places to go, people to meet

March 2008 Blog Posts (37)

"Open Skies" deal comes into effect

The long-awaited "open skies" agreement between the US and European Union (EU) is coming into effect, aiming to open up trans-Atlantic air travel.

The deal ends limits on which airlines can fly between the US and EU, and it is expected to lead to a large rise in the number of carriers on the routes.

However, changes at big airports such as Heathrow will be minimised by the limited availability of take-off slots. New… Continue

Added by Tim on March 30, 2008 at 9:58 — 1 Comment

Iran: 30 men arrested in raid on private house

Thirty men have been arrested in a so-called morals raid on a private home in the Iranian city of Esfahan an international human rights groups said Friday.

Citing sources within Iran the New York-based Human Rights Watch said that the men were arrested in late February and have been held for almost four weeks without access to lawyers and without formal charges.

The men allegedly are accused of consensual homosexual… Continue

Added by Tim on March 29, 2008 at 23:00 — No Comments

Indonesia: Muslim clerics say it's ok to be gay

"Muslim scholars at a meeting in Jakarta announced on Mar. 27 that homosexuality is natural and part of God’s creation.

The Jakarta Post published an account of the pronoucement made by moderate Muslims after examining the issue at a meeting put together by Arus Pelani, an NGO. Within the full context of Islamic teaching, the scholars said, the faith does not reject homosexuality. The scholars said that anti-gay teachings spring not… Continue

Added by Tim on March 29, 2008 at 16:46 — No Comments

Gay Travellers Network Update #3 - Uploading Files etc.

I was talking to someone I know the other day who's been having a really bad time with his computer: a good friend of his accidentally sent him an email with a photo attachment containing a virus which is now working its way through his entire address book and sending itself on to everyone he knows. Viruses, trojans and worms are a real nuisance, particularly if you're not a computer expert (and a lot of us aren't).

For that reason, we're introducing a simple rule here on the Gay… Continue

Added by Tim on March 29, 2008 at 10:30 — 1 Comment

Monaco's Rose Ball goes Spanish....and camp

The Rose Ball is considered the most important event in Monaco's social calendar. Year after year the cream of Monegasque society is joined by showbiz stars and aristocrats from all over the world, as the royal family plays host to a lavish banquet in the heart of Monte Carlo. Proceeds from the soirée go to the Princess Grace Foundation, which helps disadvantaged children.

Each year the Ball has a different carnavalesque theme, and this… Continue

Added by Tim on March 27, 2008 at 21:30 — No Comments

UK: Discover Manchester's gay history

Modern-day Manchester has a thriving gay scene (made internationally-famous by the original version of Queer As Folk), but the Canal Street visitors see today looked very different 100 years ago. Closet pubs and dark streets have made way for out and proud bars, restaurants and cafés.

There's a whole history to be discovered. Manchester’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender heritage is well documented in the ‘Out in the Past’… Continue

Added by Tim on March 27, 2008 at 20:57 — No Comments

UK: London Heathrow's new Terminal 5 now open to passengers

London Heathrow's new Terminal 5 has opened to the public as British Airways begins operating from the building.

"A BA flight from Hong Kong was the first to arrive at the £4.3bn facility. The first departure was at 0620 GMT, when a service left for Paris.

Both BA and the airport operator BAA are promising a better passenger experience and fewer delays....

....There were some teething problems at the airport on… Continue

Added by Tim on March 27, 2008 at 9:30 — No Comments

Nip/Tuck - pro-gay or anti-gay?

A big success on both sides of the Atlantic and further afield, Nip/Tuck has constantly flirted with aspects of gay sexuality.

NipTuck Chamberlain

by jackwack123

"How can one of television’s most gay-inclusive shows also feature such negative portrayals of gay and bisexual… Continue

Added by Tim on March 27, 2008 at 0:09 — 1 Comment

IDEM - 2nd Festival Internacional de Cine Lésbico de Andalucia, Spain (until 1st April 2008)

Staged in Córdoba, this is one of Europe's best-funded gay cinema festivals - full details (en español) here.

Added by Tim on March 25, 2008 at 19:30 — No Comments

Gay in Dubai

Here's what one blogger wrote in 2007

"So lets say you are a new queer man coming to Dubai, how do you know where to go out, what to do, how to meet people? well you best chance is to do what most of us do when we travel, log on gaydar or manjam ... try to find nice and decent profiles not the sexual ones, as the sexual one will just have a one night stand and not care to show you around the city and introduce you to people. Talk to… Continue

Added by Tim on March 25, 2008 at 10:35 — 1 Comment

Are you British in bed?

