lesbian travel - Blogs - Tripatini2024-03-28T09:40:44Zhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/lesbian+travelGay-Friendly Vacation Cottage Rentals in Vaqueros (Outside Salta), Argentinahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/gay-friendly-vacation-cottage-rentals-vaqueros-salta-argentina2013-08-26T15:13:59.000Z2013-08-26T15:13:59.000ZRoy Healehttps://tripatini.com/members/RoyHeale<div><p><strong><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008789078,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008789078,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008789078?profile=original" /></a></em></strong><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008789078,original{{/staticFileLink}}"></a></em><em>Village Center, Vaqueros, Salta, Argentina<br /> <br /></em></p><p>Located in the foothills of the Andes at 4000'above sea level, Vaqueros is a small country village at the northern edge of the city of Salta, Argentina. With a resident population of about 4000 persons, here you will see traditional Argentina Gauchos (cowboys) on horseback making their way around the hamlet, enjoy a small town atmosphere and great low prices in restaurants or local shops.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008790052,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008790052,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008790052?profile=original" /></a><em>Enjoy Local Delicacies</em></p><p></p><p>Visitors can experience horseback riding on the mountain trails, hiking around the hillsides, or take a guided quadricycle tour. Or you can stroll along the trail of the Artisans, a circuit to appreciate popular local arts and crafts fabricated in wood, leather, clay and wool.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008790086,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="500" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008790086,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008790086?profile=original" /></a><em>Horseback Riding on Mountain Trails</em></p><p>Gay-friendly accommodations are available located just 100 meters from the river and about the same distance from the village center. Luis Pezzini offers traditional Argentine cottages with all amenities from US$50 per night and they sleep up to four adults. With digital TV, WiFi, heating, and comfortable furnishings these living quarters are perfect for a country get-away and yet remain close to the city of Salta.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008789868,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008789868,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008789868?profile=original" /></a><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008789898,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008789898,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008789898?profile=original" /></a><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008790498,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008790498,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008790498?profile=original" /></a><em>Comfortable Cottages</em></p><p></p><p>There is regular bus service (about every 15 minutes) to the city or a remise ride for about US$5.00 to downtown Salta. Your host is also very knowledgeable on the local area and can help with outdoor activities or tour advice.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008790696,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008790696,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008790696?profile=original" /></a><em>Fruit and Vegetable Vendors</em></p><p></p><p>Save money and enjoy the low cost of living in Vaqueros while you enjoy the beautiful North West Argentina vacation attractions and the historic city of Salta. Find out why they call this Salta La Linda ---Salta The Beautiful!</p><p><strong>For More Information Visit:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/alquila.ensalta" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/alquila.ensalta</a></p><p>or email: luisunide@gmail.com</p></div>Sitges, Spain: A Gay Euro Classic For Summertime Playhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/sitges-spain-a-gay-euro-classic-for-summertime-play2013-08-12T13:00:00.000Z2013-08-12T13:00:00.000ZDave Actonhttps://tripatini.com/members/DaveActon<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008702878,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008702878,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" class="align-center" alt="9008702878?profile=original" /></a><br /> Summer is here, and that means <strong>Sitges</strong> is in full swing for the season. Of the myriad little fishing-villages-turned-beach-resorts along <strong>Spain</strong>'s Mediterranean coast, this is the one nearest and dearest to the heart of gay men and women across Europe and beyond. In <strong>Catalonia</strong> about 45 minutes south of <strong>Barcelona, Sitges</strong> (pronouced “SEAT-jess,” its fetching seaside church – pictured above -- an icon)<strong> </strong>now has a year-round population around 20,000, doesn't attract queers alone - in fact, they're greatly outnumbered by straight singles, couples, and families during the summer season. But its gay appeal reaches generations back into history that a century ago attracted the boho likes of Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and other arty types. From there, not unlike Cape Cod’s Provincetown, by the 70’s and 80’s it’d morphed into a resort that’s not just hetero-popular but also one of Europe’s top gay travel favorites every June-through-September. I’ve been there a bunch of times, and it truly is a blast – not to mention generally less druggy and attitudinal than Ibiza and other European gaycation spots.<br /> <br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008702695,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="325" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008702695,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-right" alt="9008702695?profile=original" /></a>There are several nice little museums here, but the main event is of course the beach along the seafront promenade – a stretch of sand colonized by acres of rented blue chaises-longues, drinks-hawkers, and on the Bassa Rodona section hundreds of homos (mostly dudes, but also some dudettes) from all over the Continent and beyond. The other gay beach requires a bit of schlepping westward over a rocky path to a stony, secluded cove where you can be free to sun your buns and wander the cruisy paths through the nearby underbrush; it’s called <strong>Platja Home Mort</strong> (Catalan for “Dead Man’s Beach,” <strong>Playa del Hombre Muerto</strong> in Spanish; pictured at right) because every once in a while somebody who takes a shortcut – through the railway tunnel – doesn’t quite make it.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008703271,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="375" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008703271,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-left" alt="9008703271?profile=original" /></a><br /> Some queens will actually come and stay as much as two weeks here, and almost everybody falls into the rhythm and routine. Days at the beach and in the cafés, with an occasional excursion to places like Barcelona or <strong>Tarragona</strong>; a disco nap; dinner at lovely eateries like El Trull, Ma Maison, and El Xalet; then the nighttime-to-wee-hours circuit of myriad bars and clubs that varies according to taste but usually includes old standbys like El Candil, Mediterráneo, <a href="http://www.bourbonsbar.com" target="_blank">Bourbon’s</a>, <a href="http://www.barseven.com/" target="_blank">El 7</a>, the delightfully sleazy <a href="http://www.sitges4men.com/English/Horno/horno.htm" target="_blank">El Horno</a>, and the after-hours disco Trailer (and of course there are plenty of newer offerings, too, like <a href="http://www.bearssitgesclub.org" target="_blank">Bears</a> and <a href="http://www.sitges4men.com/English/XXL/xxl.htm)" target="_blank">XXL</a>. You’ll find different times of summer heavier on different nationalities: Dutch, French, Italian, German, and so forth. Still not all that many North Americans, though.<br /> <br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008703857,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="225" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008703857,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-right" alt="9008703857?profile=original" /></a>Places to bunk? Up the wazoo, of course, and pretty much all are gay-friendly – the most romantic may be the <a href="http://www.hotelromantic.com" target="_blank">Romàntic</a> (right), a dreamy converted Belle Époque manse which also has an annex across the street called the Renaixença (one drawback – no A/C, last I checked, but in-room fans seem to do the trick). For explicitly gay, the nearby <a href="http://www.libertyhotelsitges.com" target="_blank">Liberty</a> is almost as attractive, and boasts air-conditioned rooms, while the newer <a href="http://www.parrotshotel.com" target="_blank">Parrots</a>, the outgrowth of a longstanding pub of the same name, is even closer to the beach and throws in frisky perks like a basement sauna (there’s a second bath house, closer to the train station, called <a href="http://www.saunasitges.com" target="_blank">Sauna Sitges</a>). I find there’s something to be said for staying slightly out of town, too – for example at the marvelous little clothing-optional gay resort <a href="http://www.masiacasanova.com" target="_blank">Masia Casanova</a>. This is just the tip of the icebergs of hotels and hostales; short-term apartment rentals are also common.<br /> <br /> Wherever you end up staying, I can’t recommend this cool little town enough. Get general info from <a href="http://sitgestur.cat/turismo_barcelona/" target="_blank">Tursime Sitges</a> and gay-specific details from sites including <a href="http://www.gaysitges.com/" target="_blank">GaySitges.com</a>, <a href="http://www.gaysitgesguide.com/" target="_blank">GaySitgesGuide.com,</a> <a href="http://www.gayinsitges.com/" target="_blank">GayinSitges.com</a>, and Sitges-Gay.com. </p><p><br /> <br /> <br /> <em>Travel writer/editor Dave Acton is an editor of the phrasebook</em> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Gay-Translator-Hookups-Languages/dp/1885948425/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1338659949&sr=8-5" target="_blank">The Gay Translator: Love + Hookups in 7 Languages</a>.</p><p><br /> <br /> <span class="font-size-1">photos: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/enricarchivell/" target="_blank">Enric Archivell</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10135574@N00/" target="_blank">Rob Rushworth</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hacedoraweb/" target="_blank">Guadalupe Cervilla</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcoupe/" target="_blank">Geoff Coupe</a></span></p></div>Girldar: The Evolution of Lesbian Travel Guideshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/girldar2011-10-13T12:50:01.000Z2011-10-13T12:50:01.000ZGirls That Roamhttps://tripatini.com/members/GirlsThatRoam<div><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">by <a href="mailto:heather@girlsthatroam.com">Heather Cassell</a></font></p><p><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Published: Ocotber 3, 2011</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Finding lesbians in New York City or London is somewhat easy, but it is a whole other story in distant lands, especially when women have very little if any rights at all - don't even mention the "L" word - but these are minor challenges to Gina Gatta and Tanya Churchmuch.</font></p><p> </p><p style="float:right;width:300px;margin-left:40px;margin-right:20px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><br /> <img width="300" height="219" style="margin-bottom:5px;" src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/US_CA_SF_DamronOwners.jpg" alt="US_CA_SF_DamronOwners.jpg" /><br /><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Damron owner Gina Gatta with business and life partner, Erika O'Conner, enjoying Iceland.</font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br />Photo Credit: Courtesy of Damron</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/girlroamers/GTRDamron.htm">Gatta</a> is president and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://damron.com/">Damron</a>, the oldest LGBT travel guide company in the world, and <a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/girlroamers/GTRGPorts.htm">Churchmuch</a>, is a new comer as founder of <a href="http://www.girlports.com/lesbiantravel/%5D">Girlports.com</a>, an online travel guide for queer women.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Churchmuch and Gatta scout the globe finding lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women's bars, clubs, festivals, lodging, restaurants, retreats, and more for their respective guides for queer women travelers.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Queer women are definitely hitting the road. Vacations top lesbian travelers list of things to do to shake the recession blues off once the economy springs back to life, according to <i>Community Marketing, Inc. 15th Annual Gay & Lesbian Tourism Study</i> published in 2010.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Gatta knows it, for the more than 20 years, she has traveled the world seeking out the gay boys and queer girls for LGBT globetrotters.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I'm very lucky to have this and I'm not ever going to take it for granted," says Gatta, 46, who launched the the <a href="https://damron.com/womens_guide.php">Women's Traveller</a>, a complimentary guide to the popular Men's Traveler, in 1989. The men's guide that lists LGBT-owned and operated and gay-friendly lodges, entertainment, and other information for queer travelers had been thriving for more than 20 years when Gatta launched the women's guide her first year at the company.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In 2009, Damron's Men's Traveler celebrated its 45th edition and the Women's Traveller celebrated its 20th anniversary.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Damron was founded by Bob Damron in 1967. An openly gay man, Damron turned his little black book of gay lodges, bars, and restaurants into photocopied guides until the mid-1980s when Dan Delbacks bought the business in 1987. Two years after Delbacks took over the San Francisco-based company he asked his friend Gatta to join him.