Gaycation Magazine Issue 8 August 2014 by Gaycation Magazine

Gaycation m

a FRESH take on GAY travel...

August 2014 Issue 8

Sept 4 - Sept 7

ntin e l a V r Hunte

Gloria Bigelow

Julie Goldman

Sandra Valls

“Dancing On Duval” Block Party • Pool Parties! Live Model Art Show • Watersports Island Ladies Home Tour • Beach Party!

KEY WEST

www.gaycationmagazine.com

womenfest.com gaykeywestfl.com 305-294-4603

Gaycation Magazine

www.gaycationmagazine.com Founder/Editor-in-Chief DJ Doran dj@gaycationmagazine.com Editor/IT/Marketing Joe Morales joe@gaycationmagazine.com Social Media/Circulation Tony Guadagnino tony@gaycationmagazine.com Contributors James Careless Travis Dietz Amandine Dowle Catherine Groux Gregory L. Kiep Tom Stockwell Doug White Advertising Department sales@gaycationmagazine.com

Gaycation m

a FRESH take on GAY travel...

Subscription Department subscriptions@gaycationmagazine.com Article and Photo Submissions editor@gaycationamagazine.com General Info travel@gaycationmagazine.com Send address changes and subscription info to: Gaycation Magazine 931W 75th St Suite 137-215 Naperville, IL 60565 Social Media GaycationMagazine GaycationMag +Gaycationmagazine1 GaycationMag gaycationmagazine gaycationmagazine August 2014 Issue 8

Gaycation Magazine

August 2014 Issue 8

About the Cover Photo: As we continue to explore our world, Gaycation Magazine remains committed to bringing our readers REAL travel information and insights beyond the black and white of ordinary LGBT destinations and events through stunning photography and content edited from a mature perspective. B&W world cities courtesy of www.123rf.com/profile_everythingpossible www.gaycationmagazine.com

Feast 36 An in-depth exploration of local dishes. Postcards 42 Gaycation photos from the world over Puerto Vallarta

There’s This Place... Recommendations of unusual LGBT destinations.

Out n About Stories about LGBT travelers

What Was I Thinking? 66 Stories submitted by Gaycationers about crazy experiences Book It! 70 Recommnedations of LGBT friendly hotels and resorts. The above photo is of Priscilla, our 1979 Blue Bird Wanderlodge motorhome. We traveled from Chicago to NY, Vermont, Maine, to Florida. It was a great Out n About TV Roadtrip we hope to do again soon.

CONTENTS

Letter from the Editor

Gaycationers 74 Meet some of the incredible people that have become part of our family of Gaycationers. Southern Maine AIDS Walk 78 Follow up brief on the May fundraiser held in Ogunquit Maine

The Wire 10 Cruising Corner LGBT travel news and information, ranging from hotel openings to travel planning Advertising Index tips. Costa Rica 22 EVENTS 31 Found It! 33 Travel products to help you get through your gaycation with ease. www.gaycationmagazine.com

84 90

COLUMNS

Greg’s Gaycations 16 Gregory Kiep takes you on an adventure Guys World Travel 84 Doug White’s cruise ship travel guide Gaycation Magazine

Letter from the Editor

Now for the hard part… The first issue is behind us and with it, all of the fear, self-doubt, and craziness that came with the birthing process of Gaycation Magazine. We have survived printing delays, distribution chaos and a plethora of other unexpected potential catastrophes, but we did it! We felt like parents in the delivery room watching our first child being born into the world. The feeling of absolute terror and elation that we often experienced during the creating process, and ahead of the birth, were now being replaced by sheer exhaustion and a sense of peace and calm as we let go and trusted others with the last part of the process, distribution. It has now been several weeks since that momentous occasion and we are well into the final processes of creating our August issue. We have been both encouraged and challenged by all of the support and feedback we have received, but we also know that we cannot rest on the laurels of our recent achievement. Months ago when we first discussed the concept of Gaycation Magazine we realized from the very beginning that we wanted the magazine to be personal and connected to our readers, like a good friend, someone you trusted and to whom you would go to for advice and insight about Gay travel. We were determined to create and foster 6

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a personal connection with our readers in which, over time would become comfortable, familiar, and based on trust and integrity. Our focus was never to create yet another travel magazine that used its pages to speak AT you about where you should go or what you should do, but rather we wanted to create a magazine that inspired you to travel and explore by providing relevant information and insights from both professional and everyday travelers, sharing their unique perspectives, experiences and travel tips because they had already “been there and done that”. I look forward to getting to know you as we continue to publish Gaycation Magazine, providing our readers a “fresh” take on LGBT travel using visually stunning photography and mature editorial content as our introduction. Finally, as in any family, and yes, we consider you, our readers, our family, we have basked in your praise of what you thought we did right and winced at the sting of your brutally honest criticisms of what we did wrong and quite frankly, we wouldn’t have it any other way. We encourage you to continue to challenge us to be better, to be different and to remain personal and connected to you, because in the end, Gaycation Magazine is for YOU and about YOU. DJ www.gaycationmagazine.com

PROVINCETOWN your vacation just got sexier

PTOWN.ORG

The Wire

LGBT travel news and information, ranging from new hotel/resort openings to cruise itineraries and travel planning tips and products and services that we like

Dining: You will Eat With a Local

The underground supper club is coming into the light. A slew of websites are enabling home cooks—amateurs and professionals alike—to invite out-of-towners into their private dining rooms. The best is EatWith (www.eatwith.com), which has wellvetted hosts in 30 countries who serve everything from Spanish tapas in a Barcelona house ($62) to traditional Israeli breakfast at a stylish Tel Aviv apartment ($33). Also Noted: The U.S.-focused Feastly (www. eatfeastly.com) site; Asia’s Traveling Spoon (www. travelingspoon.com); Brussels-based Bookalokal (www.bookalokal.com), with host chefs across the globe. Originally found at www.travelandleisure.com (Most Important Travel Tends 2014) Photo: Ellon Paz/Courtesy of EatWith

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US Airlines reduce baggage size limits There’s nothing quite as annoying as getting to the airport only to be told by some officious airline representative that your carry-on bag is bigger than their allowed size.   And that’s something that could be happening more often soon, as a number of big US-based airlines reduce their size limits for carry-on bags.   American Airlines, United and Delta have all reduced the maximum width of bags to 14 inches from 15 inches (that’s to 35.5cm from 38cm for us Europeans) - so their passengers’ bags now need to fit within 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high.   Not all US-based airlines have followed suit - but with these big 3 airlines changing their limits - the new policy could prove a headache for a lot of passengers.   Especially for long-haul passengers heading for Europe - where space for lots of items is a premium. If gay men can’t get all 24 pairs of their Andrew Christian swimsuits into their carry on - look out for some heated scenes at check-in desks across America.

Atlantic City courting gay tourism market

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Atlantic City is planning a series of events to attract gay tourists, who are becoming an increasingly important part of the resort’s growth strategy. Mayor Don Guardian and tourism officials say the goal is to reinvigorate a once-thriving gay community in Atlantic City. “Atlantic City had its heyday with the gay population on New York Avenue,” he said. “This www.gaycationmagazine.com

is where you came when you wanted to have a good time. Straight people came to these places, too, because they wanted to party and dance in the hottest clubs.” But when casino gambling began in 1978, soaring land prices pushed out many small gayowned and gay-friendly businesses. Now, with the resort struggling to find a new identity and new sources of revenue, the city is once again wooing gay tourists with vigor. Growing up gay, Guardian said the sight of a rainbow flag was a welcome sign that one’s business was welcome and that it was a safe place to go if the person felt threatened by a situation. Guardian said he hopes the thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender visitors who come to Atlantic City will come away impressed this summer, and consider the resort as a place to buy a second home. Events aimed at the gay community include Sand Blast, a 3-day beach party weekend in July targeted to the gay community; the StandOUT Expo, a networking event in September for the LGBT community, and the Miss’d America Pageant, a drag spoof of the famous pageant, also in September. Sand Blast will include a female beach volleyball tournament called “Lez Volley,” an underwear party, and a “Drag Race” and pursetossing competition. The mayor also dedicated a gay-friendly beach www.gaycationmagazine.com

in Atlantic City at Park Place near Bally’s, but says the entire city is gay-friendly. The resort is trying to broaden its appeal beyond a gambling mecca by emphasizing restaurants, shops, nightclubs, spas and other attractions. The Atlantic City Alliance, which markets the resort, recently commissioned a study of the gay travel market in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. It found that the primary reason gays visit Atlantic City is because it is easy to get to and has entertainment options. Only 21 percent named gambling as a primary reason to visit. About 15 percent said they planned to spend $500 or more on gambling, with two thirds placing a $200 limit on their bets. The survey also found that Atlantic City is not viewed as being especially gay-friendly, with only a quarter of respondents finding the destination somewhat or very LGBT-friendly. Among the eight Mid-Atlantic tourism destinations tested, Atlantic City scored lowest for a perception of being LGBTfriendly. Brad Hurtado, executive producer of Sand Blast, said events like his are needed to make gays feel more at home in Atlantic City. “Gay tourism and gay events transform communities, and they bring repeat visitors each year,” he said. Caption for photo: Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian holds a flag in Atlantic City, N.J., Monday, June 16, 2014. Atlantic City is planning a series of events to attract gay tourists, who are becoming an increasingly important part of the resort’s growth strategy. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