A web advertising campaign for a well-known brand of lubricant invites you to answer a number of questions to decide whether you are British in bed, or make love like a wild Brazilian (you can see it here)

While this is just a joke to sell products, it's certainly the case that there are no end of stereotypes when it comes to talking about the way different nationalities approach… Continue

Added by Tim on March 25, 2008 at 9:25 — 2 Comments

Jamiroquai to perform in Gran Canaria and Tenerife (June 2008)

On 13 June they will be headlining the Festival Aguaviva being staged at the Estadio de Gran Canaria in Las Palmas in Gran Canaria.

On 14 June the band head to Tenerife to perform at the Estadio Olímpico Antonio Domínguez as part of the same festival.

Tickets for both gigs should be on sale from 1 April from here or by calling +34 902 405… Continue

Added by Tim on March 25, 2008 at 9:02 — No Comments

"The travel site with a black mark against every hotel"

UK newspaper The Guardian has a piece about TripAdvisor, written by Oliver Burkeman.

"One slightly amusing way to waste five minutes on the internet is to visit the website TripAdvisor.com, which features millions of hotel reviews written by members of the travelling public, and to look up the most amazing places you've ever stayed. You'll be surprised. That divine ocean-side hotel where you sipped cocktails on a private beach? "Dirty.… Continue

Added by Tim on March 25, 2008 at 9:00 — No Comments

Emirates allows passengers to use mobile phones during flights

Depending on your point of view, if other airlines adopt the same policy this is either fantastic news or a new nightmare for passengers! What do you think?

"Dubai-based airline Emirates has become the first commercial airline to allow passengers to make mobile phone calls during flights.

Emirates said the first permitted mobile phone call was made on a flight between Dubai and Casablanca.

The aircraft, an Airbus… Continue

Added by Tim on March 25, 2008 at 8:30 — No Comments

Gay Travellers Network Update #2 - New groups, more features planned

Probably one of the most complicated decisions so far has been trying to decide what to use for the logo for our new group for mature men. You can probably imagine some of the suggestions which were rejected! There's no doubt that there's an ever-growing community of more mature and senior men who have the time to travel more, and who are maybe looking for different things from those who are just starting to take their first gay holidays. So now we've a dedicated space for people to meet up.… Continue

Added by Tim on March 24, 2008 at 20:36 — No Comments

Arinaga, Gran Canaria, Spain

Arinaga

It would be wrong to say that Gran Canaria's Arinaga Playa (to distinguish it from Cruce de Arinaga, which is inland) is undiscovered by tourists or that it's unspoiled in any way: but it remains a very Spanish, laidback kind of place - a good place to walk, to spend an afternoon on the beach - and part of its waterfront is a marine reserve with some of the island's best diving.

On sunny… Continue

Added by Tim on March 24, 2008 at 19:29 — No Comments

Festival d’art gai de Québec (1st - 31st May 2008)

This is the 4th annual gay art festival to be held in the Canadian city, and you can read more (en français) and download a provisional programme here.

Added by Tim on March 24, 2008 at 18:45 — No Comments

Uruguay plans to allow gay adoption

Uruguay could well be the next country to change its laws to permit gay couples to adopt. The government says the new law is one of its legislative priorities this year, though it faces fierce opposition from the Catholic Church.

Gay partnerships already have legal recognition in Uruguay, following a change in the law in 2007.

More en español at… Continue

Added by Tim on March 24, 2008 at 18:33 — No Comments

Q&A - Is Basement Studios right for me?

We get many questions from guys about Basement Studios and who it appeals to. Here are just a few typical questions and answers.

Q1.

What is the age range of people staying or visiting Basement Studios?

We welcome any gay or bisexual men over the age of 18. To be honest we have found that the majority of men using our complex are aged 28+. This is because we enforce a very strict dresscode of naked or jocks in the daytimes and fetishwear, boots or naked for the… Continue

Added by Tony & Paul on March 24, 2008 at 17:30 — No Comments

How to make a booking..

This is a question we get asked many times as we are an independent complex with no affiliations to major travel agencies. As we only offer accommodation you will need to book your flights seperately.

The easiest way to book at Basement Studios is online through our website www.basementstudios.es

Simply put in the dates you wish to stay and the system will show you the accommodation available and the price. Pick a room and enter your… Continue

Added by Tony & Paul on March 24, 2008 at 16:30 — No Comments