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Four short years later, Gatta and her then business partners saved the company after Delbacks died of AIDS. Today, Damron is the only LGBT travel guide company for gay men and lesbians run by a lesbian. Under Gatta's more than two decades of leadership, the company has expanded to include iPhone apps - Gurl Scout and Gay Scout and launched <a href="https://damron.com/accommodations_guide.php">accommodation</a> and <a href="https://damron.com/damron_guides.php">city guides</a> - and expanded beyond North America to Europe and South America.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font size="3">Lez Go</font></b></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Guides with only addresses and some background information wasn't enough for former broadcast news anchor and international journalist Churchmuch, she wanted more.</font></p><p style="float:left;width:288px;margin-left:20px;margin-right:20px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><br /> <img width="288" height="212" style="margin-bottom:5px;" src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/TanyaChurchmuch_GirlPorts.jpg" alt="TanyaChurchmuch_GirlPorts.jpg" /><br /><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Founder of GirlPorts.com Tanya Churchmuch dines at her favorite Paris restaurant, Le Chartier.</font> <font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br />Photo Credit: Carrie MacPherson</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I was somebody who always traveled a lot and always became frustrated by the lack of useful information for lesbian travelers that was available," says Churchmuch.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"It's important to understand the culture that you are traveling in," expressing that for any woman traveling solo or in a group she needs to be aware of the culture and customs she's visiting and environment she's in, much like if she's at home.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Listings of places with some descriptions were simply bullet points that didn't provide a sense of the place for Churchmuch. She wasn't alone.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In 2006, at <a href="http://www.worldoutgames2013.be/">Outgames</a> in Montreal Churchmuch casually surveyed women she ran into. Over and over again women from around the globe told her that they expressed a desire to find out more information about women like them in other cities.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I just said to myself, 'Okay, I've got to do it now and that's when the idea came to me,'" says Churchmuch, a former broadcast anchor and international journalist.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">A year later Girlports.com, an online guide with personal travel insight for queer women, launched. She followed that by adding, assistant director and the media relations manager for the LGBT market for of Tourisme Montréal, to her name.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Today, Churchmuch speaks regularly at travel conferences about queer women's travel and she is one of only three women who hold a seat out of eight of the <a href="http://www.iglta.org/">International Lesbian and Gay Travel Associations</a> board of directors.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Sister travelers</b></font></p><p> </p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Churchmuch is well aware that Gatta paved the way for Girlports.com with the pioneering Women's Traveller. Gatta knew where the girls were. At the same time Churchmuch recognizes the seismic shifts within the past two decades that have changed the lesbian community and the publishing and travel industries.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Print is no longer king. The Internet appears to have trumped print in the 21st century. Churchmuch grabbed the reins powered by the super highway and her journalism background she combined her passion for culture, travel, and women in a nifty online user-friendly guide for women with Girlports.com.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"Gina does a great job [for] what she does, especially in the lesbian community," says Churchmuch, giving Gatta "Kudos" for "everything that she has done for Damron, because those were absolutely pioneering guidebooks for the queer community."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Books are hard now. It's hard to keep up to date especially in the lesbian community and even more so in the past few years. The fact of the matter is that lesbian bars don't exist anymore and so much of what happens, especially in nightlife, is … these [circuit clubs that] change fairly regularly," Churchmuch continues expressing the difficulty of keeping up with the changes on Facebook invites, Twitter feeds, and more. Print almost instantly becomes outdated."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Gatta holds mutual respect for Churchmuch, "Girlports.com is great. It's necessary. I applaud them," Gatta says.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Churchmuch hopes more queer women take more leadership roles in the travel industry, especially those who focus on queer women's travel.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"Lesbians need to be more present in organizations," said Churchmuch. "It's important to continue standing up to take our place ... women have money [and] women travel."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">To purchase reprints, contact <a href="mailto:editor@girlsthatroam.com">editor@girlsthatroam.com</a>.</font></p><p> </p><p>Link to Girls That Roam: <a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/goroam/GTRGDar.htm">http://www.girlsthatroam.com/goroam/GTRGDar.htm</a></p><p>Take the International Women's Travel Survey September 15 - November 15: <a href="http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm">http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm</a></p><p>Sign up free for Girls That Roam: <a href="http://eepurl.com/f_Icf">http://eepurl.com/f_Icf</a></p></div>Guiding Women: The New Edition of Damron Women's Travellerhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/guiding-women-the-new-edition-of-damron-women-s-traveller2011-10-11T13:02:59.000Z2011-10-11T13:02:59.000ZGirls That Roamhttps://tripatini.com/members/GirlsThatRoam<div><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:large;">Edited by Gina M. Gatta; Damron Company, 648 pages; paperback, $18.95</span></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Reviewed by <a href="mailto:heather@girlsthatroam.com">Heather Cassell<br /> </a></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Don't leave home without it. <a href="https://damron.com/womens_guide.php">Damron Women's Traveller</a>, the most popular travel guide for queer women, is back with all new and updated listings for 2012. Want to know where to go in Nashville? Damron Women's Traveller will point you in the right direction. It is the must have guide for queer girls and their friends.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Damron's crew gathers the latest information about its queer women-only and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender-friendly businesses from where to stay to where to play. The guide provides links and listings of special attractions and events of interest in each place in an accessible and readable format. Damron provides a personal touch guiding its queer women travelers to the gayborhoods and readers chime in with helpful tips.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Damron has grown each year since it rolled off the presses more than 20 years ago. It now roams beyond the North American borders covering locations across the Atlantic to Europe and the Pacific Islands to Asia.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Don't want to carry around the rectangular pocket book with the two attractive women on the cover? Damron offers <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gurl-scout-by-damron/id370315618?mt=8">Gurl Scout</a>, the mobile option with all of the latest girl spots that the Women's Traveller offers. Traveling gals can also download it as an <a href="https://damron.com/womens_guide.php">ebook</a> form or become a <a href="https://damron.com/subscribe/subscribe.php">subscriber</a> to access more than 20,000 listings online that are updated regularly.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">To purchase reprints, contact <a href="mailto:editor@girlsthatroam.com">editor@girlsthatroam.com</a>.</font></p><p> </p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Link to Girls That Roam:</font> <a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/GRead/Guiding_women.htm">www.girlsthatroam.com/GRead/Guiding_women.htm</a></p><p> </p><p>Take the International Women's Travel Survey September 15 - November 15: <a href="http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm">http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm</a></p></div>"Bliss": Palm Spring's Annual Weekender for Lesbians of Colorhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/bliss-palm-spring-s-annual-weekender-for-lesbians-of-color2011-10-23T13:45:12.000Z2011-10-23T13:45:12.000ZGirls That Roamhttps://tripatini.com/members/GirlsThatRoam<div><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">by <a href="mailto:heather@girlsthatroam.com">Heather Cassell</a></font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Published: Ocotber 3, 2011</font></p><p style="float:right;width:333px;margin-left:20px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><br /> <img src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/CA_PS_Bliss_CDLR.jpg" style="margin-bottom:5px;" height="246" width="333" alt="CA_PS_Bliss_CDLR.jpg" /><br /><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bliss Co-Founder Christine De La Rosa (Center) with Movement Production team members Kiki Poe (Left) and Mz. Amy Adams (right) at the inaugural Palm Springs getaway in 2009</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">. <br />Photo Credit: Courtesy of Movement Productions.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">A fall getaway was just the ticket for Christine De La Rosa when she dreamed up Bliss, an all-women of color weekend vacation packed with fun, rejuvenation, and relaxation at California's popular desert resort Palm Springs.</font></p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">For the past three years, nearly 250 women from all over the world head to the desert during the first weekend of October, September 30 - October 3.</font><br /><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Unwinding and relaxing doesn't equal boredom. The San Francisco club promoter, De La Rosa doesn't leave the entire party in the Bay Area, she takes the best of it on the road.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">This year she's lined up comedian <a href="http://www.welovesandra.com/welovesandra.com/HOME.html" target="_blank">Saundra Valls</a>, burlesque performer the <a href="http://www.vaginajenkins.com/" target="_blank">Lady Ms. Vagina Jenkins</a>, and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lady-Ryan/54068616629" target="_blank">DJs Lady Ryan</a> and <a href="http://djvalg.com/" target="_blank">Val G</a> to rock the pool parties and the annual White Party.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The women of Bliss look forward to "being on a vacation, not just a party weekend," said De La Rosa. "This is more of a vacation. They are coming in to relax and they want to have fun and party, but really want to relax."</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Three years ago Provincetown in Massachusetts was the only place that hosted a women of color weekend and there were few vacations that catered to women of color, in particular lesbian and bisexual women of color outside of Olivia Travel's <a href="http://www.olivia.com/Travel/CalendarContent/sas.aspx" target="_blank">Sisters at Sea and Sisters at Play</a>, the women of color cruise and resort vacations package offered by the popular lesbian travel company.</font></p><p style="float:left;width:230px;margin-right:40px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><br /> <img src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/CA_PS_Bliss_Pool.jpg" style="margin-bottom:5px;" height="170" width="230" alt="CA_PS_Bliss_Pool.jpg" /><br /><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bliss guests enjoy the pool.</font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><br />Photo Credit: Courtesy of Movement Productions.</font></font></p><br /><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font size="3">Movement maker</font></b></font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">A little over three years ago, De La Rosa was a 30-something newly minted Californian. She just moved to the San Francisco Bay Area from Texas to team up with her business partner and then girlfriend Olga Texidor, better known around the Bay Area as DJ Olga T.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">De La Rosa, was known best for her organizing chutzpah with the <a href="http://www.femmecollective.com/" target="_blank">Femme Collective</a>, a group of women who put on the biennially Femme Conference, and the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/67241964715/" target="_blank">Femmes of Color Symposium</a>, a biennially conference for women of color who identify as femme.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The two women quickly became late night powerhouses in the Bay Area's women's club scene as the forces behind <a href="http://movementinthebay.com/" target="_blank">Movement Productions</a>, a nightlife production and promotion company.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Movement Productions is responsible for <a href="http://www.edeninthebay.com/" target="_blank">Eden in the Bay</a>, the women's Pride event that coincides with San Francisco Pride, <a href="http://www.bartabsf.com/2010/08/go-girls/" target="_blank">Fire and Ice</a>, San Jose's women's Pride party, and the inferno in the women's club scene producing <a href="http://www.hotboxinthebay.com/" target="_blank">Hot Box</a>, a weekly women's dance party, and other parties such as Afterglow, <a href="http://www.movementinthebay.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=176" target="_blank">Good Times</a>, Tease, and more in Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">All play all of the time, who needed a vacation? Vacay still wasn't a part of De La Rosa's vocabulary, nor people close to her. Vacations were for other people who had time to get out of the daily grind. The value of rejuvenation and relaxation was lost on De La Rosa and she wasn't alone. Many of the people she knew often felt uncomfortable and even unwelcome in certain environments.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font size="3">Blissful</font></b></font></p><p style="float:right;width:200px;margin-left:20px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><br /> <img src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/CA_PS_Bliss_Tat.jpg" style="margin-bottom:5px;" height="230" width="170" alt="CA_PS_Bliss_Tat.jpg" /><br /></b></font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Body art and relaxation at Bliss in Palm Springs.