Gaycation Magazine

Greg’s Gaycations

By: Gregory L Kiep

that gays wear around the park each day, many creating custom designs for their groups. Saturday is the big day when the gays flock to Magic Kingdom, bathing it in red. It is in many ways quite touching to see so many people packed into the park, especially with so many gay couples with children, but it is certainly not just about the kids. Guys and girls from all ages come to play like a kid again. Disney does not officially recognize the event, although they market it in small ways to appeal to the group. Bakeries serve rainbow swirl cupcakes instead of traditional ones and you’ll see a lot more gay themed pins and accessories throughout the park. Interactions with the characters can also be a little more playful. I mean, have you seen the abs on Aladdin?!? Outside of the park activities, there are host

Gay Days Orlando is an experience at the most magical place on earth… Disney World. Each year, thousands of gays from all over the world converge with their red shirts and rainbow flags to the unofficial Disney event. In addition to days at the parks, there are a variety of pool parties and club events taking place. Something for everyone, regardless of your love for that famous mouse. Each day, a different park is “taken over” and people flood Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and of course, Magic Kingdom. Business runs pretty much as normal in the parks, although the employees have a good idea of what is going on. All of the rides and attractions are open, just with a little more flair. Red shirts are the “indicators” 16

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hotels that throw pool parties throughout the weekend. The Doubletree and Buena Vista Palace have been the places to play during the day for years and the pool parties are of epic proportions. Big gay DJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s are flown in such as Wayne G and DJ Phil B to get the parties hopping throughout the day. You can pay to go to one or buy a pass for the entire weekend. At night, there are parties in the Downtown Disney area as well as Orlando, about thirty minutes away. It is definitely fun to throw your adult sensibilities away for a weekend and take in all the Disney magic that you grew up with in a different way. The parks are a fun adventure, especially drinking around the World in Epcot. The pool parties are a ton of energy and full of beautiful scenery, if you know what I mean. Do your homework and plan because Disney is not a place you just show up

and get on rides. (Look into their FastPass system to get maximum ride time in.) Now grab your bathing suit and Mickey ears and find out how dreams come true at Disney!

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Gregory grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and lived in Hyde Park and Downtown during his 24 years there. Upon receiving his MBA from Xavier University, he launched a marketing firm specializing in LGBT lifestyle services and products. He has travelled all over the world to over 60 countries independently and in conjunction with Atlantis Events. When he is not on an adventure, he calls Boston home. Read more about his gaycations at gregorykiep.com

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Un rendez-vous élégant L’escale française par excellence, que ce soit pour des vacances ou un voyage d’affaires. Dans le confort luxueux d’une demeure historique située en plein centre-ville de Saint-Pierre, à 200 mètres du traversier. Une expérience exquise vous attend.

For a holiday, getaway or business trip... NSP is the quintessential French experience. Indulge yourself in modern luxuries. In the centre of town and a mere 200 meters from the ferry terminal our heritage building is a haven of elegance. An exquisite experience awaits you.

À Nuits Saint-Pierre le petit déjeûner est inclus At Nuits Saint-Pierre, breakfast is included

orial du To rrit

isme ur

Prix Te

Une petite faim? Besoin d’un cadeau ou d’un souvenir? A tad hungry? Need a gift or a souvenir? Rendez-vous au rez-de-chaussée de l’hôtel aux Délices de Joséphine Visit Les Délices de Joséphine on the main floor of the hotel

10 rue du Général Leclerc, BP 4445, 97500 Saint-Pierre et Miquelon 011 508 41 20 27 | 011 508 55 59 82 (cell)

nuitssaintpierre.com info@nuitssaintpierre.com

vos hôtes

The other kind of gay cruising. Caribbean Windjammer

INTIMATE Our private charter is host to just 24 guests, not 2,400 passengers. And our crew of ten is always ready to attend to your needs.

RELAXING Kick off your shoes while you feel the warmth of the Caribbean sea breezes. Leave the world-class DJ behind and enjoy the sounds of island tranquility.

INCLUSIVE Surrounded by like-minded gay men, let the camaraderie fuel your sense of adventure with breathtaking hikes on the islands of Nevus and St. Barths, snorkeling the crystal clear waters of St. Kitts or floating on a noodle in the shadows of our ship. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all included, no sticker shock bar tab at the end of the week! Pricing includes all onboard meals and snacks, beverages, beer and wine, snorkel gear, guided hikes, taxes and port charges.

Inaugural Sailing October 19-25, 2014 From $1,699 per person OutingsAndAdventures.com or call 727.776.5213 for more information

Losing Yourself in Costa Rica by Catherine Groux

Costa Rica

is one of my favorite places on the planet, but I think that has more to do with who I am when I’m there than the destination itself. It’s the kind of place that demands you to fully surrender to it, giving into its relaxed lifestyle, relinquishing to its natural beauty, 24

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and fully appreciating the stunning landscapes that surround you. It invites you, it enchants you, and it grips you until your only option is just let go. Trust me, you’ll be sipping a cold Imperial, zip-lining through the forest canopy, and swimming in the pool of a towering waterfall before you can say “pura vida.” www.gaycationmagazine.com

they call themselves—to be friendly and accepting. Most travelers begin their Costa Rica adventures by flying into San José, Costa Rica’s colonial capital. From San José, you can easily take a bus—or better yet, fly—to almost any other part of the country, which is exactly what I recommend using the city for. San José does have a handful of gay bars and clubs (as well as a few architectural and historical attractions), but as a whole, it’s just another Central American city—unremarkable buildings, highways clogged with traffic, and endless fast-food chains. It’s OK to spend a night or two soaking up the San José scene, but since you probably didn’t come to Costa Rica for the nightlife, you should then head somewhere greener (and gayer). Here are a few spots that are sure to make you feel like a true Tico: Manuel Antonio

In the past decade, Costa Rica has blossomed into a gay hot spot, quickly becoming the most gay-friendly country in Central America. That being said, it is still a conservative, Catholic country so PDA (especially in rural areas) is frowned upon. But assuming you can keep your hands to yourself in public places, you’ll find Costa Ricans—or Ticos, as www.gaycationmagazine.com

Go for: Beaches, gay scene, wildlife-viewing Manuel Antonio—on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast— is one of the most popular destinations for gay travelers and one of the best places to experience everything Costa Rica has to offer. One windy, downhill road leads from Quepos—a small fishing city—to Manuel Antonio National Park, and along the way, you can find a wide range of open-air restaurants, bars and hotels, many with fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean. Although Quepos is a Tico town, the area closer to the national park has become quite popular with ex-Pats, and therefore has a beachy, eclectic charm that some travelers say mimics Key West. And since many of these middle-aged ex-Pats are gay, Manuel Antonio also has a blossoming gay scene, with a handful of gay bars and clubs where you can drink Imperials and mingle with the local culture. When you’re ready for some fun in the sun, head to the national park, which boasts some of the best (and most popular) beaches in Costa Rica, as well as a few short hiking trails through the jungle. This might be Costa Rica’s smallest national park, but it’s also the most biodiverse, so be sure to keep Gaycation Magazine

one eye open when lounging on its pristine white sand. On any given day, you can expect to flick scorpions off your beach towel, see snakes weaving through the tree branches above, and watch troops of mischievous capuchin monkeys steal the lunches of unsuspecting tourists. With so much happening around you, it’s hard not to have the sudden (and shocking) realization that you’re not in a zoo—that the creatures surrounding you are, in fact, wild animals. But if you’ve been picking up on Costa Rica’s laid-back vibes, you’ll embrace being in the middle of this captivatingly chaotic scenery. Monteverde Go for: Hiking, zip-lining, wildlife-viewing Monteverde isn’t known for its lively gay scene and its nightlife is particularly tame, but if you want to enjoy the blissful serenity of Costa Rica’s rain forests, this is the ideal location. Nestled high in mist26

