.

Full Story from SSO
Click here for gay travel resources.

Visiting Gay Taipei

Taipei, Taiwan’s vibrant capital, has opened itself up as the flourishing gay capital of Taiwan, with a gay and lesbian scene that has seen it dubbed the new San Francisco of Asia. The Taiwanese people are amongst the friendliest in the world and have a good sense of humour and the gay scene is friendlier and more relaxed than Singapore’s or Bangkok’s.

Like most gay capitals, Taipei is home to the Taiwan LGBT Pride Parade, the largest gay pride parade in Asia.

Dubbed Love Out Loud! The Power of Love Conquers Discrimination, Taipei’s seventh annual gay pride parade was held on October 31, 2009. More than 25,000 people showed up to march.
During the year, several gay and lesbian parties are held at Taipei’s most popular LGBT hotspot Luxy, including Sista Jumpa, Lesz Meeting and the traditional end-of-year Gay Dance Party, held on Christmas Eve.

Full Story from SSO

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Cologne a Liberal (and Gay Friendly) Destination

THE man in the wig and Baroque garb is regaling us with nose-wrinkling tales of whale vomit – peculiar stuff in a perfumery. At the nearby Romano-Germanic Museum, a school party is being lectured on what Dionysos, centrepiece of their great mosaic, got up to. One of their number is sporting a stick-on moustache (he has to keep nudging it back under his nose). Other kids around town have painted-on beards and funny hats.

In a tavern full of middle aged troughers, all spangly costumes and rouged cheeks, I order a Halver Hahn – which in German has to mean half a chicken – and get served Dutch cheese in a rye roll... with a beer in what appears to be a large test tube.
Cologne, is a very odd place. But for a weekend away a very gemutlich one, as the locals might say.

The amazing twin-spired Cathedral apart, there’s nowhere better to start than at the wellspring of its most famous export.

Full Story from Manchester Confidential
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Gay Mardi Gras Krewes A Unique Part of New Orleans' Carnival

Ty Johnson is more than willing to suffer for the sake of beauty. Johnson, who describes his usual persona as "frumpy," is shucking off that image for the night. As the queen of the Mystic Krewe of Satyricon's Carnival ball, Young is guaranteed at least one night of glamour. "I am not a cross dresser, but a chance like this comes once in a lifetime," Johnson gasped as David Jackson pulled the laces on his corset tighter.

Gay balls are one of the more popular parts of Carnival season, with gay and straight guests attending to see the glitzy costumes and elaborate tableaus. Unfortunately, not as many are flocking to join the krewes themselves, which has Young and others worried about their future. "People just aren't joining the krewes like they used to," Johnson said. "I think there are a lot of other things attracting people now."

Carl Mack, a longtime member, agreed, noting that Halloween has become a major event in the city. "Some people would rather put their costume money and energy there," he said.

Full Story from Victoria Advocate
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Lesbian Couple from LA on the Amazing Race

"The Race is an amazing opportunity to go travel with Brandy for several weeks, and to see new places, and experience new things, and have those kind of challenges we'll be faced with. And really see how we react and do as a couple. And not kind of bitch and moan and gripe at each other..."

Brandy and I want to be the first female team to win 'The Amazing Race.' No two women have won. So, in addition to showing that we're every bit as good as men, and probably better at asking directions, which I think will be our strength.... I think there'll be a cross section of opinions about us. I think people, unfortunately who've never been around gay women are going to have some pre-determined points of view an opinions that, you know, hopefully, we can change some hearts and minds that way.''

Carol Rosenfeld, a 47-year-old consultant, and Brandy Snow, a 40-year-old actress. The two women from Los Angeles are going to be one of the several pairs of contestants on CBS TV network's latest round of the long-running series, "The Amazing Race."

Full Story from Metro Weekly

Click here for gay travel resources.

New $20 Million Gay Resort Planned for New York City

At a time when city officials nervously double-check and then triple-check their once confident projections about tourism growth and more than a few gay locals grumble about the dearth of fresh nightlife choices, a $20 million project could bring nearly 80,000 square feet in tourism and dance club space to West 42nd Street — in the form of New York’s first full-service gay hotel and the first new nightclub serving the LGBT community in more than five years to have a cabaret license, needed if patrons wish to dance.

Officially described as “The Out NYC: a hospitality and entertainment destination geared to the gay community,” the project, due to be completed by early next year, is informally dubbed “a hetero-friendly urban resort” by its developers.