</font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><br /></b> <font size="1">Photo Credit: Courtesy of Movement Productions.</font></font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">She finally hit enlightenment after accompanying DJ Olga T, one of Olivia's guests DJs, during a Sisters at Play vacation.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">"I didn't know what I was missing and that is something that I think is really important because sometimes we miss stuff because we might feel uncomfortable like that's not a place for us," said De La Rosa, about the discomfort women feel when they exit their comfort zones and feelings of being unwelcome in certain settings that limit them from experiencing new things.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Inspired and renewed after the trip, she said, "I want more women of color to have the opportunity to experience that level of comfort and ease."</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Seeing a void, having her finger on the pulse women of color's desires, and inspiration still wasn't enough to launch De La Rosa into action. She needed a gentle nudge that came from Joe Hawkins, party promoter and chair of <a href="http://www.oaklandseen.com/2010/06/25/joe-hawkins-the-pride-of-oakland/" target="_blank">Oakland Pride</a> who produces Blatino Oasis, a gay men of color weekend in Palm Springs. In 2009, De La Rosa took the plunge and Bliss was born.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b><font size="3">Groove thang</font></b></font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">De La Rosa is known for bring women together in upscale environments and providing quality entertainment around the Bay Area. It's been her trademark since her arrival in Oakland in early 2009.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">She was shocked by the diversity and segregation among communities when she arrived in the Bay Area. She was double shocked by the state women's bars, clubs, and parties had fallen into since Mariah Hanson, founder of San Francisco-based Girl Spot and Club Skirts, headed to the desert to hook up and break up with the Dinah Shore Weekend promoters Robin Gans and Sandy Sachs of Los Angeles' <a href="http://www.girlbar.com/" target="_blank">Girlbar</a> fame.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It appears that Hanson will have the desert all to herself for the <a href="http://www.thedinah.com/" target="_blank">The Dinah 2012</a>. A message on the <a href="http://www.dinahshoreweekend.com/" target="_blank">Dinah Shore Weekend</a> website stated that the other half of the largest and longest running all-women party weekend promoters will decamp to Las Vegas in 2012.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Far enough away from the dyke drama-rama and the electro pulse of Dinah Shore Weekend, De La Rosa's intimate gathering is alive with the sounds of R&B, Hip Hop, Salsa, Latin beats, and House music. The weekend embraces and celebrates the diversity of the queer women's community. The women keep coming back for more, De La Rosa said.</font></p><p style="float:left;width:230px;margin-right:40px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><br /> <img src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/CA_PS_Bliss_Party.jpg" style="margin-bottom:5px;" height="170" width="230" alt="CA_PS_Bliss_Party.jpg" /><br /><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bliss guests partying the night away</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">. <br />Photo Credit: Courtesy of Movement Productions.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">"I'm tired of people feeling uncomfortable in all white or all women of color places," said De La Rosa, who has made it her personal mission to create spaces where all women feel comfortable no matter race, size, ability, and more.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">"We are a part of this bigger sisterhood," she added, pointing out that it's not about gay, straight, black, white that the bottom line is that as women we don't know how to unwind. Furthermore, we feel guilty for taking time for ourselves, she continued.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">"We are always doing something. When can you unplug?" she asked, wondering if women will ever see that taking a time out is "an incredible thing" that isn't "frivolous and bad."</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">It looks like women are getting it the first year the long weekend getaway attracted 150 women and was sponsored by Curve Magazine and Olivia Travel. The following year the intimate weekend vacation nearly doubled and brought women from all over the globe. This year, Bliss took over the <a href="http://www.canyonclubhotel.com/" target="_blank">Canyon Club Hotel</a>.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Bliss is growing and other women of color weekends, such as <a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/GTRPIP.htm" target="_blank">Paradise in Puerto Rico</a>, are emerging.</font></p><p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">To purchase reprints, contact <a href="mailto:editor@girlsthatroam.com">editor@girlsthatroam.com</a>.</font></p><p> </p><p>Link to Girls That Roam: <u><a href="http://girlsthatroam.com/goroam/GTRBliss.htm">http://girlsthatroam.com/goroam/GTRBliss.htm</a></u></p><p>Take the International Women's Travel Survey September 15 - November 15: <a href="http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm">http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm</a></p><p>Sign up free for Girls That Roam: <a href="http://eepurl.com/f_Icf">http://eepurl.com/f_Icf</a></p></div>From 'Hetero-Friendly' to 'Gay-Friendly,' Axel Hotel Buenos Aires Changes Handshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/from-hetero-friendly-to-gay-friendly-axel-hotel-buenos-aires2013-10-14T09:47:56.000Z2013-10-14T09:47:56.000ZRoy Healehttps://tripatini.com/members/RoyHeale<div><p><strong>Buenos Aires, Argentina</strong></p><p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008797074,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008797074,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008797074?profile=original" /></a></strong></p><p><em>By Roy Heale</em></p><p>In a surprise move during the first week of October the Spanish Axel Hotel Group announced the sale of its Buenos Aires property to a group of Argentine investors and henceforth it will be known as the BeHotel. The former owners did not give any reasons for this unexpected move but local travel industry speculators blamed the decrease in LGBT visitors to Argentina during recent years and the national government's foreign exchange controls. However, the new owners and management assured that LGBT visitors will still be welcomed with a gay-friendly reception at the new BeHotel. No major changes or renovations are planned for the facilities but the food and beverage plus customer services will be upgraded for a more enjoyable stay.</p><p>The Catalan Group, based in Barcelona, commissioned the design and construction of the hotel and it opened as the Axel Hotel in 2007 developing into a major institution of the Buenos Aires LGBT community. BeHotel Buenos Aires is the first establishment of the Argentine investment group, which plans to expand in 2014 with another location in the City of Buenos Aires and other main tourist destinations like Iguazu, Bariloche, or Mendoza.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008797652,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008797652,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008797652?profile=original" /></a></p><p>Uniquely designed with the guest rooms located around a large central atrium and a spa on the top floor, the spacious designer suites and rooms with the creative use of glass and mirrors have proved extremely popular. The large heated swimming pool at the rear of the building offers plenty of sundecks on multi-levels for summer outdoor enjoyment. Whilst the top floor spa includes fitness equipment, two jacuzzis, sauna, and a swimming pool with a translucent floor.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008798870,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008798870,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008798870?profile=original" /></a></p><p><strong>HOTEL FACILITIES:</strong><br /> <em>Outdoors:</em> <br /> Terrace, Outdoor pool (seasonal) <br /> <em>Activities:</em> <br /> Sauna, Fitness centre, Solarium, Spa and wellness centre, Hot tub, Turkish/steam bath, Indoor pool (all year) <br /> <em>Food & Beverages:</em> <br /> Restaurant, Bar <br /> <em>Internet:</em><br /> WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge. <br /> <em>Parking:</em><br /> No parking available. Other parking garages are close by.<br /> <em>Services:</em> <br /> 24-hour front desk, Luggage storage, Room service, Meeting/banquet facilities, Business centre, Laundry, Dry <em>cleaning, Ironing service, Tour desk, Shuttle service (surcharge)</em> <br /> <em>General:</em> <br /> Non-smoking rooms, Facilities for disabled guests, Lift/elevator, Safety deposit box, Heating, Design hotel, Air conditioning <br /> <em>Languages Spoken:</em> <br /> Portuguese, Spanish, English, German, Italian, Hebrew, French</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008799497,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008799497,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008799497?profile=original" /></a></p><p>The hotel's location in the heart of San Telmo, close to the subway (Subte) and buses (colectivos), is perfect for exploring all of the Buenos Aires tourist attractions. Nearby are the numerous cafes, bars,and restaurants of historic San Telmo and of course Tango shows. The world renowned San Telmo market occurs every Sunday, all year long, and the BeHotel is just a five minute walk to all of the merchants and antique vendors.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008799684,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008799684,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008799684?profile=original" /></a></p><p>So whether straight or gay, visitors will enjoy any stay for leisure or business at the new BeHotel in the heart of all the excitement for which Buenos Aires is famous.</p><p><strong>FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT</strong>: <a href="http://www.www.behotel.com.ar" target="_blank">www.www.behotel.com.ar</a></p><p></p></div>Gay-Friendly Estancia Puesto Viejo, Buenos Aires, Argentinahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/gay-friendly-estancia-puesto-viejo-buenos-aires-argentina2013-04-05T11:54:52.000Z2013-04-05T11:54:52.000ZRoy Healehttps://tripatini.com/members/RoyHeale<div><p><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008761080,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008761080,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008761080?profile=original" /></a></em></p><p><span style="font-size:13px;"><br />Although many visitors come to Buenos Aires for an urban vacation experience, often times they want to escape the hustle and bustle of the mega city and enjoy a more relaxed break at an estancia in the country. Argentina's estancias are very much a part of the country's history and the essence of the local culture. Surrounded with tradition, they shelter the past and present of both criollos and immigrants. At the very gay-friendly Puesto Viejo estancia and Polo Club near Buenos Aires, guests can saddle up with traditional horsemen by day and enjoy sublime comfort, a traditional feast, and a glass or two of malbec wine at night.<br /><br /></span></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008761093,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008761093,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008761093?profile=original" /></a><em>Exciting polo action</em></p><p></p><p>Just over a one hour journey from the city, located near Cañuelas---a small town in Buenos Aires province--- this estancia and Polo Club offers charming hotel accommodation, excellent polo club amenities, plus old-fashioned country style hospitality. So, whether you are looking to enjoy a gay-friendly, unique, relaxing escape from the city, or wanting to develop your skills in polo, you'll find the perfect place at Puesto Viejo. In addition, the 250-acre property boasts panoramic views, a variety of flora and fauna, and an array of leisure pursuits from horse riding to relaxing poolside.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008761287,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008761287,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008761287?profile=original" /></a><em>Infinity pool with A view</em></p><p></p><p>Puesto Viejo Estancia and hotel is ideal for those wanting a quiet respite in typical Argentine countryside. Comprising ten luxurious, air conditioned and heated en-suite rooms, the accommodations offer large beds with Egyptian cotton sheets, and individually designed interiors using antiques sourced from local markets. A stay at Puesto Viejo offers the perfect combination of an authentic estancia experience in modern day comfort. Rather than a typical hotel room number, each room is named after one of the owner's favorite horses. The hotel attracts a diverse clientele from around the world and many guests make new friendships and learn about the exciting game of Polo.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296574701,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296574701,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9296574701?profile=original" /></a></p><p>Dining is a gourmet delight and three excellent meals per day are included in the room rates at Puesto Viejo. All the repasts served incorporate fruit, vegetables, herbs, and meat from the estancia---from homemade breakfast jams to organically reared lamb.</p><p>Guests are served lunch and evening meals outside under the trees or in the dining room, giving them the opportunity to meet each other and share stories. Breakfast is buffet style with fresh fruits and pastries, or eggs and meats cooked to order. Afternoon tea is served on the patio or in the drawing room every day and includes a range of specially blended teas, home made cakes, and soft drinks.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008762678,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008762678,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008762678?profile=original" /></a><em>Outdoor dining</em></p><p></p><p>A carefully selected wine list includes blends from the Luigi Bosca and Familia Marguery vineyards in Mendoza. Familia Marguery focuses on developing high quality wines using the latest technology and grapes from old vineyards in the Tupungato area. Having built a successful relationship producing wine for the exclusive Nobu restaurant in London, they have also developed a special edition of Malbec for Puesto Viejo.