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shrouded mountains and tucked between verdant nature reserves, Monteverde and the nearby town of Santa Elena are speckled with small Costa Rican restaurants, tour operators and eco-friendly hotels. Filled with hippie backpackers, ex-Pats, Ticos, and a large Quaker community, the area has a laidback, artistic and environmentally focused feel that’s hard to resist. One of the biggest draws of Monteverde is its nature reserves, which boast one of the most amazing displays of flora and fauna in Costa Rica. A daytime hike through one of the area’s reserves could yield glimpses of countless birds (including the resplendent quetzal), coatis, jungle cats, and brightly colored amphibians. But for the more adventurous, a guided hike through the forest at night is often more rewarding, offering you the chance to see tarantulas, bats, caimans, two-toed sloths and an assortment of snakes. But most travelers who trek to Monteverde don’t www.gaycationmagazine.com

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want to observe the canopy from the ground—they want a bird’s eye view. Monterverde is known for its canopy tours; in fact, it invented canopy tours—a unique chance to soar above the forest canopy on a zip-line and walk above Monteverde’s cloak of mist on a suspension bridge. Here, you can find Costa Rica’s highest platforms and longest cables, meaning your zip-lining experience will be nothing short of extraordinary. La Fortuna Go for: Arenal Volcano, waterfalls, hot springs No Costa Rica vacation would be complete without a trip to Arenal Volcano and the nearby city of La Fortuna—an area that in recent years, has become surprisingly gay-friendly. While the volcano stopped erupting in 2010, it’s still a breathtaking sight to behold, whether you view it from the surrounding Lake Arenal or the busy 28

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streets of La Fortuna. In the bucolic shadow of the volcano, you’ll find even more opportunities to enjoy Costa Rica’s natural splendors, with countless hiking trails that will guide you through the dense forest. One of the most popular hikes is to La Fortuna Waterfall, a trek that brings you past rain forest and pastures to a cascade that plummets 200 feet into an emerald pool below. This is the largest—and most popular— of La Fortuna’s waterfalls, but the area is known for its towering cascades, so even if you decide to hike on the road less traveled, you’re bound to stumble upon a small waterfall or two. To heat things up near the Arenal Volcano, head to one of the many hot springs near downtown La Fortuna. Because of Arenal’s geothermic activity, there is no shortage of these warm, soothing pools in the area. Some of the larger hotels have crafted their volcanic hot springs into Eden-like respites, www.gaycationmagazine.com

where you can relax in pools ranging from 76 to 98°F with a cold drink in your hand, surrounded by perfectly manicured gardens. Keep in mind that the larger, more luxurious hot spring are also the most crowded, so if you prefer a more intimate soak, try a smaller, locally owned venue. There is truly no feeling quite like watching a Pacific sunset in Manuel Antonio, hearing the bird songs of Monteverde, or witnessing the aweinspiring Arenal Volcano. But if you open your mind to the Tico culture and give in to the world around you, you just might experience what I have found to be the greatest feeling that comes from visiting a destination like Costa Rica: the feeling of truly letting go.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Catherine Groux has traveled from the mountains of South Korea to the jungles of Costa Rica in search of the world’s most amazing cultures, cuisine and landscapes. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with degrees in journalism and Spanish. Currently, she is a copywriter for a Boston-based travel company, as well as a freelance travel writer.

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EVENTS

Here are the events and shows Gaycation Magazine will be attending or will have a presence. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always adding more and looking for that special event for us to be at. If you would like us to attend your event, please let us know at travel@gaycationmagazine.com SEE YOU SOON!

August 9 - 10 2014 Northalsted Market Days www.northalsted.com August 13 - 17 2014 NYC Black Pride www.nycblackpride.com August 16 - 18 2014 Montreal Pride

www.fiertemontrealpride.com

October 4 - 8 2014 Maui Pride www.mauipride.org

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Found It! We search the world over for “must have” travel items for everyone from the novice weekender to the seasoned globetrotter.

Monkii Bars

We came across these guys while surfing the web. Their website says it all: “The lightweight and ultra-portable suspension workout device that ignites adventure and enables you to train anywhere.” www.monkiibars.com $98.00 pre-order Whether you’re on the trail, in a park, at the office, at home or glamping. You just may have run out of excuses...

Nemesis Fins

If you’re serious about swimming or snorkeling (watersports really...) you may be interested in these gems. Found on www.speedousa.com (search for Nemesis Fins), you can pre-order your size for $39.99. According to the product detail, “The Nemesis Fins will become your greatest ally in the pool.” Curious. Could you swim like a seal? Or maybe a Shark? www.gaycationmagazine.com

Skyview Travel Tray Mount Adjustable cradle fits most smartphones and compact e-readers and tablet devices, up to 5.25” x 8” (13.3 x 20.3 cm). Base fits over seatback latch and grips for a secure, stable mount. Works as a freestanding viewing stand on tray tables. Angle is adjustable for comfortable hands-free viewing. www.fancy.com $30.00

Conair Travel Smart TS253AD 2 Modes: adapter only or adapter/ converter combo. For use with U.S. appliances ( 11 0 / 1 2 0 V ) overseas; converts foreign electricity (220/240V) to 110/120V. Easyto-use all-in-one adapter and converter combo unit fits electrical outlets in most commonly visited countries. Built-in surge protector keeps your electrical appliances safe from spikes in foreign electricity. $22.22 www.rakuten.com

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EatSmart Precision Voyager Luggage Scale

An ultraportable, lightweight travel accessory designed for anyone from the casual vacationer to the road warrior. Easily clips onto the handle of your suitcase or bag. When your scale registers the weight, the scale will beep and your luggage weight will appear on the screen instantly. Its compact, durable design allows travelers to place it in their suitcase and bring on many trips. Never worry about paying unexpected baggage fees again! $19.95 www.eatsmartproducts.com

The COOLEST is a portable party disguised as a cooler, bringing blended drinks, music and fun to any outdoor occasion. A 21st Century Cooler? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about time! Regular coolers are boring, break easily and are a hassle to haul around just to carry the ice. The COOLEST cooler is 60 quarts of AWESOME packed with so much fun youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll look for excuses to get outside more often. Maybe you want to use the built-in ice crushing blender to whip up some margaritas or smoothies on your next boat trip or tailgate? Maybe you just want to always have music on hand with the waterproof bluetooth speaker or want to recharge your electronics with the built in USB charger? www.coolestcooler.com (kickstarter program)

iPhone Horn COOLEST COOLER Reminiscent of the bugle speaker on vintage record players, this clever iPhone amplifier stand adds 13 decibels of crisp volume without batteries or electricity. Low tech yet high impact, it enhances speaker calls, music or movies like magic, can be used vertically or horizontally, and is virtually indestructible, thanks to its flexible silicone construction. Fits all iPhone 4 and 4S models. www.magellans.com

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Summer in Salem! Go Out Loud Ushers Summer Sea Cruise Events For EVERYONE This Summer! For the latest events, merch, news & tickets :

GoOutLoud.com

Feast An in-depth exploration of a traditional local dish and how it connects to the culture, with recipes and recommnedations where to eat.

A Taste of Banderas Bay by My Mexican Kitchen

While

the large beachfront restaurants of Puerto Vallarta are home to wonderful views and fruity drinks, the best seafood in Puerto Vallarta is at the local eateries. There, lime and hot sauce flow and you sit down to an honest meal of the kind that has been eaten for generations. Cut off from the rest of Mexico for many years by the majestic Sierra Madre mountain range, Puerto Vallarta was isolated from the invading Spanish spices of cumin, cloves and peppercorns; consequently, the simple yet delicious flavors of the coastline prevailed. While inland cities such as Puebla or Mexico City present more of a culinary complexity resulting from their inundation of Spanish influence, the coastal areas around Vallarta relied on local ingredients, simply prepared, giving their fare a natural, refreshing element. When delicious, fresh seafood is what you crave, the Bay of Banderas, with its expansive coastline and equally extensive history of fishing, waits patiently to accommodate you. 36

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Two scrumptious dishes are the main legacies of Vallarta’s culinary development on the sea. Aguachile (see recipe below), literally translated to “chile water,” is typically made with shrimp and embodies the Mexican penchant for spiciness thanks to an ample quantity of Serrano or habanero chiles. The lime in Aguachile does more than impart vibrancy and tartness; it actually acts as the “cooking” agent, curing the raw shrimp with its acidity. To round out the bold favors, cooling cucumber and cilantro are mixed in for a mouthful of freshness with a lingering burn. Perfect for the sunny, hot days that define the area. The other dish typical to that part of the coast is Pescado Zarandeado. Traditionally made with huachinango (red snapper) and cooked over a fire, the fish is often basted with a slightly sweet chile sauce and served with warm tortillas and salsa. As with almost all Mexican recipes, there are as many versions of this dish as there are cooks, and

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Pescado Zarandeado is now offered in many other parts of Mexico as well. The verb “zarandear” in Spanish means “to flip,” and the fish is turned with regularity until it is slightly caramelized, making for a delicious marriage of sweet, savory and spicy. The world over, the food that locals eat and the style in which they prepare that food is indicative of much more than simply their diet--it tells of traditions and culture. There is a saying in Mexico that if you share a spoon or fork with someone, you gain access to their secrets. Puerto Vallarta is a tourist paradise with warm weather and a myriad of sea and jungle activities, but if you really want access to its secrets, sit down with a plate of succulent seafood and a glass of cold beer.

