INDULGENCES passport Paris
As far as I am concerned, this is the quintessential destination
for romance. The food, the museums, the architecture, the wine, the food, the chocolate, the wine...did I mention the food? I spent ten days there and never stopped moving. This city exudes ro- mance, history and intrigue at every corner. I love European cities, because they are so dense and tightly packed. The streets are so narrow, that you can’t throw a stone without hitting something picturesque! The lovely little shops, street vendors and bistros deliciously pop up at every corner. Then of course, there are the landmarks: the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, l’Arc de Triomphe and the National Opera House are some of the majors to see. The museums are endless and not to be believed. The Louvre alone could take a week, not to mention the Musee d’Orsay. Make sure to get away from the tourist areas (but don’t forget them)! And if you really want savor the flavor of the city...WALK! Allow yourself to get lost with your sweetheart. Some of my favorite things were found wandering! Make an effort to get out in the evenings, as they nicknamed it the city of lights for a reason! The gay area in Paris is Le Marais and there are many wonderful hotels to choose from. A helpful website for the best gay European hotels is: pink-
travel.com, take a look if you want “friendly” recommendations. Hot clubs, local bars, cruise bars (I’ll let you discover the meaning of those) and an endless array of shopping—Viva la Paris. All the better if you share it with your bien-aimé.
It’s a cliché but every February 14th the love boat arrives and that track repeats and repeats in my head. So much so that my Valentine’s Scrooge thinks a lobotomy is in order. Thankfully, the Cindy Lu part of me still wins out and lets me fantasize about returning to the places I have loved and the romance of the places I have yet to see.
Costa Rica
This part of the world possesses some of the richest, most diverse land- scapes on the planet, it contains nearly six percent of the world’s plant and animal species. San Jose is the largest city in the area, and is host to many gay-friendly hotels (take a look at Casa 69, it’s an old renovated mansion in the heart of the city)—
casa69.com. There are many others, check the interactive website below for a list. The city has a thriving nightlife (recommendation: La Avispa—it’s the oldest gay disco in Costa Rica) plus many other bars for you and your honey to explore. If the “scene” is not your cup of tea, the many beaches are spectacular (check the beach beside Manuel Antonio National Park), or perhaps a little white-water rafting on the Pacuare River (considered one the top five white-water rafting rivers in the world)! For the adventurous, explore the surrounding jungle via a canopy safari (imagine a cable, a pulley and a harness...30 to 40 feet up)! Costa Rica includes active volcanoes as well. Arenal Volcano, about three hours from San Jose, rises imposingly above the rainforest. Hot springs abound and Lake Arenal sits like a jewel below. Your exploration can start by picking up one of the best guidebooks: Moon Handbooks - Costa Rica, by Christopher Baker. There is a great interactive map available online for the gay scene and much more!
costaricagaymap.com Zoom Vacations also has a great site to plan entire trips:
zoomvacations.com. Enjoy, have fun and “pura vida!” (you’ll have to look it up)!
EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK AROUND
LOVE IS IN THE AIR . . .
by joel martens
58
RAGE monthly | FEBRUARY 2011
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