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008763262,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008763262,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="465" alt="9008763262?profile=original" /></a><em>Designer rooms</em></p><p><strong><br />Hotel Facilities:</strong><br /> ◦10 en-suite bedrooms<br /> ◦Large dining room<br /> ◦Drawing room with fireplace<br /> ◦Honesty Bar<br /> ◦Library<br /> ◦Daily housekeeping and turndown service<br /> ◦Complimentary WiFi<br /> ◦Laundry service<br /> ◦Access to all complimentary facilities on-site (infinity pool, horse riding, stable tours, bikes, horse and carriage rides)</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008763082,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008763082,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="465" alt="9008763082?profile=original" /></a></p><p><strong><br />Bedroom Facilities<br /></strong><br /> ◦A range of beds including King size and Twin bed options<br /> ◦Egyptian cotton bed linen<br /> ◦Individually designed interiors<br /> ◦Air conditioning/heating system<br /> ◦Toiletries<br /> ◦En-suite bathroom with full shower and bath</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008763857,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008763857,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008763857?profile=original" /></a><em>Living room</em></p><p><br />The unique combination of exciting polo games and the relaxed estancia atmosphere make this a true Argentine experience and getaway from the mecca of the Buenos Aires city. The gay-friendly staff are multilingual, very knowledgeable, and helpful in every way. Don't worry if you have never played Polo before because they are happy to arrange lessons and practice with a professional instructor.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008763878,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008763878,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008763878?profile=original" /></a></p><p>They also offer Puesto Viejo Polo Days with Gaston Carrozzo (10am to 8pm) based on a minimum of two people. This is aimed at tourists and visitors staying in Buenos Aires city who want to try polo for the first time. Enjoy a one day trip which includes private car transfer to and from the city, welcome drinks and snacks, a traditional Argentine lunch with wine, theory lesson, stick and ball lesson, plus the opportunity to play in a mini match, afternoon tea and snacks, plus the use of all estancia amenities for the day. This day trip package is only available on club practice days (Tuesdays, Thursday, Saturdays, and Sundays) ensuring guests are able to watch a full polo game staged by the club members.</p><p>Unwind by the infinity swimming pool or saddle up for excitement and try your hand at polo---either way country life at the Puesto Viejo is a perfect gay-friendly getaway from the city life in Buenos Aires.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008763898,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008763898,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008763898?profile=original" /></a><em>Relaxing grounds</em></p><p></p><p><strong>GETTING THERE:</strong><br /> <em>Location:</em><br /> Puesto Viejo is located on Ruta Nacional No.6 (direction La Plata). It is 70km from Buenos Aires city centre and 8km from Autopista Ezeiza-Cañuelas. The nearest town is Cañuelas.</p><p><em>Transport By Car:</em><br /> From Buenos Aires city, take Autopista 25 de Mayo and then Autopista Riccieri (towards Ezeiza Airport). Just before the airport is the exit to Autopista Ezeiza- Cañuelas.</p><p><em>Transport By Bus:</em><br /> Lobosbus runs a regular bus service between Buenos Aires (Congreso) and Cañuelas (<a href="http://www.lobosbus.com.ar">www.lobosbus.com.ar</a>) <br /> <em>Taxi:</em><br /> Taxis from Cañuelas to the estancia are approximately AR$50<br /> Remises Libertad: 02226431823<br /> Remises Centro: 02226431823<br /> Remises 25 de Mayo: 02226422331</p><p><em>Transport by Private Car Transfer:</em><br /> Puesto Viejo can arrange private car transfers from Buenos Aires.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008764493,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008764493,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="597" alt="9008764493?profile=original" /></a></p><p><strong><br />For More Information:</strong><br /> <a href="http://www.puestoviejoestancia.com.ar" target="_blank">www.puestoviejoestancia.com.ar</a><br /> Main Office Phone: +54 11 5279 6893<br /> Email: info@puestoviejoestancia.com.ar<br /><br /><br /></p></div>Gay-Friendly Vitrum Hotel, in Buenos Aires' Palermo Hollywoodhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/gay-friendly-vitrum-hotel-palermo-hollywood-buenos-aires2013-03-14T13:00:00.000Z2013-03-14T13:00:00.000ZRoy Healehttps://tripatini.com/members/RoyHeale<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008757475,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008757475,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008757475?profile=original" /></a><em>Vitrum Hotel</em></p><p> </p><p><em>By Roy Heale</em></p><p><br /> Palermo ‘Hollywood’ is an identity that was recently fabricated, but this area has been renowned as a popular place to live in Buenos Aires since the late 1800s.</p><p><br /> As you discover Palermo Hollywood you will probably be struck by more of the old, Spanish-style architecture than other areas of the city, and also fewer high-rise buildings, apart from newer apartment towers. That’s because for a long time there was a law prohibiting new buildings in this community from being above nine meters in height. The combination of low houses, wide tree-lined streets, and historic landmarks create a unique Spanish ambiance. <br /> Often referred to as the restaurant capital of Buenos Aires, Palermo Hollywood is a barrio with its own distinctive flavor. In the mid-nineties a number of TV and Radio producers set up shop in the area of Palermo Viejo between Córdoba, Santa Fe, Dorrego, and Juan B. Justo Avenues. Subsequently, this part of the neighborhood began to be called "Palermo Hollywood". Presently, it's best known for the concentration of restaurants, cafes, night clubs, and its vibrant atmosphere.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296573898,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296573898,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9296573898?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Typical Palermo Hollywood Street</em></p><p> </p><p>The older spacious factories and warehouses are mostly used as art galleries, showrooms, restaurants, bars, or TV sets and photo studios. These calm and shady streets are home to a huge variety of excellent restaurants. This is a special place for a full day's stroll. <br /> When planning to stay in Palermo Hollywood If you are seeking a hip, modern, and avant-garde boutique hotel, then the Vitrum Hotel is a boutique hotel perfect for your needs. <br /> Behind a facade composed of colored glass mosaics, the atmosphere of Vitrum Hotel creates the feeling of being at the heart of the creative vibrations of the city. This boutique hotel with only sixteen rooms and suites is also a quiet, comfortable, and intimate place.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008757893,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008757893,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008757893?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Vitrum Hotel Atrium</em></p><p></p><p>The Vitrum hotel's designer and urban style appeals to business travelers, to decoration and fashion aficionados, and to travelers looking to immerse themselves in trendy Buenos Aires. The inside of the Vitrum Hotel delights the eye with its pure lines, contemporary spaces, and bright colors. It will exult those curious of recent trends with its stained glass, brightly colored sofas, designer wallpaper, asymmetrical forms, and bathrooms with colored glass mosaics. <br /> All suites are different in design, color, and size. Some have a balcony, others feature a terrace, yet others have a small private garden! The furniture features atypical antiques as well as unique contemporary works such as those designed by Paula Lavarello. Each room has a "botanic" wallpaper theme signed by Vanina Mizrahi.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008758653,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008758653,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008758653?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Bedroom</em></p><p><br /> All rooms and suites are equipped with the most modern technology including air conditioning, Wifi, large flat-screen TV, and DVD player. The suites have a kitchenette with a Nespresso machine and a microwave. The bathroom amenities are designed L'Occitane. <br /> The Vitrum Hotel transpires contemporary art everywhere. The decoration is unique with designer furniture such as BKF chairs and singular wallpaper. The interior of the hotel is the concept of two Argentine architects, Zas and Paula Lavarello. Monica Giron helped out for the design of the facade. <br /> But Vitrum Hotel takes the local artists design experience even further. The hotel also has its own art gallery to promote local artists. Gallery Dabbah Torrejon art gallery honors Argentinean and Latin American contemporary artists.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008759257,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008759257,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="687" alt="9008759257?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Kitchen and Work Area</em></p><p></p><p>The Hotel's Urban Spa opens its doors, or rather its sky, to you. It is situated on the rooftop terrace, with two massage rooms, a large Jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, sundeck, and a gymnasium where you can do aerobics. The terrace, next to its solarium, is the place to relax and enjoy a memorable barbecue, a beer, or to sip on an exotic cocktail. The garden of Vitrum Hotel is an oasis of green in the bustling city of Buenos Aires.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008759467,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008759467,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008759467?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Rooftop Sundeck and Jacuzzi</em></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008759891,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008759891,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008759891?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Main Floor Sushi Club</em></p><p> </p><p>A gay or gay-friendly multi-lingual concierge is your key to the outside world and will assist you with tourism information or where to best take tango classes and other activities such as golfing or horseback riding.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008760066,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008760066,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008760066?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Pride Cafe</em></p><p></p><p>As you enjoy the tree-lined streets and distinctive architecture you will find The gay and lesbian Pride Cafe on Humboldt Street just a five minute walk from Vitrum Hotel. This is the sister cafe to the very gay and popular Pride Cafe in San Telmo and it is developing a loyal following with the Palermo gay community. It is open Monday through Saturday from 11am till closing for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and simple snacks.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008760485,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008760485,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008760485?profile=original" /></a><em>Trixie Diner</em></p><p> </p><p>Next door to the hotel is a great vegetarian experience at Buenos Aires Verde and just down the street is the fabulous American style Trixie Diner. You will quickly understand why this is known as the restaurant capital of Buenos Aires.</p><p> </p><p>A <em>must</em> visit is the Eterna Cadencia bookstore and cafe where you can step back in time, browse the many shelves, and then sit down in a loung area or the cafe and enjoy your new book. Many local professional and amateur theaters are also located in Palermo Hollywood.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008761461,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008761461,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="687" alt="9008761461?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Eterna Cadencia Bookstore</em></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008761466,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008761466,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="687" alt="9008761466?profile=original" /></a><em>Eterna Cadencia Cafe</em></p><p><br /> Palermo Hollywood, one of the chic districts of Buenos Aires. You feel the urban rhythm in this neighborhood where the days pass quickly between shopping and art galleries and where the nights are rich in entertainment discoveries. This really is the best entertainment and nightlife community in the city.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008761497,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008761497,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008761497?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Vitrum Hotel Rooftop Parilla</em></p><p><br /> There are plenty of activities close to Vitrum Hotel and the Palermo Hollywood neighborhood. You can easily go to the zoo, the La Rural exhibition center, the Museum of Latin American Art, the Evita Museum, the Botanical Garden, the Japanese Garden, and the Polo grounds. <br /> For More Information Visit: <br /> <a href="http://www.vitrumhotel.com" target="_blank">www.vitrumhotel.com</a></p></div>Gay-Friendly BA Sohotel, Palermo, Buenos Aireshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/gay-friendly-ba-sohotel-palermo-buenos-aires2013-04-12T18:57:45.000Z2013-04-12T18:57:45.000ZRoy Healehttps://tripatini.com/members/RoyHeale<div><p><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008758858,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008758858,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="687" alt="9008758858?profile=original" /></a></em></p><p><em>BA Sohotel</em></p><p> </p><p><em>By Roy Heale</em></p><p>Palermo with its cobbled streets, historic architecture, parks, the Zoo and the Botanical gardens, the largest exhibition center in the country, its racetrack, the polo field, and the Galileo planetarium, is one of the city's most historic neighborhoods and well represents the Buenos Aires of yesterday and today.