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Colorful displays of Aguachile de Camaron

photos courtesy of My Mexican Kitchen

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Aguachile de Camaron (Shrimp Aguachile) 20 seconds, or until a very light pink color. Do not overcook! Use Mexican or key limes, which are much more acidic and less sweet. The larger, seedless limes do not have the acidity needed. Be sure to strain out the seeds. Mexican cucumbers are smaller, shorter and less dense. If you do not have one, use 1/2 of an American cucumber.

1 Lb. fresh shrimp (see note) 2 Serrano chiles; 1 for less spicy 3/4 Cup lime juice, about 10 limes (see note) 1 Mexican cucumber (see note) 1/2 Cup cilantro leaves, packed Red onion slices to garnish Avocado slices to garnish Salt to taste (around 1 level teaspoon)

Recipe courtesy of My Mexican Kitchen. For more traditional Mexican recipes, visit our website at www.mymexicankitchen.com

Peel and devein (if desired) the shrimp and cut into bite size-pieces. Set aside in a deep bowl. Blend the chiles, lime juice, cucumber and cilantro until smooth. Pour this mixture over the shrimp and let sit for 10 minutes, stirring at intervals, until the shrimp start to turn a light pink color. Salt to taste and garnish with avocado and red onion slices and cilantro sprigs. Serve with “saladitas” (saltines) or tostadas. Notes: Use only very fresh shrimp. If eating shrimp that has been “cooked” in lime juice makes you uncomfortable, you can parboil the peeled shrimp. Add them to salted boiling water for approximately www.gaycationmagazine.com

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7th Annual

Registration 10:00 am Walk Kicks off 11:00 am Greeley Park Bandshell

www..aidstaskforcenh.org/events

603-595-8464 ext 15

Silver Sponsors Dube Investment Properties, LLC The Element Lounge Bronze Sponsors The Front Porch Ogunquit, ME MEST Ogunquit, ME Southern NH University Coastal General Construction, Inc. Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Friends of the Walk Breezeway Pub La Pizzeria Walgreens Media Sponsors The Telegraph Gaycation Magazine 106.3 Frank FM WMUR WOKQ 97.5

To Benefit the

Southern NH HIV/AIDS TASK FORCE providing crucial services to low income families living with HIV/AIDS in our community.

The Task Force Needs Your Help To Meet Their Goal! Please consider walking or donating on crowdrise.

MIAMI’S LGBT VOICE

We warmly welcome you to the LGBT Visitor Center, the proud voice of all things gay in Miami and the Beaches. We’re located in Old City Hall in the heart of South Beach at 1130 Washington Ave., Suite 100, Miami Beach, FL 33139. To plan your next vacation in fabulous Miami Beach, go to GoGayMiami.com or call us at 305/397-8914. MAR Winter Party

APR Miami Beach Gay Pride Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

MAY Aqua Girl Sizzle Miami

JUN Out in the Tropics

JUL Miami Beach Bruthaz Conference

OCT Orgullo

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Postcards

David sailing around Brazil on an excursion from the Atlantis South America cruise.

On a float in the pride parade at Sitges Gay Pride 14! So fun!

Gay Days at Disney World Orlando and One Magical Weekend June 2014

The Swan House in Atlanta, GA (the finish line for the 19th season of The Amazing Race). Photo courtesy of Michael von Redlich

Show off your Gaycation by sending us your photos and we might put `em here!

Enjoying a cocktail with friends in Cancun.

Having a blast with Miss Richfield 1981 in Provincetown!

Enjoying a sunny day in Ptown with tanks provided by Cape Colony Inn.

Photos from a 2014 Provincetown visit. Where else would you find seafood, seascapes, and a Roman Gladiator all in one spot? Photos courtesy of Michael von Redlich.

These five images are of Carnival Puerto Vallarta Mexico. Lots of color, lots of fun! The photos are courtesy of Carlos Rafael Gonzalez Siqueiros. If you would like more information on Carnival in Puerto Vallarta Mexico, check out their website www.carnavalvallarta.com

Pride, Puerto Vallarta Style! By Travis Dietz

Ah, Puerto Vallarta.

The days are long, the weather is warm and the town is gay! Mexico is a barrage on the senses. Like the openpored exhilaration you get from eating a habanero pepper, all of your senses hit overdrive. In Puerto Vallarta, the heat pricks your skin; the food is spicy and limey-sour; the music, loud and shimmying; the colors are alive and vibrant; and the smells are bluntâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;frying meat, exhaust and simple living. And nothing brings together all of those sensations like a party. And this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pride Weekend was a spirited example of a great Mexican party.

Pride Weekend had a full docket of activities, starting on Thursday, May 22, and running through Monday. The highlights were the Saturday parade and after-parade party. In general, Los Muertos Beach and the hotel pool were the main focus of the daytime and there was no need to be too active or exceptionally productive. Life was easy and relaxed. It was enough to spend the day in an oasis of rejuvenation, rotating for a perfect tan like a basting turkey, with cocktails just a cute waiter away. But not all of Pride was fun, sun and fruity beverages. On that steamy Saturday morning, five couples met at a beach club to say their vows at a mini mass wedding. The atmosphere was thoughtful, as the couples smiled and conversed among themselves or in small groups. The sizzling beach lay bare, the previous nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partiers having finally succumbed to the revelry. And so in 48

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this quiet mood each couple marched in turn to the simple-yet-charming altar and professed their love for one another, led by local ministers, as a small group looked on. It was a private moment in a public forum. Some were tying the knot for a second time; others were freshly forged couples with a vision of matrimonial bliss. One groom commented on the power of publicly taking a stand for gay marriage on a road to general social acceptance. Ironically, in this legal rights contest, Mexico had already beaten the United States. Various Mexican states had sanctioned gay marriages years ago, with the federal government upholding their validity throughout the country. So although the mass weddingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s printed certificates held no official merit (a representative of Jalisco, the state where Puerto Vallarta is located, indicated his intention of legalizing gay marriage this June), they were of www.gaycationmagazine.com

significant import to the new brides and grooms. Not many smaller cities or towns have enough support—or gays—to warrant a Pride celebration. Puerto Vallarta has a population of a bit more than 250,000, but it retains a small town feel. As Mexico’s premier gay destination, it still pays homage to its ever-burgeoning number of gay visitors and residents. So while small compared to many Pride-hosting cities, it lent an unpretentious, hometown quality to the occasion. Only one lane of traffic was cordoned off for the parade; some spectators looked more like unsuspecting families on their weekend stroll than proud gays and lesbians, but more often than not they stopped to watch and clap as the spectacle marched along. And it was quite a show, with Ursula and her Little Mermaid friends, a ragged bunch of geisha “gyrls” and a truckful of preening strippers among approximately 40 other exhibits. Notably absent www.gaycationmagazine.com