In addition to 123 guest rooms and a 10,000-square-foot dance club capable of serving 750 patrons, the project — which will renovate a three-story building originally developed as a Travel Inn in 1960 to accommodate the crowds expected at the 1964 World’s Fair and later used by the Red Cross, before it was abandoned several years ago — will also include a gym, spa, restaurant, and 24/7 café, making it the most ambitious commercial development ever to court New York’s gay community.

Full Story from Gay City News
Click here for gay travel resources in New York.

Sweden: Lawmaker With Drag Persona's Travel Junket Questioned

In Parliament he's Fredrick Federley, a serious and respected representative of the small Center Party. But a few times a year he becomes Ursula, a "grandiose diva" with curved eyelashes, pouting lips and skimpy dresses. In tolerant Sweden, the 32-year-old politician's cross-dressing habit only became an issue this week, when critics questioned who accepted an alleged junket to the sun-soaked Canary Islands: Fredrik the lawmaker or Ursula the drag queen?

Federley makes no secret of his penchant for dressing in high heels, colorful wigs and heavy makeup. It has not been an issue in his party or in Parliament, and Federley says it doesn't affect voters' confidence in him as a politician. "The Swedish people are wise enough to see that they are two totally different things: When you're on official duty or when you're at a party as a hired entertainer," he told The Associated Press on Thursday.

But Sweden's biggest newspaper this week questioned whether the two personalities got mixed up when he moonlighted last month as a travel writer for hanky.se, a Web site catering to Sweden's gay community.

Full Story from ABC News
Click here for gay travel resources.

Tour Invites You to Travel, Compete, Win Big!

With the debut of 'The Amazing Race™' 16th hit season, 10 million viewers will be grumbling to themselves once again ‘I could do that!’ Well, grumble no more! The Chicago Tribune reports that finally, there is an 'Amazing Race™’ For Regular People.’

Competitours is a groundbreaking European team travel competition that pits the creativity, ingenuity, and wits of 17 pairs of teams vying for $9,000 in prizes. Over a 9-day mystery itinerary, teams will compete to accomplish a series of fun, quirky and interactive challenges.

Challenges will be held in a variety of must-see bustling big cities, under-the-radar cool spots and off-the-grid rural villages. The challenges will absorb teams in the diverse and fascinating cultures, peoples and places of four surprise European countries.

There are no auditions, extreme stunts or need for physical fitness or speed. Mastering the challenges is based on teams being savvy, resourceful, outgoing, even a bit zany at times, so ANYONE can play. Past teams have ranged from parent/child to best friends to honeymooners to retirees.

Each day, all 17 teams will receive a virtual mission packet with their following day's surprise destination(s) and 8-10 challenge options. Each team will choose the 3-4 challenges that best meet their touring preferences and route their daily itinerary using only public transport. Teams will enjoy the thrill of making snap decisions about the unfamiliar.

Challenge themes are about doing unusual and offbeat tasks in unexpected places, while still creating an understanding and appreciation of the host countries. Forget tourists that blindly follow the herd on a cookie cutter tour! Competitours puts you in the middle of the culture and then gives you a chance to investigate, navigate, research, be perplexed, be thrilled, ham it up, be bold, be curious... This goes way beyond site-seeing. This is site-doing!

Challenge themes include:

* Fusing history with pop culture
* Engaging locals and other tourists
* Exploring myths and legends
* Culinary samplings
* Delving into immigrant marketplaces
* Alpine roller coasters, labyrinths, indoor skiing


Teams score points by documenting each challenge they accomplish
via portable video camera with a lively and creative 30-60 second
on-camera narrative. Videos will be uploaded at the end of each day for the judges to evaluate and score. There are no eliminations and the number of challenges and points to pursue are capped each day, to ensure each trip is a blast, not a blur. Every team will be in contention for the $9,000 in prizes down to the final day.

All participants appreciate the rivalry during the day, which later transforms into revelry at night. Swapping challenge escapades, enjoying nightlife, and shopping together off-the-clock are integral in creating the best prize of all- --new friends with shared experiences.

George Clooney, star of the Oscar-Nominated film 'Up In The Air' earned a fictional 10 million miles. Competitours principal Steve Belkin is a bonafide mileage hound, generating over 22.5 million miles by flying on crazy fares like $38 in Business Class Toronto-Larnaca Cypress; having surrogate flyers in Thailand, New Zealand and Germany; buying thousands of magazines, sausages, trackable luggage tags. His unique love of travel is what helped inspire Competitours.

It’s time for fans of ‘The Amazing Race ™' or anyone with a zest for a breakthrough travel experience, to get off the couch, ditch the remote and find a partner to star in your own Amazing Race with Competitours! For more information, log onto www.competitours.com.