</p><p>Considered to be a funky, bohemian neighbourhood, Palermo is popular with residents and tourists alike due its festive atmosphere. It is the largest barrio, or neighborhood, of the city. The name of the district is derived from the still-existing Franciscan abbey of Saint Benedict of Palermo. The massive Palermo Woods also features beautiful lakes, a rose garden (Rosedal), a Japanese garden, and even a Hippodrome. Today Palermo is renowned for this massive parkland where outdoor fun activities and joggers abound.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008758891,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008758891,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008758891?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Japanese Gardens</em></p><p> </p><p>Although appearing as one big area on the official map, Palermo can be subdivided into six distinctly different sectors. Today, this is one of the most popular residential communities of Buenos Aires and the new BA Sohotel is located in this barrio.</p><p>Built in 2012, gay-friendly BA Sohotel is a distinct addition to the city's roster of boutique hotels. This is a smoke free premise and offers a first floor sun deck, spa tub, and a seasonal outdoor pool. This designer hotel features business amenities including a business center, a meeting/conference room, and a technology helpdesk. Dining options at this business-friendly hotel include the Rietti restaurant, a coffee shop/café, and a bar/lounge. The Rietti restaurant serves a wide range of excellent meals, daily specials, and a delicious hot and cold buffet breakfast in the morning. For lamb connoisseurs their Medallion de Pierna de Cordero (lamb roast) with a Malbec wine sauce and potato millefeuille is a must.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008759089,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008759089,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008759089?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Rietti Restaurant</em></p><p> </p><p>The multi-lingual LGBT welcoming staff can provide tour/ticket assistance, event catering, and business services.</p><p>Guests can choose from thirty-three rooms, all of which exude an atmosphere of total peace and harmony. Rooms have city or pool views. The air-conditioned guestrooms at BA Sohotel include private en-suite spa tubs and laptop-compatible safes. Beds have signature bedding and down blankets. Guests can use the in-room complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access. Cable channels are available on the 32-inch LCD televisions. All accommodations provide desks, safes, and direct-dial phones. Bathrooms offer shower/tub combinations with jetted bathtubs and rainfall showerheads. Bathrooms also include bathrobes,slippers, bidets, and hair dryers. Additional amenities include windows that open. In addition, amenities available on request include in-room massages, irons/ironing boards, and extra towels/bedding. Turn down service is offered nightly and housekeeping is available daily.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008759853,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008759853,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008759853?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Outdoor Pools and Sundeck</em></p><p> </p><p><strong>Facilities:</strong><br /> 24 hour room service<br /> Air conditioning<br /> Child/family friendly<br /> Jacuzzi<br /> Lift/elevator<br /> Meeting/conference facilities<br /> Outdoor pool<br /> Wheelchair access<br /> Wireless internet<br /> Large Safety Deposit Box for Laptop and valuables<br /> Restaurant</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296573678,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296573678,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="320" alt="9296573678?profile=original" /></a></p><p><strong>Room Options:</strong></p><p>A Deluxe Room offers one king bed or two queen beds with, balcony/terrace, bathrobe (bata), bathroom amenities, cable/satellite TV, disabled facilities, en-suite private bathroom, hairdryer, heating, free internet access, jacuzzi/whirlpool/spa bath, laundry service, non-smoking rooms, room service, safe in room and telephone. All the rooms are very spacious and have a balcony with a beautiful city view. They have a work desk, TV LCD 32in, fully equipped minibar, safety box for laptop, full amenities, robes and slippers.</p><p>The Premium King offers one king bed with balcony/terrace, bathrobe (bata), bathroom amenities, cable/ satellite TV, disabled facilities, en-suite private bathroom, hairdryer, heating, free internet access, jacuzzi/whirlpool/spa bath, laundry service, non-smoking rooms, room service, safe in room and telephone. All Premium King rooms are very spacious and have a balcony with a beautiful city view, with table and deck chairs. They have a work desk, TV LCD 32in, fully equipped minibar, heated/cold air conditioned, safety box for laptop, full amenities, robes and slippers.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008760466,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008760466,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="550" alt="9008760466?profile=original" /></a></p><p>A Corner Suite offers two queen beds with balcony/terrace, bathrobe (bata), bathroom amenities, cable/ satellite TV, disabled facilities, en-suite private bathroom, hairdryer, heating, free internet access, jacuzzi/whirlpool/spa bath, laundry service, non-smoking rooms, room service, safe in room and telephone. Corner Suite rooms are very spacious and have balcony with a beautiful city view. They have a work desk, TV LCD 32in, fully equipped minibar, heated/cold air conditioned, safety box for laptop, full amenities, robes and slippers.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008760095,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008760095,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008760095?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Hotel Lobby</em></p><p> </p><p>BA Sohotel is conveniently located in the eclectic neighborhood of Palermo Soho, just 300 mts away from the Subway and Exhibition center La Rural and 500 mts from Plaza Serrano. With a modern, elegant and warm design, you can enjoy a pleasant stay in a great loaction. All the rooms and lobby have original paintings by recognized Argentine artists.</p><p>Enjoy unparalleled services and a truly prestigious address at the BA Sohotel, Palermo, Buenos Aires.</p><p><strong>For More Information:</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.basohotel.com" target="_blank">www.basohotel.com</a></p></div>Casa De Borgoña, Gay-Friendly Accommodations in Salta, Argentinahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/gay-friendly-accommodations-casa-de-borgona-salta-argentina2013-02-16T19:27:19.000Z2013-02-16T19:27:19.000ZRoy Healehttps://tripatini.com/members/RoyHeale<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008754865,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008754865,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008754865?profile=original" /></a></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:13px;">Nestled in the Andes mountain range, Salta is a city in the heart of the Lerma Valley, at 1,152 metres (3780 feet) above sea level in the north west part of Argentina. Along with its metropolitan area, it has a population of approximately 800,000 inhabitants, which makes it the second most populated city in the northwest of the country. Within Argentina, Salta is the city which has preserved its colonial architecture the best. Also known as Salta la Linda ("Salta the beautiful"), it has become a major LGBT tourist vacation destination due to its old, colonial architecture, tourism friendliness, awesome weather, and the natural scenery of the valleys westward.</span></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9296573656,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9296573656,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9296573656?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Reception</em></p><p></p><p>Set in a charming historic Spanish building only a short walk to Plaza principal 9 de Julio square, the gay-friendly Casa De Borgoña pousada provides the atmosphere for an enjoyable stay in Salta. It is housed in a restored 20th-century townhouse with the guest bedrooms arranged around a lovely courtyard with potted plants, fruit trees and wrought iron and wood benches. The English speaking gay-friendly staff will ensure a warm welcome.</p><p>A generous complimentary continental breakfast is served each morning in the dining room or on the patio. The rooms are spacious, with daily maid service, and includes linens and towels.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008755296,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008755296,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008755296?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Spanish Style Courtyard</em></p><p></p><p>The rooms include free Wi-Fi and cable TV in central Salta. It features a coffee shop and a patio.<br /> Casa de Borgoña's warm service, colonial-style decor and tranquil atmosphere, create an inviting and relaxing atmosphere for an enjoyable stay in Salta.</p><p>Set in a charming building only 300 metres from Guemes Square, Posada Casa de Borgoña offers rooms free Wi-Fi and cable TV in central Salta. It features a coffee shop and a patio.</p><p>Posada Casa de Borgoña offers Double Rooms,Family Rooms,Quadruple Rooms, and Triple Room accommodation in Salta.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008755095,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008755095,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008755095?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Cafe Dining Room</em></p><p></p><p>Decorated with parquet floors and wooden furnishings, rooms at Casa de Borgoña have heating and guests can relax on the patio or in the lobby, which is decorated with modern paintings. They can also enjoy hot beverages at the coffee shop. Posada Casa de Borgoña is 2 km from the bus station and 400 metres from Plaza Principal 9 de Julio Square.</p><p>During my recent stay at the posada the guests were a mixture of gay, lesbian, and straight customers and all were equally welcomed with generous hospitality.</p><p><strong>Facilities:</strong><br /> •24-Hour Front Desk<br /> •Garden<br /> •Heating<br /> •Designated Smoking Area</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008755881,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008755881,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008755881?profile=original" /></a></p><p><em>Lounge Area</em></p><p></p><p><strong>Services:</strong><br /> •Airport Shuttle<br /> •Laundry<br /> •Breakfast in the Room<br /> •Ironing Service<br /> •Internet Services<br /> •Bicycle Rental<br /> •Car Hire<br /> •Tour Desk<br /> •Fax/Photocopying<br /> •Wi-Fi/Wireless LAN<br /> •Free Wi-Fi Internet Access Included<br /> •Shuttle Service (surcharge)</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008756054,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008756054,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008756054?profile=original" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.posadacasadeborgona.com.ar" target="_blank">www.posadacasadeborgona.com.ar</a><br /> Address: España 916, 4400 Salta, Salta Province, Argentina <br /> Phone:+54 387 431-5289 <br /> Email: info@posadacasadeborgona.com.ar<br /> <br /></p></div>Review of "Something to Declare: Good Lesbian Travel Writing"https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/review-of-something-to-declare-good-lesbian-travel-writing2011-10-26T12:51:12.000Z2011-10-26T12:51:12.000ZGirls That Roamhttps://tripatini.com/members/GirlsThatRoam<div><font size="4" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font size="5">The road less traveled</font></b></font><br /><p><font size="4" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Something to Declare: Good Lesbian Travel Writing</b><br /> Edited by Gillian Kendal; University of Wisconsin Press, 230 pages; paperback, $19.95</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Reviewed by <a href="mailto:heather@girlsthatroam.com">Heather Cassell</a></font></p><p><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Published: Ocotber 5, 2011</font></p><p> </p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">When I embarked on a search for stories by queer women travelers, I didn't expect that it would be a journey in itself: "<a href="http://www.sho.com/site/lword/home.do">L Word</a>", "power lesbians" and years of treasure troves of lesbian travel tales pilfered from the pages of lesbian magazines be damned. Someone somewhere would have the brilliant idea to collect and bind similar stories in an attractive anthology. My assumption was almost dashed after browsing the internet for an afternoon, but hidden between the covers of slicked down gay boys fair share of travel reading, one gem was found: the only single compilation of lesbian and bisexual travelers' travel essays, <i>Something to Declare: Good Lesbian Travel Writing</i>, edited by Gillian Kendall.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I wondered about the dearth of literature by and about queer women travelers and pervasive stereotypes that assume queer women just don't travel due to lack of financial resources to nesting, fondling the remote and the cat on the couch as factors in the lack of volumes of collections of lesbian travel tales. Stereotypes that is clearly untrue.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Kendall gathered the tall tales of queer women's explorations I was searching for in one volume. Kendall presents 18 travel essays and one fictional story from emerging and experienced queer women travel writers about lesbians' journey's around the globe as they hit the road discovering the world around them as well as the world within them in <i>Something to Declare</i>.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">And as usual, there were stories that I didn't quite expect. One of the things I didn't expect, but have experienced in the past when writing about lesbians and bisexual women, is that gender often trumps sexual orientation in a way that doesn't seem to happen to gay men. Kendall quickly identified this challenge when she began to receive pieces for her review for the book that made "no reference to sexuality or orientation," simply stories about women who "one assumed [were] lesbians." The process immediately turned into a definition game: what is lesbian travel, what makes lesbian travel, what lesbian travel is, and more what is a lesbian?</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I've always thought that lesbians were brave. … in order to define yourself as a lesbian, at some point you have to leave the (straight) road more traveled and find others of your kind. Most of us start out on the journey alone and with bad directions," Kendall wrote in the introduction.