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were the more political floats that often clog larger cities’ parades. This parade was about having fun and enjoying the freedom that comes when you take over the main street of town - or at least one of the lanes of that main street. There were no late-night Pride events during the weekend, so the natural exodus was to the existing nightclubs, which offered their usual bustling, carefree atmosphere. The bars in Puerto Vallarta don’t close until 6 or 7 in the morning, so the only thing stopping you is you; if you prefer not to restrain yourself, there is plenty to keep you busy. Paco’s Ranch is the Queen Bee of Vallarta’s going-out scene, and it was again on Pride Weekend. With a slightly country-feeling following, Paco’s Ranch is more of a locals’ scene, although there is a very friendly, fun vibe, regardless of where you are from. And in seemingly direct contrast to their macho personas, the clientele sing fervently along to the drag shows served up twice a night. If you’re not as big a fan of the shows, don’t worry—there are also a lot of lively “screaming diva” tracks that swell the dance floor. CC Slaughters is more of an electro-pop bar populated with shirtless muscle dudes and more attitude. During the high season, this is the most common nighttime destination for visiting tourists. During Pride weekend, there was an even mix of hunky foreigners and suave Mexicans, many from the nearest big city of Guadalajara. In a smart decision, the bar didn’t take advantage of the occasion by charging a high cover charge, which left money in everyone’s pockets for beers and kept the clubs full. In the Bahia de Banderas—one of the ten largest bays in the world—the official high season slows down just prior to Easter, after which the city 50

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ebbs into a hot summer slumber. Normally, new planeloads of tourists arrive over Pride weekend, and Sunday night is just as busy as Saturday. That can leave the impression that Puerto Vallarta’s gay community is larger than it is, and most every day of sun and fun feels like any other. That was not the case on this Pride Sunday. Paco’s Ranch and its entourage sashayed on with endless drag shows, and CC Slaughters even instituted its own drag show on that night, but the performers belted out their chansons to fairly hollow spaces. Pride—a reflection on what it is to be gay and an embracing of what makes you different. Some people think of Mexico as a macho bully on the playground; women and gays are trampled on under its brute masculinity. Surely there are some areas like that, but in general, Puerto Vallarta is fun, lighthearted and a bit wild—like college Spring Break, but without the wet T-shirt contests. Many Pride-goers don’t even wear shirts. The usual rules don’t apply here, and life is uncomplicated and relaxed. Puerto Vallarta is a city that doesn’t take itself too seriously and invites you to do the same. So don’t judge too harshly. This big town/little city is just at the beginning of its Pride trajectory. So until it gets wholly on its feet, sit back, enjoy and watch the one-lane show. www.gaycationmagazine.com

Travis Dietz is an avid traveler and adventurer who has traveled to over 45 countries and has lived in Germany and Japan. He now resides in Bucerias, Mexico and runs a cooking school, My Mexican Kitchen (www.mymexicankitchen.com) with his partner. He is also writing a book.

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Puerto Vallarta Marketplace

2014

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Submission Guidelines Editorial Features

What was I thinking?: Stories submitted by Gaycationers about crazy experiences that left them scratching their heads and opining, “What was I thinking?”

Cruising Corner: Tips and insights from cruising experts and short stories from our readers about their cruising experiences.

Book It!: Recommendations of LGBT friendly hotels and resorts that help you engage with the identity of a destination.

Feast: An in-depth exploration of a traditional local dish and how it connects tot he culture, with recipes and recommendations where to eat.

There’s This Place: Where to go next? Gaycation Magazine’s recommendations of unusual LGBT destinations off the beaten path.

Threads: The latest style trends, insights and tips from our fashion experts for the world traveler in all of us.

Postcards (Photo Section): Photos of Experiential LGBT travel moments captured by Gaycationers worldwide. Gaycationers: Photos of real LGBT travelers and explorers who have gone before you providing insights and resources which inspire you to pursue your personal travel passion.

The Wire: Brief LGBT travel news and information about new hotel/resort openings, cruise itineraries, travel planning tips, and products and services. Found It!: Short description of “must have” travel items for everyone from the novice weekender to the seasoned globetrotter.

Any articles, photos or information submitted to Gaycation Magazine become the sole property of Gaycation Magazine. The views and opinions stated throughout the magazine are not necessarily the view and opinion of Gaycation Magazine. Gaycation Magazine and its affiliates will not knowingly publish or advertise information, which is fraudulent or misleading. The Publisher reserves the right to edit, limit, revise, or reject any submission without cause. Gaycation and its affiliates assue no financial responsibility for typographical errors. If any arrors are found, please notify Gaycation Magazine immediately. Materials in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the Publisher. Pay rates can be found on our website. Please send images in hi-res and articles to editor@gaycationmagazine.com

Gaycation Magazine brings the world of gay travel to your fingertips. Explore new and familiar gay destinations. Learn what to do, what to eat, and what to wear. All this information wrapped up into a magazine which brings the culture of gay travel to life.

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A Glimpse into the Island of Capri by Amandine Dowle

Located in western-Italy, Capri is a small island of the Mediterranean coast of Naples. The island has a long history. During the Roman Empire, Capri was the favourite place of the emperors whose villas are today one of the main attractions of the island. Capri is also known for its magnificent caves dug into the rocks. It is also an amazing place for kayaking and trekking. Hidden bays, turquoise waters and charming squares, a visit to the Mediterranean island of Capri

and Ana Capri is a great way to relax and enjoy the Italian lifestyle and beauty. Capri is known as the “Blue Island” because of its jagged limestone cliffs taking an azure tint during the day. Admire the famous “Grotta Azzura” of Capri, a natural sea cave where the light gives an amazing reflection of light blue colours into the crystal clear waters. You can easily reach the cave thanks to cruises that are available from the port of Capri, called Marina Grande. The island has two towns, Capri, which is located above the port, and Ana Capri, which is the highest mountain of Capri. Of these two, Capri is the main town of the island, and a better choice for beach lovers and water sports. However Ana Capri offers the most spectacular views and a quieter atmosphere. It is also home of the beautiful Villa San Michele. Nearby, you can get a lift with the funicular to the summit of the Mount Solara,

which is the highest peak of the island and enjoy a breath-taking view of the surroundings. Rising 589 m (1930 feet) above sea level the mountain offers spectacular views of the island, and also some interesting trails for hiking. Capri climate is warm and sunny in summer and cold in winter. In the summer the average temperatures from June to September range between 27 and 31°C, in winter the variation is between 10-15°C. Finally the best period to visit Capri is in early spring as it is less crowed and less expensive than during the summer time.

www.gaycationmagazine.com

Amandine Dowle is a French fashion and lifestyle photographer. She has lived in New York, Ottawa, Greece and now resides in Milan. In addition to photography, Amandine also writes articles about her traveling experiences for publishers.

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Out n About

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Blue Eyes in Bogota By Tom Stockwell

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Image source: Carolina Pastrana https://www.flickr.com/photos/perrenque/2996444060/in/set-1424288/

Back home in the UK, I don’t stand out much. My hair is light brown, now streaked with white. My eyes are blue. I’m a little bit shorter than average, and prefer a hearty meal to a sweaty session at the gym. In short, I don’t turn heads, unless a fair bit of alcohol has been imbibed by whoever is craning their neck at me. When I was living in South Korea, I experienced the complete opposite constant stares, curious mumbles, and the seat next to me on the bus was always empty while others stood, something that evoked an odd combination of offense and relief in me. However when I went to Colombia last year, spending a month in the South American nation, I discovered one thing: the locals love the exotic, and what’s exotic to them is simply run-of-the-mill to an Englishman. I didn’t expect much to happen in my month in Colombia. I ventured to Babylon Sauna in the capital, Bogota, on my second day in the city. As the taxi pulled up to the non-descript location, I walked through the door, and felt all eyes upon me. Stripping down to my underwear, I became aware of my pale skin and hairy torso, a stark contrast to the chiseled physiques of the other patrons, www.gaycationmagazine.com

their skin tones ranging from cocoa to caramel. I was intimidated to say the least, and wondered if financial transactions were expected in dealing with a foreigner like me. I needn’t have worried. Men who looked like they could have walked out of an adult movie would come up to me, brush past me, fix their gazes, with come hither looks as they beckoned me into a cubicle. They all said the same thing. Not a demand for money, no. Every single guy I talked to commented on my ojos bonitos. My beautiful eyes. Curious, I asked my Couchsurfing host about this. He laughed, and said that Colombians go crazy for people with blue eyes, as they’re such a rarity in the gene pool there. This turned out to be the case in Medellin as well, the next city I went to. Girls and guys alike stopped in the street and, after ascertaining that my belongings hadn’t been ransacked, I learned to accept the compliments. Nico, the tall, handsome, blond-haired, blue-eyed (heterosexual) American that I hung out with in Medellin may as well have been a movie star for all the attention he got. Back in our respective homes, we were nothing out of the ordinary, and Gaycation Magazine