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Those bad directions can include self-destructive young love, such as in "What Happens after This Day", where Hannah Tennant-Moore were writes, "Being in love with Ashley was joints and cheap beer and Grey goose vodka stolen from her mother and shrieking orgasms," along with dramatic fights filled with tears and late nights riding around in fast cars - that is until Hannah spends a summer at a Buddhist monastery in India.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Or simply disappointment upon reaching a destination only to find it isn't as grand as one imagined or read about as Jane Churchon found out on her excursion to France with her partner in "The Gift Ship is Never <i>Fermé</i>".</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">All it takes is a little courage to take the first step and sometimes the first kiss, "… once you've found the courage (and the girl) for your first lesbian kiss, you're probably going to be a lot less timid about the rest of your life, including vacations," wrote Kendall.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">But Kendall learned that homophobia in certain cultures can silence the adventure of the first kiss for a lifetime as Tzivia Gover wrote in "Wind" or temporarily as lesbians venturing through countries where homophobia and sexism are prevalent as Lucy Jane Bledsoe and her partner were all too aware in "Fruits at the Border".</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">More often than not the first kiss and "flesh" can educate the spirit moving the "sluggish heart and the slack mind against their will" as E.M. Forster wrote. Patty Smith finds this out when she journeys to Africa to spend a year teaching in Senegal as she recalls in "Playing with Fire."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In spite of our fears traveling as queer women, Kendall shares the brave ways lesbians and bisexual women travel since "we are not prone to the lure of packaged tours" that simply lead to good stories.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">To purchase reprints, contact <a href="mailto:editor@girlsthatroam.com">editor@girlsthatroam.com</a>.</font></p><p> </p><p>Link to Girls That Roam: <a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/GRead/The_road_less_traveled.htm">www.girlsthatroam.com/GRead/The_road_less_traveled.htm</a></p><p>Take the International Women's Travel Survey September 15 - November 15: <a href="http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm">http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm</a></p><p>Sign up free for Girls That Roam: <a href="http://eepurl.com/f_Icf">http://eepurl.com/f_Icf</a></p></div>In November, a Women's "Paradise in Puerto Rico"https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/enchanting-paradise2011-10-29T13:49:02.000Z2011-10-29T13:49:02.000ZGirls That Roamhttps://tripatini.com/members/GirlsThatRoam<div><p><font size="4" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Enchanting paradise</b></font><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /> by <a href="mailto:heather@girlsthatroam.com">Heather Cassell</a></font></p><p><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Published: Ocotber 3, 2011</font></p><p> </p><p style="float:right;width:300px;margin-left:20px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><br /> <img width="300" height="300" style="margin-bottom:5px;" src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/NY_NY_LezPlayRadio_C.Thomas.jpg" alt="NY_NY_LezPlayRadio_C.Thomas.jpg" /><br /><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Camille Thomas, founder of LezPlay Radio and party promoter.</font> <font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br />Photo Credit:Courtesy of Lez Play Radio</font></p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Women looking to be enchanted going into the holiday season don't need to look any further than Puerto Rico. The Caribbean island getaway, isn't only hot because of Latin rockers Ricky Martin and J Lo to name drop a few famous Puerto Ricans, it is a lusciously rich tropical getaway that is being discovered by women for all-women getaways.</font><br /><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Paradise in Puerto Rico beckons women to leave their passports at home and enjoy the "Enchanted Isle".</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"[It's the] ultimate retreat that's going to definitely give you a really good time," says Camille Thomas, producer of <a href="http://www.paradiseweekendpr.com/LEZPLAY--RADIO.html">LezPlay Radio</a>, and a party promoter who is co-producing the women's luxury vacation with Ms. Theresa "Queen of NJ" Randolph <a href="http://www.mstheresa.com">www.mstheresa.com</a> and Keeke "Keerocks" Lucas <a href="http://www.keerocksthejewels.com">www.keerocksthejewels.com</a>.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The trio makeup some of the East Coast's "most influential women" who garnered the support of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau to sponsor the first annual Paradise in Puerto Rico weekend, says Thomas.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.gomag.com/article/100_women_we_love2/7">Thomas</a>, 35, and a single mother of a teenage daughter, was selected as one of <a href="http://www.gomag.com/">Go Magazine's</a> "100 Women We Love," an annual recognition bestowed on women who have achieved something or made some sort of contribution or both.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">A lot of women are "still looking for that celebration that is going to couple all of their desires, whether it's a vacation to have a lot to do or a lot not to do, and to just really integrate women, period, on other levels besides their sexuality," Thomas says.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The trio designed the vacation to take guests to the "intersection of all of their passions," says Thomas, who is working with the bureau to connect with local Lupus organizations.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The vacation isn't only a getaway. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to support Lupus research. Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. The disease disproportionately affects women of color two to three times more than white women, according to the <a href="http://www.lupus.org/">Lupus Foundation of America</a>. Paradise in Puerto Rico vacationers will also have the option to volunteer a few hours at a local Lupus organization, says Thomas.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"This is an opportunity for us to support some of the strongest women that we know," says Thomas.</font></p><p> </p><p style="float:left;width:288px;margin-left:20px;margin-right:40px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /> <img width="288" height="212" style="margin-bottom:5px;" src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/PR_beach_travelwizard.com.jpg" alt="PR_beach_travelwizard.com.jpg" /><br /><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Utter beach relaxation in Puerto Rico</font> <font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">. <br />Photo Credit: travelwizard.com.</font></font></p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font size="3">Getaway</font></b></font></font></p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"We want to impress you and inspire you the entire weekend," says Thomas, about her team's goals.</font><br /><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The luxury four-day weekend in the Caribbean starts at $380 in the "Pin Up" package to $1,165 in the "Paradise" package per person. The packages don't include airfare.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The weekend is jam packed with entertainment from some of the East Coast's best faces of the all-women nightlife scene such as Ms. Theresa, Queen of New Jersey; New York City's sexy socialite, The Diva Lisa S; Atlanta Pride Weekend's DJ M, the "Mayor" of ATL; and the Sexy Dreamgyrls & Dreambois. Dance all day by the pool into the night with the 5 Star General <a href="http://www.gomag.com/article/100_women_we_love2/51">DJ Mary Mac</a>, one of Paradise in Puerto Rico's star mixtresses who will be spinning the beats in the club and at the pool was also honored by Go Magazine, along with the legendary DJ Missy B.; the Fiyah Starter, and DJ Debbie.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Guests will also be able to revel in Puerto Rico's biggest annual festival Día del Descubrimiento de Puerto Rico (Discovery of Puerto Rico Day) on November 19.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">It's always nice in Puerto Rico. Its tropical climate consistently fluctuates between 70 - 86 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. The island, which is the gateway to the Caribbean is home plush resorts that meet centuries old cobble stone streets leading into the heart of old Puerto Rico, with a breath taking backdrop of the</font> <font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/%21ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPwhQoY6BdkOyoCAPkATlA%21/?ss=110819&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSE_003853&navid=091000000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&ttype=main&pname=El%20Yunque%20National%20Forest-%20Home%20">El Yunque National Park</a>.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Art, culture, and sports are all at vacationers' fingertips, not to mention culinary delights or a massage that can be enjoyed on a pleasant patio with the rush of the waves moving back and forth from the Atlantic Ocean. Remembering where you came from is hard to do in Puerto Rico.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">For more information, visit: <a href="http://www.paradiseweekendpr.com/PARADISE-WEEKEND.html">http://www.paradiseweekendpr.com/PARADISE-WEEKEND.html</a>.<br /></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">To purchase reprints, contact <a href="mailto:editor@girlsthatroam.com">editor@girlsthatroam.com</a>.</font></p><p> </p><p>Link to Girls That Roam: <u><a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/GoRoam/GTRPIPR.htm">http://www.girlsthatroam.com/GoRoam/GTRPIPR.htm</a></u></p><p>Take the International Women's Travel Survey September 15 - November 15: <a href="http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm">http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm</a></p><p>Sign up free for Girls That Roam: <a href="http://eepurl.com/f_Icf">http://eepurl.com/f_Icf</a></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font></p></div>A Girl For Every Porthttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/a-girl-for-every-port2011-10-17T12:47:20.000Z2011-10-17T12:47:20.000ZGirls That Roamhttps://tripatini.com/members/GirlsThatRoam<div><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">by <a href="mailto:heather@girlsthatroam.com">Heather Cassell</a></font></p><p><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Published: Ocotber 3, 2011</font></p><p> </p><p style="float:right;width:304px;margin-left:40px;margin-right:20px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><br /> <img width="304" height="222" style="margin-bottom:5px;" src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/TanyaChurchmuch_GirlPorts.jpg" alt="TanyaChurchmuch_GirlPorts.jpg" /><br /><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Founder of GirlPorts.com Tanya Churchmuch dines at her favorite Paris restaurant, Le Chartier.</font> <font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br />Photo Credit: Carrie MacPherson</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">An avid worldwide traveler, Canadian Tanya Churchmuch wanted more from lesbian travel guides, but couldn't find what she wanted.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I was somebody who always traveled a lot and always became frustrated by the lack of useful information for lesbian travelers that was available," says Churchmuch, a former broadcast anchor and international journalist.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"It's important to understand the culture that you are traveling in," continues Churchmuch, who has backpacked through Morocco for six months, and whose travels have taken her to Europe, Asia, North Africa, throughout most of North America, and most recently South America.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The lack of information about queer women in other countries didn't stop her from going anywhere she wanted to go - nothing did really.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"Everything I wanted to do in travel I've always tried to do it," says Churchmuch, but she remained frustrated by the lack of useful information for lesbian travelers available on the market.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"There are so many amazing things to see and do and see around the world and so many fantastic people that we can meet and that we can learn from," Churchmuch continues, "I just absolutely love the experience of finding myself in a destination where I don't speak the language where I don't know anything I can't even order a meal and rising to the challenge of having a great time and living an exceptional opportunity."</font></p><p><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Guiding light</b></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">She wanted more than general listings: where to stay, eat, party. She desired for the guides to provide a sense of place and the people who reside in the cities and towns to round out the listings of lodging, restaurants, bars, and festivals that filled the pages of many guides.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In 2007, she launched <a href="http://www.girlports.com/">Girlports.com</a>, an online lesbian travel guide.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The idea was born out of the <a href="http://www.worldoutgames2013.be/">Outgames</a> 2006. The international lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender sportsmanship event was hosted in Churchmuch's hometown Montreal, Canada. She casually began surveying lesbian and bisexual women from around the world who came to the event and learned that they too desired to find out more information about women like themselves in other cities, she says.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Churchmuch points out that there are many great local guides and information available online about different cities and communities, but often the information is very "localized" and individuals gather and maintain the information for the blog or site. Eventually, what often happens, is those sites die after the individual either looses interest or pass away, she says.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I just said to myself, 'Okay, I've got to do it now and that's when the idea came to me,'" says Churchmuch.