we’d often joke about moving to Colombia, just to have a daily ego boost. As I shuffled awkwardly in Cartagena’s Le Petit, hopelessly trying to match the locals’ hip movements to salsa remixes that made me swear they must have dislocated all their joints, a guy asked me to dance. He’d gawped at me from across the bar, poked his friend and pointed at me. One of the bartenders always accidentally bumped into me after he’d delivered a drink to a table. Here, in this room full of jaw-dropping beautiful men, I was still getting attention, more than my fair share given the present company. I was flattered but a bit perplexed, so instead of trying to make my broken Spanish heard over the din, I carried

on trying to gyrate to a bizarre version of the Pink Panther theme tune, wondering what demented, drug-addled mind thought of spinning the two tracks together. In Cali, I have fond memories of a mirrored ceiling and a man named Diego, who uttered something filthily romantic about my eyes, keeping his word and then hopping in the shower about ten minutes later. He wouldn’t have glanced at me twice if he’d have come across me in London or Manchester. As I finished my trip back in Bogota, where I reunited with a cute, well-travelled guy I’d met on San Andres Island, I wound up in Theatron, a gay club of megalithic proportions, capable of holding more than ten thousand Image source: Carolina Pastrana https://www.flickr.com/photos/perrenque/720705865/in/set-72157600651555702/

revelers - and with an all-you-can-drink bar policy. I was wrapped up in the guy I was with, but I still got approached. I noticed a couple of Asian guys getting constantly hit on, too. Colombian guys seemed to find the foreign attractive, which isn’t the case in every country. Colombia gave me self-confidence when I needed it the most. The things that made me blend in in the UK were seen as beautiful in the eyes of the locals I met, locals who dazzled me with their warmth, humour, and stunning good looks. A few days after leaving Bogota, I was stood in a bar in Toronto. I didn’t stand out anymore, and I was propped up at a table sipping a Vodka Red Bull while my Scottish friend got routinely hit on. I thought of Diego, goose bumps creeping over my skin, and smiled to myself. As a country, Colombia is making progress with gay rights slowly but surely, and although its cities aren’t Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires, their inhabitants made this ordinary British guy embrace himself. www.gaycationmagazine.com

Tom Stockwell is a late twenty-something hailing from northern England, and the mind, voice and fingers behind travel and expat blog www.waegook-tom.com. After deciding that life in a call centre wasn’t for him, he upped and moved to South Korea, where he taught English for three and a half years. After finishing a roundthe-world trip in 2013, he is now based in Taipei, Asia’s gay capital, where he enjoys eating too much street food, drinking copious amounts of cocktails, and taking far too many selfies. You can keep up with Tom’s adventures on his blog, his Facebook (WaegookTom), and by following @waegook_tom on Twitter and Instagram. Gaycation Magazine

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What Was I Thinking?

Stories submitted by Gaycationers about crazy experiences that left them scratching their heads and opining, “What was I thinking?” by Joe Morales

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A Bee Line to Florida

It was a dark and stormy night… Actually, it wasn’t. It was cloudy and cold as the snow fell the day we left New York heading to Florida. We said our goodbyes to family and promised we’d be back some time after winter. We were pretty excited to be on the road once again driving into the unknown. My only concern was turning on the heat and hoping the snow stayed as flurries because we were driving a 40,000+ pound motorhome we dubbed “Priscilla.” With the GPS set for Wilton Manors Florida and DJ behind the wheel, we were set. Or so I thought. As we’re cruising down the road, I’m watching the weather. When we left the forecast called for a snowstorm. No WAY were we going to get caught 66

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in that type of weather. We were pretty much in store for snowy weather well beyond Washington DC where it finally turned into rain. Since we left mid-afternoon that day, it meant driving until we reached pure rain. Now, you’d think that using the Google Maps GPS would be pretty straightforward. You head south on I-95 until you hit any town in Florida. This is where the adventure begins really. Somewhere along Baltimore Maryland the GPS says to take an alternate route of I-895. So, we do. In between conversations we come to a sign that says something to the effect of last exit before tunnel. Tunnel? Why would we need to go through a tunnel? Moreover, why is the tunnel only 13 feet 6 inches tall? So www.gaycationmagazine.com

photo courtesy of www.commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baltimore_Harbor_Tunnel_I-895_02.JPG

I ask “Uh, DJ. How tall are we?” He says, “I don’t know, probably about 13 feet, why?” All of a sudden I’m getting all sweaty. “Well, we just passed a sign that said the last exit before the tunnel with a 13 foot 6 inch height restriction.” “WHAT?” So I repeat my statement. Really didn’t make things any better. It was right about now that the language seemed to get a lot more colorful as well as louder…Come to think of it, we’re on I-895 and there are NO big rigs around us. We’re the only large sized motor vehicle on the road. Great. Something is definitely NOT right about this. Here comes the tunnel. Heart. Pounding. All of a sudden I have to pee but I’m too afraid to move. I tell DJ to slow down. Looking around I realize there are no cars around us. We are alone on the road. I told him I thought we were less than 13 feet so we were ok. I mean hell. We’ve been meaning to measure the motor home from top to bottom so we knew precisely what our measurements are. Never happened though. We go through the tunnel not at the regular interstate speed but something more like slow motion. I kept my eyes fixed on the ceiling of the tunnel and the top of the motor home. www.gaycationmagazine.com

I made a mention that I didn’t see any sparks in the rear view mirror so clearly we are under the restriction. Nobody thought that was funny but I was trying to calm myself down. I think I may have said that we could very easily have a convertible motor home. It would literally peel open like a can of tuna. Tough crowd. Nobody laughing. We ended up making it through the tunnel unscathed. You’d think that was the end of it all, but no. I can’t even remember where we were at this point. It seems like we discussed how crazy driving through the tunnel was and that how much DJ distrusts GPS maps (a story I have had to endure since the inception of smartphone technology). Does it ever get old? Heck no…At any rate we found ourselves somewhere along the Baltimore-Maryland Parkway and again, we were the biggest vehicle on the road. Why does this keep happening to us? According to DJ there are restrictions with driving on Parkways. How am I supposed to know you can’t drive on a Parkway if you’re a motorhome or commercial truck? On the West Coast there are a TON of motorhomes and commercial trucks driving on Parkways. Maybe they should standardize the Gaycation Magazine

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photo courtesy of www.aaroads.com whole driving rules across the US. Maybe they do. Who knows. Clearly I didn’t up until this point. All I know is we were driving along and we pass the NSA (National Security Agency) facilities. With this being my first time on the East Coast and all, I was in awe. They don’t have this kind of stuff on the West Coast. Not as far as I know. If they do, I’ve never seen it. You know I had to mention to DJ, “Hey! There’s the NSA!” He didn’t really care since all he was worried about was getting off the Parkway and back onto I-95. We drove down the Parkway watching for police and secret service and agents wanting to take us out for accidentally driving on the Parkway. Silly if you ask me. Do you know how many times I heard, “I should have just trust my instincts and stayed on I-95. It’s a straight shot to Florida.” Well, EXCUSE ME! After the height incident in the Baltimore Tunnel, it’s all pretty smooth sailing to me. After much arguing, www.gaycationmagazine.com

bickering, bitching and whatever else, I said to DJ, “Look. It’s all good. Nothing bad happened and it’s all part of the experience.” Little did I know this was going to be our mantra for the rest of our trip and everything else we do. We made it back to I-95 without being arrested by the NSA. I’m sure they weren’t monitoring our big ass bus driving on the Parkway anyway. Right? Enough adventure for the night. We pulled over as soon as we saw the snow turn into rain, which was somewhere around Stafford Virginia. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a roadside overnight parking/rest area. And…we woke up to snow. We started the Out n About Road Trip do have an adventure. And baby, were we ever having an adventure...

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BOOK IT!

Recommendations of LGBT friendly hotels and resorts that help you engage with the identity of a destination.