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I just look at it as a way to give back to the community, because it's something that I love doing anyways," says Churchmuch. "I've always made an effort to always find out where my community is and see how other LGBT folks are living their lives around the world."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">A year later Girlports.com, an online guide with personal travel insight for queer women, came to life. She followed up the launch of the website by adding, assistant director and media relations manager for the LGBT market for of Tourisme Montréal, to her name.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font size="3">Dyke power</font></b></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Four years later, Churchmuch speaks regularly at travel conferences about LGBT travel - especially queer women's travel - and she is one of only three women out of eight that sits on the <a href="http://www.iglta.org/">International Lesbian and Gay Travel Associations</a> board of directors.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Churchmuch, 41, hopes more queer women take more leadership roles in the travel industry, especially those who focus on queer women's travel.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"Lesbians need to be more present in organizations," said Churchmuch. "It's important to continue standing up to take our place ... women have money [and] women travel."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Fascinated by other cultures, Churchmuch is particularly aware of how unique her experience is. She is a woman whose has traversed the world telling stories about other people's lives, but more so, she's a North American woman who loves other women openly and who has been able to more than thrive in her career, but make a career in her community. She's able to go out with friends to places known to be owned or operated by or popular with other queer women, basically she's able to live a life being who she is with few concerns about her personal safety or that of her family and friends.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I was in Buenos Aries for a wedding in November [2009]," speaking excitedly about her discoveries of the queer community in Argentina's capital. Vibrantly youthfully cool, she was in the city during Pride surrounded by 20-something LGBT and straight ally Argentinean's dancing and marching in the streets celebrating, but also fighting for their rights.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"It was very interesting to see how basically it is a completely political event," says Churchmuch, who has witnessed many Pride celebrations around the world. "There is no Coca Cola float in their parade. They are fighting for their rights. It's a whole different prerogative and perspective."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">She's constantly inspired and thrilled watching other nations' progress towards equality for LGBT individuals speaking excitedly about developments in China, Nepal, and other nations.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Girlports.com is growing, but only at the pace that Churchmuch is able to keep up as she juggles her responsibilities with Montreal's tourism bureau and board position at the ILGTA. She's able to travel as a part of her position as well as her annual vacation time, which helps her continue to build the site.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">One of the unique qualities about Girlports.com is that she personally visits every city written about on the site.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I don't just do online research, I go I look at these places. I see them. I meet up with community leaders. I make a real effort," says Churchmuch, who was planning on heading of to <a href="http://www.visitbelgium.com/?page=brussels">Brussels, Belgium</a>.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font size="3">Girl smarts</font></b></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Prior to taking flight to any destination, Churchmuch, who is fluent in English and French and speaks some Spanish, does an extraordinary amount of outreach and research. Gay men have hooked her up with local lesbians in various cities around the world and she's also networked through some lesbian dating and community sites.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">All of the "legwork" pays off, by the time Churchmuch lands she already has a whole group of new friends and a community welcoming her and ready to show her around, she says. Once she returns home, she maintains the relationships she develops to keep her site fresh.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"There are so many really good lesbian scenes out there," says Churchmuch describing cities that aren't on many Western lesbians' radar, such as Barcelona, Spain; Seoul, South Korea; Buenos Aires, Argentina, and more. "As North American's we don't know about and unfortunately, we aren't able to find out about them," because it's sometimes more difficult to find queer women than it is to find gay men in other countries.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"Barcelona is an amazing city for the lesbian scene … if we had that club in Montreal I probably would have been going to five times a week," Churchmuch says.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Girlports.com is queer girls' passport to the world. The site opens with a map that guides users to information with descriptions and locations of where lesbians and bisexual women can find other queer women in a variety of cities.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"That's why I hope that Girlports.com offers people assistance, with finding the queer girls and the scene in each country, one city at a time", she says. She attempts to maintain an objective balance with her expert opinions about locations and places, because she knows that a place that she might find interesting might not be as interesting to the next lesbian.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">All this traversing around the world, Churchmuch hasn't run into very many problems being a woman journeying alone or a woman traveling with another woman on the adventures her former girlfriends have accompanied her, she says.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Describing herself as a "smart traveler" she recognizes that there are many countries where she is free to be who she is publicly and other countries where she knows she needs to "to respect the environment that I'm in. I'm not going to be there to prove a point necessarily," she says.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">She launches into a brief story about traveling with a former girlfriend in Turkey.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I was traveling through Turkey with a former girlfriend, we didn't say we were lesbians," she says, chuckling a bit. "You know it was kind of funny, when you are two Western women traveling by backpack for a month you will see all of the other Western lesbians and you know exactly who one another is."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The bottom line for any woman traveling solo or in a group, according to Churchmuch, is that women need to be "aware of the culture and customs she's visiting and environment she's in, much like if she's at home … You have to be safe and you have to be smart."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The reward is that she's been able to experience how many cities and gay and lesbian communities live and celebrate Pride.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">For more information, visit: <a href="http://www.girlports.com/lesbiantravel">www.girlports.com/lesbiantravel</a>.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">To purchase reprints, contact <a href="mailto:editor@girlsthatroam.com">editor@girlsthatroam.com</a>.</font></p><p> </p><p>Link to Girls That Roam: <u><a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/girlroamers/GTRGPorts.htm">http://www.girlsthatroam.com/girlroamers/GTRGPorts.htm</a></u></p><p>Take the International Women's Travel Survey September 15 - November 15: <a href="http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm">http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm</a></p><p>Sign up free for Girls That Roam: <a href="http://eepurl.com/f_Icf">http://eepurl.com/f_Icf</a></p></div>Fall Away With an All-Girl Getawayhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/fall-away-with-an-all-girl-getaway2011-10-08T16:49:11.000Z2011-10-08T16:49:11.000ZGirls That Roamhttps://tripatini.com/members/GirlsThatRoam<div><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">by <a href="mailto:heather@girlsthatroam.com">Heather Cassell</a></font></p><p><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Published: Ocotber 3, 2011</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Women are grabbing the last few hours of Indian summer before the holidays hit with three fun in the sun weekend getaways.</font></p><p style="float:right;width:200px;margin-left:20px;margin-right:20px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><br /> <img width="230" height="170" style="margin-bottom:5px;" src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/CA_PS_Bliss_Pool.jpg" alt="CA_PS_Bliss_Pool.jpg" /><br /><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bliss guests enjoy the pool.</font> <font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">. <br />Photo Credit: Courtesy of Movement Productions.</font></p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">This weekend marks the third annual <a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/goroam/GTRBliss.htm">Bliss Weekend</a> in Palm Springs, Calif. Puerto Rico, usually known as the "Isle of Enchangement," will temporarily be transformed into the "Isle of Lesbos" twice this year, first with <a href="http://www.valhallawomensweek.com/">Valhalla</a> (October 20 - 23) and a month later followed by <a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/goroam/GTRPIPR.htm">Paradise in Puerto Rico</a> (November 17 - 20).</font><br /><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"We are committed to putting together a weekend for women who don't necessarily go on vacation," says Christine De La Rosa, co-founder of <a href="http://movementinthebay.com/">Movement Productions</a>.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Texas born and raised De La Rosa has created a sanctuary for women, in particular women of color, throwing a variety of popular parties weekly throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. She also produces the annual <a href="http://www.edeninthebay.com/">Eden in the Bay</a>, San Francisco Pride's women's weekend event.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Seeing a void in fall getaways for women she created the annual getaway for women, in particular women of color, in the California desert oasis in 2009.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">De La Rosa hopes that women will go on vacation. She created Bliss specifically as an affordable three day weekend. Resort rates range from $89 to $159 a night and day passes are $25 - $75 depending on the event. All weekend passes go for $125 - $150 for the all access pass.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">While De La Rosa is best known for her smash up parties, <a href="http://www.blissweekend.com/2011/">Bliss</a> is truly a getaway to the California desert perhaps better known to lesbian and bisexual women and lady golfers as home to <a href="http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4637">Dinah Shore Weekend</a>.<br /></font></p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><p style="float:left;width:230px;margin-right:40px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /> <img width="230" height="170" style="margin-bottom:5px;" src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/CA_PS_Bliss_Party.jpg" alt="CA_PS_Bliss_Party.jpg" /><br /><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bliss guests partying the night away.</font> <font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br />Photo Credit: Courtesy of Movement Productions.</font></font></p><br /><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"Palm Springs in October is so nice, [it's] not too hot and not too cold and Dinah Shore was far enough away," she said about the event that has attracted up to 250 women from all over the world to the desert resort during the past two years.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">This year the Bliss women are taking over the <a href="http://www.canyonclubhotel.com/">Canyon Club Hotel</a>. Nestled up against <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=25176">Mt. San Jacinto State Park</a> and enclosed by eight-foot walls, this resort offers great outdoor (there is a giant maze with gazebos) and indoor adventures (there's a dungeon with a sauna steam room) along with a plethora of amenities making a secluded getaway like none other, according to De La Rosa.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Unwinding and relaxing doesn't equal boredom. De La Rosa doesn't leave the entire party in San Francisco. This year she's lined up comedian <a href="http://www.welovesandra.com/welovesandra.com/HOME.html">Saundra Valls</a>, burlesque performer the <a href="http://www.vaginajenkins.com/">Lady Ms. Vagina Jenkins</a>, and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lady-Ryan/54068616629">DJs Lady Ryan</a> and <a href="http://djvalg.com/">Val G</a> to rock the pool parties and the annual White Party.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"This is more of a vacation. They are coming in to relax and they want to have fun," says De La Rosa excited about the entertainment. While it's a party, guests will get to relax and refresh. "It's going to be a great weekend."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font size="3">Party in paradise</font></b></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Unlike Bliss, Thomas and her pals are pulling out all of the stops to design a weekend to "impress" and "inspire" women with the <a href="http://www.paradiseweekendpr.com/PARADISE-WEEKEND.html">Paradise in Puerto Rico</a>.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The weekend is luxury all the way at the <a href="http://www.wyndhamriomar.com/">Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa</a>, with beachside golf courses and national parks, knockout parties, inspirational workshops, and activities to bring awareness to and support <a href="http://www.lupus.org/">Lupus</a>.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">A chronic inflammatory disease, Lupus can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys, according to the Lupus Foundation of America's website. The disease is two to three times more prevalent among women of color than white women, according to the organization.