Eaton Chelsea: A New Name on a Toronto Landmark

How time flies: Back on October 1975, the Delta Chelsea Hotel opened near the corner of College Street and Gerrard; right in the heart of downtown Toronto and right beside the ever-useful TTC subway. Then as now, it was the biggest hotel in Toronto with a whopping 1,590 rooms. In July 1, 2013, the Chelsea disaffiliated from the Delta chain and became the Eaton Chelsea. No, 70

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by James Careless

the name has nothing to do with the Eaton Centre or the once-mighty Eatonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s department store chain. The Eaton chain is owned by Langham Hotels of Hong Kong, and they were using the Eaton name in Asia before they snapped up the Chelsea. The Eaton coincidence is just that; a coincidence â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even though it is adjacent to the defunct Eaton College store. www.gaycationmagazine.com

In part because of its closeness to Toronto’s ‘Gay Village’, and in part due to the enlightened attitude of the Chelsea’s management and staff – who are still here, by the way – the Chelsea hotel has long been a favored location of LGBTQ guests. In fact, it’s been a TAG-approved hotel for the past “five to seven years,” says Tracy Ford, the Eaton Chelsea’s Director of Public Relations. The Eaton Chelsea is also “a proud member of Travel Gay Canada, OGLCC (Ontario Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) and the CGLCC (Cdn Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) which has provided strong ties between the hotel and the LGBTQ business community.” This isn’t just window-dressing: The Eaton Chelsea is so committed to seriously serving the LGBTQ travel market, that “the hotel staff has been thoroughly trained in sensitivity issues and how best to welcome our guests from the LGBTQ community both locally and internationally,” Ford says. “We just underwent a sensitivity training course one week prior to WorldPride (held in Toronto June 20-29, 2014), which highlighted the importance of non-discrimination and using the proper terminology to address various groups within the LGBTQ community.” For that event, the Eaton Chelsea offered special WorldPride themed martinis in its ‘T|Bar’ lounge in the main lobby. “We also featured a rainbow color flagged back drop behind the front desk to signify that we are a proud supporter of WorldPride and Toronto every year,” says Tracy Ford. “We www.gaycationmagazine.com

consider gay rights and equal rights an important value within our Eaton Chelsea family and extend those beliefs into our community.” It’s also a good excuse for a martini! Okay: So the Eaton Chelsea “walks the talk” when it comes to taking care of LGBTQ clients. So what is it like to stay here? The simple answer: The Eaton Chelsea is very much an updated version of the 1980s’ upscale high-rise hotels of its era. This means that living is vertical here: The lobby is the hub of this establishment, with amenities such as the front desk, T|Bar lounge, and the self-serve Market Garden and express|o Coffee Bar (with access to an outdoor patio) that offers good, fresh food at reasonable prices. The Eaton Chelsea also has a live music bar called Monarchs Pub, the 27th floor E|CLUB lounge, and a more formal restaurant called the Bb33 Bistro & Brasserie. Room service is also available. The well-windowed Deck 27 pool & fitness complex with a warm-weather outdoor sundeck is a great place to swim a few laps. Even when you’re in the pool, you can look outside onto Toronto’s skyline. The Eaton Chelsea also has a Family Fun Zone for kids. It comes with an indoor swimming pool and an uber-cool, four-storey ‘Corkscrew’ slide that loops outside the hotel walls before coming inside to the pool below. The Kids Centre has lots to do for kids 3-12, and babysitting is available. Meanwhile, the Club 33 Teen Lounge has two LCD flat-screen televisions, two Xbox 360s, Gaycation Magazine

arcade games; and air hockey, foosball and pool tables. Although many of these facilities are holdovers from the Chelsea’s Delta days, the Eaton chain has done substantial renovations throughout the complex to bring it up to 2014 standards. As for the rooms and suites: They go from 275 square feet to 450-plus square feet in size. Many have balconies, a welcome legacy of 1980s-era architecture when people were still encouraged to get some fresh air in high-rises – and not expected to jump over the railings. When I stayed there during WorldPride 2014, the rooms had been refreshed with new paint and fittings: The room I had was quietly elegant and didn’t feel like something out of the last century. It was subtle and soothing. Useful info: Among the in-room freebies is hotelwide Wi-Fi Internet access, which worked quite 72

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reliably. (It really annoys me when five star hotels charge for Internet access, simply because they can.) The rooms also come with the usual iron/ ironing board, coffee/tea service, and flat screen TV. If you want to stay awhile, the Eaton Chelsea even has 44 kitchenette rooms with full-size fridges, stoves and microwaves. How did I like my stay? Well, to put the Eaton Chelsea into perspective, it was like flying Business Class on a good airline. The package was not quite as glisteningly polished as a five star hotel, but it touched all the bases very nicely without a five star’s accompanying high prices and ‘charge for everything’ grasping attitude. (You can see that I have an issue here; I’ve stayed at two many five star hotels.) Prices vary, of course, but when I just checked online, a night at the Eaton Chelsea was just $185, for a hotel right in the very heart of everything that www.gaycationmagazine.com

Toronto has to offer! This value, combined with the refreshed Chelseaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many amenities, superb location, and friendly sensitive service, make it an ideal choice for LGBTQ travelers. I know Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be coming back! Eaton Chelsea 33 Gerrard Street West Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z4 Canada T (416) 595 1975 F (416) 585 4375 Toll Free (North America only): 1-800-CHELSEA (243-5732) http://chelsea.eatonhotels.com/

www.gaycationmagazine.com

James Careless is an experienced travel journalist with credits at the Huffington Post, Montreal Gazette, National Post, and OUTVisions magazine.

Gaycation Magazine

Gaycationers

Meet some of the incredible people that have become part of our family of Gaycationers. They can usually be spotted pretty easily by their warm smiles and willing to help attitude when you arrive in their towns or cities. Here are just a few that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen. Have you seen any lately? If so send a photo to editor@gaycationmagazine.com

Gaycationers enjoy a glass of sparkling wine in Sonoma Valley at the beautiful MacArthur Place Inn & Spa during Out in the Vineyard. This annual event highlights some of the breathtaking and exciting aspects of Wine Country combined with gay nightlife and pool parties.

Aaron Kelley and friends celebrating his 40th Birthday at Bistro Paula Nani located in Panama City, Panama. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY AARON! 74

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Raise a glass to newlyweds Edgar and Travis. They were married in Puerto Vallarta during Puerto Vallarta Pride. Travis is a chef, writer, and local to Puerto Vallarta. He even wrote the article on Puerto Vallarta in this very issue. Congrats Travis!

The Riviera Maya (Mexico) is rapidly becoming a hot spot for LGBT wedding thanks the area progressive stance on gay rights. Congratulations fellas! Looked like a beautiful ceremoney! Photo courtesy of Stephen at Mayan Explore and Monica Lopez Photography

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Here’s a series of photos taken by Steven O Evans, Phd founder of Outclique. Check out the photos and et me know if you can spot the photo bomer... Key West has long been a gaycation destination. Steven & Nick enjoy a weekend of sightseeing, staying at the infamous Island House, taking photos at the Southern Most Point, and renting a scooter (Nick’s swerving on the back made them wipe-out in the middle of Duval Street). With the clubs, restaurants, and resorts, Key West proved once again to be a weekend of fun, sun, and relaxation. And the drive across the Keys in a convertible with the top down, only adds to the adventure!

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Gaycationers

Beachgoers enjoying their copy of Gaycation Magazine...

John Christensen just loves his new issue of Gaycation Magazine!

Paul Mauceri is catching some rays and enjoying the Swimming Pigs in Snout ‘n About

Rob Holzberg is so into the newest issue he doesn’t even notice the fella walking by him. Hmmm...

Two guys dress up for another day at the beach! 76

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“Lucky Guys” Tony and Mark celebrate their vacation on the Jersey shore.

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Bear Week in Provincetown 2014

In case you missed it, Bear Week Provincetown 2014 was held during the week of July 12 - 20th. Thankfully our pals over at Modern Bear were kind enough to share some photos with us. Photos courtesy of Modern Bear www.modernbear.net/?p=749

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Southern Maine AIDS Walk/5k Run Fundraiser Event in Ogunquit, ME Gaycation Magazine attended a fundraiser in Ogunquit Maine and here is what happened! by Joe Morales We attended the Southern Maine AIDS Walk/5k run back in May. It was great to see so many familiar faces and to meet some new friends and all for a worthy cause. There really is NO WAY to describe how great of an event this was except through some of the photos we took during the long weekend of festivities. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t post all of them in the magazine but you can catch them on our website www.gaycationmagazine.com or our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ gaycationmagazine. Proceeds went to benefit the Frannie Peabody Center (www.peabodycenter.org) who was able to raise over $100,000 with your support! Closing up the event was the Gaycation Magazine Raffle where 1 lucky winner won 5 nights at Maui Sunseeker and another winner one 3 nights at Alexanderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guesthouse in Key West!

Joe and Miss E,on at the Gaycation Magazine booth.

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Discover Ogunquit... in all seasons

Beautiful Place by the Sea Email us for a

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Experience miles of beautiful sandy beaches, quaint seaport cove, fine dining, superior accommodations and a selection of unique shops and businesses in one convenient location.

2014 EVENT CALENDAR

Photo Credits: Robert Dennis, David Sullivan and Ogunquit Beach Inn

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MAY 24-26 ~ NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt Display JUNE ~ Chamber Music Festival, Lifeguard Dash JULY 4 ~ Independence Day Fireworks! AUGUST 21 ~ Annual Sidewalk Art Show & Sale AUGUST 30 ~ Annual Labor Day Weekend Sidewalk Sale SEPTEMBER ~ Festival of Kites, Lobster Dash OCTOBER 24-26 ~ Annual OgunquitFest NOVEMBER 9 ~ Celebrations by the Sea Wedding Expo DECEMBER 12-14 ~ Annual Christmas by the Sea Celebration

OGUNQUIT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 36 Main Street (US Rt 1), Ogunquit, ME 03907

207-646-2939 ogunquit.org visitogunquit.org

From Left to right, top to bottom: Joslyn Fox from RuPaulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Drag Race, Team Awards photo, Mainestreet Ogunquit Bar crowd, Musician Connor Street, Frannie Peabody Center Sponsor T-shirt, Cute waiter at The Front Porch

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From Left to right, top to bottom: Gaycation Magazine Publisher DJ Doran, Miss E,on, Winners Circle from Gaycation Magazine Raffle, Karaoke Singer and gang, Shaunna Rai

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From Left to right, top to bottom: Frannie Peabody Fundraiser Team, Red Ribbon Party attendees, The Steve Dixon Entourage, Joe and DJ with Red Party Revelers, Mainestreet Ogunquit crowd.

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OGT Marketplace Amore Breakfast & Cafe Amore 309 Shore Rd Ogunquit, ME 207-646-6661 Hours 7 am to 1 pm

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Cruising Corner Do you Cruise?

Hotel, Resort, Entertainment, Great Food, World Travel - Cruises are More Inclusive & a Great Value! by Doug White

Exciting, Leisure, Active, Romantic, Friendly, Entertaining, Relaxed, Never Hungry, Educational, World Travel, Journey, and Eye Opening, are just some of the words that describe traveling on cruise ships today. Tonight is the last night of your cruise and tomorrow you have to go back to reality. Looking back, you wonder how it all went by so fast; and what a great time you had. Now you wish you had booked a back-to-back cruise (a second week on board) so you could do it all again tomorrow instead of heading home. It just didn’t seem long enough because you had such a great time! But, you are already thinking about when and where you want to cruise next now that you’ve been bitten by the cruise bug. You look back to when you first thought about going on a cruise a year ago and how it seemed so far away. You realize now that from the time you booked your cruise to the day you showed up at the pier to get on board, time went by very fast. When you first started thinking about a cruise. From the moment you checked out all the countries and ports cruise ships visit, to trying to figure out what cruise line to travel on. Whether you wanted a large suite with a living room and a balcony, or a small stateroom with just a window, and then how long should your cruise be, because you can go on a cruise for three nights, a week or months at a time --- it was a little overwhelming. But aren’t all new adventures? 84

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A few things to consider when deciding what cruise is right for you and your traveling companion, if you are not going alone, is what do you like to do? Do you enjoy eating out at restaurants where you sit at a table, order off a menu, and your waiter and assistant waiter take care of everything for you? From laying your napkin in your lap, bringing you fresh baked bread and rolls, asking you how you want your steak cooked, or which of the special sauces is right for your chicken or pork, and then they polish off the night with an array of wonderful deserts. Do you like being entertained? - going to Broadway style shows, comedians, aerialists, AquaTheater® Shows and Ice Shows? Do you enjoy the excitement of all the bells and whistles of the Casino? Do you want to get a long relaxing massage and other treatments at the onboard Spa? Do you want to keep up your workout routine at the onboard fitness center? Is nightlife your thing to go out to various bars, lounges and night clubs including live jazz, karaoke bar, Latin flare, or comedy? Are you an adventurer and want to visit www.gaycationmagazine.com

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as many places and learn about as many cultures and history as possible, or do you just want to sit at the local sidewalk café in another county enjoying the day while in port? First you had to figure out where and when you wanted to go on your cruise. After all, a cruise isn’t staying at just one hotel in one city. With today’s modern cruise ships, almost everything is included to make your vacation one of the best of your life. You have hundreds of choices with different cruise lines. Each cruise line can have their pros and cons but for the most part, cruising is one of the best vacation values around. Often the ship itself can be the destination, the resort if you will, and the ports in other countries that you are going to travel to are just the icing on the cake. So when you are thinking about your next great vacation, think about a cruise. Stay tuned for more articles, Tips & Tricks on cruising on the high seas. Have you been to an FOD (Friend of Dorothy)? -- A great place to meet other LGBT family members on board ships. We’ll give you the details next time. Tips & Tricks Thinking ahead to make your cruise even better You should have heard by now that if you are flying somewhere to meet your cruise ship, you should make every effort possible to fly into that city at least a day or two earlier to make sure your vacation gets off to a good start. Now, you may not be one of the statistics in lost (or mishandled) luggage, but it’s better to be prepared. In a recent article by CNN Money, they quote, “U.S. airlines mishandled over 141,000 bags in April [2014], according to government statistics, or about three bags for every 1,000 passengers.” Considering that in 2013, according to the United States Department of Transportation, Department’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) website, there were 824,136,950 air passengers on domestic and international flights, that’s not so bad. So not to 86

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preach gloom and doom here, just thinking ahead so that just in case your bags get temporarily misplaced, the airline has time to get them back to you before you get underway on your cruise. It’s also a great idea to print (with a computer, if you have handwriting like mine) on an 8 ½ x 11 piece of paper that states your name, address, home and cell numbers. So when your luggage is opened it’s real obvious that “This bag belongs to (your name and info)” for easily identifying your luggage.

Doug White has been a TraveI Consultant and Group Specialist for over 14 years. He’s traveled around the world, both land and sea, to over 45 countries and sailed on over 100 cruises. Doug will be bringing you articles on the What, When, Where and Why of travel to make your vacation the best possible. Doug runs a group called Guys World Travel where gay men enjoy traveling together in small groups. His group is open to anyone. Their tagline is “Travel with Friends, Some You Know and Some You Have Yet To Meet”.© The group is growing and has nearly 1,000 members. www.facebook.com/groups/GuysWorldTravel and our website www.GuysWorldTravel.com coming soon.

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Cruise fares listed are for cruise and cruisetour only in U.S. dollars, per person and fares/discount offers are based on double occupancy. Fares are subject to availability and are part of Cruise Planners Group Pricing. Viking reserves the right to correct errors and to change any and all fares, fees and surcharges at any time. Additional terms and conditions apply; see Passenger Ticket Contract. CST#2052644-40. Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, is merely a selling agent for the cruise line and makes no warranty expressed or implied. We are not responsible for errors and omissions. CST #2034468-50. FST #ST39068.

Travel series “Trip Out” Showcasing Luxurious Destinations & Events for the LGBT Community

Hosted By: Kristin R. Thomas

www.TripOutTV.com

Solution can be found on page 90

Crossword courtesy of freedailycrosswords.com and edited by Timothy Parker

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Advertising Index Here’s a list of FABULOUS people that want you to visit. So much so, they wanted to be in Gaycation Magazine! If you’re interested in reaching a fiercely loyal audience, then contact us at sales@gaycationmagazine.com. We’re sure you won’t be sorry. Amore Breakfast

IGLTA 14

Atlantic Escapes

Island House Resort

Blue Chairs Resort by the Sea

Maui Pride

Casa Cupula

Mayan Explorer

Come Out Travel

Cruise Planners

Miami LGBT Center

Equator Resort

Moon over Maine

Evolve 2015

Moose Meadow Lodge

Floris 91

Nuits Saint-Pierre Hotel Unique

FunMaps 64

Oqunquit Chamber of Commerce

Gay Tours Ibiza

OutClique 15

Go Out Loud

Outings & Adventures

Guys World Travel

Pink Banana Media

Prism Werks

Provincetown

Purple Roofs

Roberto’s Restaurant

Roost Café & Bistro

SunSeeker Resort

Solution to Crossword on page 89

MedCallAssist 65

The Thomas O Cash HIV/AIDS Walk 40 Trip Out 88

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Tropical Heat

Womenfest

Zenbiz Travel

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UP NEXT Travel Style and Accoutrements Explore Fall Fashion Week with us as we feature the latest travel styles and fashion trends from: London Milan New York and Paris www.gaycationmagazine.com

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INTERNATIONAL GAY CELEBRATION IN LAS VEGAS! 3 days of receptions, shows, parties and special events with men from 30 countries.