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The luxury four-day weekend in the Caribbean starts at $380 in the "pin up" package to $1,165 in the "Paradise" package per person with a percentage of the proceeds donated to Lupus research. The packages don't include airfare.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"This is an opportunity for us to support some of the strongest women that we know," says Thomas, about raising awareness of the disease and working with the <a href="http://www.meetpuertorico.com/">Puerto Rico Convention Bureau</a> to support local Lupus organizations.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Seriousness aside, this trip is about feeling good inside and out. Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa offers <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/%21ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPwhQoY6BdkOyoCAPkATlA%21/?ss=110819&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSE_003853&navid=091000000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&ttype=main&pname=El%20Yunque%20National%20Forest-%20Home%20">El Yunque National Park</a> as its backyard with hiking, golf courses, and more alongside the Atlantic ocean for sipping cocktails and napping in the sun.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">A lot of women are "still looking for that celebration that is going to couple all of their desires, whether it's a vacation to have a lot to do or a lot not to do, and to just really integrate women, period, on other levels besides their sexuality," said Camille Thomas, producer of <a href="http://www.paradiseweekendpr.com/LEZPLAY--RADIO.html">LezPlay Radio</a> .</font></p><p style="float:right;width:200px;margin-left:20px;margin-right:20px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><br /> <img width="230" height="170" style="margin-bottom:5px;" src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/PR_beach_travelwizard.com.jpg" alt="PR_beach_travelwizard.com.jpg" /><br /><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Utter beach relaxation in Puerto Rico</font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">. <br />Photo Credit: travelwizard.com.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thomas is producing the all-girl island getaway with Ms. Theresa "Queen of NJ" Randolph <a href="http://www.mstheresa.com">www.mstheresa.com</a> and Keeke "Keerocks" Lucas <a href="http://www.keerocksthejewels.com">www.keerocksthejewels.com</a>. The trio makeup some of the East Coast's "most influential women" who garnered the support of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau to sponsor the first annual Paradise in Puerto Rico weekend, says Thomas.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Guests will also be able to revel in Puerto Rico's biggest annual festival <i>Día del Descubrimiento</i> de Puerto Rico (Discovery of Puerto Rico Day) on November 19.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"This vacation will take them to an intersection of all of their passions," Thomas says about the variety of events from outdoor activities, parties, workshops, volunteer opportunities with local Lupus organizations, and more planned for the weekend.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Learn more about Bliss and Paradise in Puerto Rico, visit: <a href="http://www.blissweekend.com/2011/">http://www.blissweekend.com/2011/</a> and <a href="http://www.paradiseweekendpr.com/PARADISE-WEEKEND.html">http://www.paradiseweekendpr.com/PARADISE-WEEKEND.html</a>.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">To purchase reprints, contact <a href="mailto:editor@girlsthatroam.com">editor@girlsthatroam.com</a>.</font></p><p>Link to Girls That Roam: <u><a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/GoRoam/GTRFallAway.htm">http://www.girlsthatroam.com/GoRoam/GTRFallAway.htm</a></u></p><p>Take the International Women's Travel Survey September 15 - November 15: <a href="http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm">http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm</a></p><p>Sign up free for Girls That Roam: <a href="http://eepurl.com/f_Icf">http://eepurl.com/f_Icf</a></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font></p></div>Gina Gatta and the Damron's Gay/Lesbian Travel Companyhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/gina-gatta-and-the-damron-s-gay-lesbian-travel-company2011-10-19T13:28:00.000Z2011-10-19T13:28:00.000ZGirls That Roamhttps://tripatini.com/members/GirlsThatRoam<div><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">by <a href="mailto:heather@girlsthatroam.com">Heather Cassell</a></font></p><p><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Published: Ocotber 3, 2011</font></p><p style="float:right;width:305px;margin-left:40px;margin-right:20px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /> <img width="305" height="222" style="margin-bottom:5px;" src="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/images/US_CA_SF_DamronOwners.jpg" alt="US_CA_SF_DamronOwners.jpg" /><br /><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Damron owner Gina Gatta with business and life partner, Erika O'Conner, enjoying Iceland.</font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br />Photo Credit: Courtesy of Damron</font></font></p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">It must be hard traveling the world to let people know where the best queer places are to go and what to see, but for Gina Gatta, president and editor-in-chief of <a href="https://damron.com/">Damron</a>, the oldest LGBT travel guide company in the world, it's all in a days work.</font><br /><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">For the more than 20 years, Gatta, 46, an openly gay woman, has traveled the world and navigated Damron through internal and external crises with her business and life partner Erika O'Conner, at her side.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Damron love match was a side product of the company. O'Conner worked for San Francisco basedDamron for five years before the two fell in love and started their nearly 11 year union.</font></p><p> </p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I still enjoy what I do. I'm very lucky to have this and I'm not ever going to take it for granted," says Gatta, who during the past 20 years of running the oldest gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender travel guide company has witnessed a growing competitive filed and major transformations in both publishing and the travel industries.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Damron was founded by Bob Damron in 1967. An openly gay man, Damron turned his little black book of gay lodges, bars, and restaurants into photocopied guides until the mid-1980s when Dan Delbacks bought the business in 1987.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Gatta joined Damron in 1989, two years after her friend, Delbacks, bought the travel guide company. That same year Gatta started the <a href="https://damron.com/womens_guide.php"><i>Women's Traveler</i></a>, a complimentary guide to the popular Men's Traveler, that lists LGBT-owned and operated and gay-friendly lodges, entertainment, and other information for queer travelers. Later, Gatta added <a href="https://damron.com/damron_guides.php">Damron's city guides</a> and expanded beyond North America to Europe and South America.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In 2009, Damron's <i>Men's Traveler</i> celebrated its 45th edition and the <i>Women's Traveler</i> celebrated its 20th anniversary.</font></p><p><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>The journey</b></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Four short years later the company went into a tailspin when Delbacks died of AIDS and left the company in a quart of a million dollar debt. Gatta inherited the company and brought on two business partners at the time, she says.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Gatta and her partners pulled the travel guide company out of the debt over a five year period. By 1996, Damron was back in the black and getting on its feet unaware of the Internet age and other events that would dramatically change the way people travel and companies that cater to the wanderlust was right around the corner.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Gatta chose not to disclose the names of the partners who are no longer a part of the business. She bought them out of Damron soon after the company stabilized.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In spite of Damron's internal issues, Gatta describes the late 1990s as the "fat days" of travel publishing, "when we were all really rich. We were making a lot of money in the late 90s," Gatta says.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">It was a "Gilded Age", the economy was booming, the U.S. was in a financial surplus, advertising was king, and the Internet was teasing the consciousness of the world. Then with a magical snap of a finger, the Internet age emerged forever changing consumerism to publishing, 9/11 struck the U.S. permanently creating a fault line in the world's consciousness , and two economic crisis in a single decade crippled the global spirit.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"That changed travel forever and nothing will ever come back from that," says Gatta.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Gatta couldn't imagine Damron's next chapter where she would navigate the travel guide company through the rise of the Internet, which rushed in new competitors, such as <a href="http://www.outandaboutravel.com/">Out & About</a> launched in 1999 and more recently with San Francisco-based <a href="http://www.gaycities.com/">GayCities.com</a> and Canada-based <a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/girlroamers/GTRGPorts.htm">GirlPorts.com</a>. Then there are the numerous queer print travel guides and magazines wooing the LGBTQ community.</font></p><p><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Playing nice</b></font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">No longer the only queer travel guide in the sandbox, Gatta applauds the new guides that have entered the market, especially <a href="http://www.girlports.com/lesbiantravel/">GirlPorts.com</a>. Gatta is quick to point out that many of the competing queer travel online and print guides "wouldn't know where to start" if it wasn't for the foundation Damron built.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"It keeps me on my toes and I applaud them," says Gatta, admitting that sometimes "it's tough when everybody wants to play in your sandbox," but the competition forces her to stay current on technology and other trends.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sharing the sandbox and all of the changes of running a small travel publishing business within the past decade, Gatta feels lucky to still be traveling and providing gay and lesbian travelers quality information for their vacations. Under her leadership Damron has maintained is position as one of the top queer travel guides in the travel industry and continues to be competitive testing new ideas and trends, yet Gatta doesn't discount the value of print guides.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"I love printing books," said Gatta, who still gets calls from advertisers who continue to receive business from guides published years ago. "People hold on to them for five to 10 years."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">If Internet and publishing competition wasn't enough, the travel industry itself experienced major changes that were impacted by global economic crises and terrorist attacks in the U.S. a decade ago provided unprecedented challenges, not only for Damron but the entire travel industry and beyond.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The turbulent vicissitudes during the past decade hasn't fazed Gatta.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">"It takes a lot to get me to blow my skirt up," says Gatta letting out a deep guttural chuckle. I've seen it all."</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In 2008, Gatta launched <a href="http://www.damronvacations.com/">DamronVacations.com</a>, a travel agency and vacation package arm of the company, but a year later she closed the venture to leverage translating the company's strengths as a travel resource to the mobile age. In 2010, she launched Damron's iPhone applications <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gurl-scout-by-damron/id370315618?mt=8">Gurl Scout</a> and Gay Scout.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">“I feel very fortunate that we are succeeding,” says Gatta, who was originally from Rhode Island, but claims San Francisco as her home for nearly 30 years. “On a bad day, I just have a mantra saying, ‘This is my hobby, this is not my job.’”</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">To purchase reprints, contact <a href="mailto:editor@girlsthatroam.com">editor@girlsthatroam.com</a>.</font></p><p> </p><p>Link to Girls That Roam: <u><a href="http://www.girlsthatroam.com/girlroamers/GTRDamron.htm">http://www.girlsthatroam.com/girlroamers/GTRDamron.htm</a></u></p><p>Take the International Women's Travel Survey September 15 - November 15: <a href="http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm">http://girlsthatroam.com/GTRWTSv1.htm</a></p><p>Sign up free for Girls That Roam: <a href="http://eepurl.com/f_Icf">http://eepurl.com/f_Icf</a></p></div>The New Tango, Wine, and Gay Tour of Buenos Aires, Argentinahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/the-new-tango-wine-and-gay2010-08-15T15:50:24.000Z2010-08-15T15:50:24.000ZRoy Healehttps://tripatini.com/members/RoyHeale<div><p style="margin-bottom:0in;"></p><p style="text-align:left;"><img width="721" alt="" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008548890,original{{/staticFileLink}}" /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;">By Roy Heale</p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;">While Argentina's LGBT community is basking in the glow of the recent victory for same-sex marriage and adoption legislation there is a bustle of new activity in the gay tourism industry. International tourism to Argentina rose thirty percent in the month of June 2010 and it is probably safe to assume that many of these tourists were LGBT travelers. In anticipation of increased gay vacationers the local LGBT travel agency---and fellow IGLTA member---tour operator Duques del Plata have added the new Tango, Wine, and Gay Tour as one of their regular Saturday excursions.</p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;">This LGBT trip includes a Thematic Tour through Tango neighborhoods, A Tango lesson---either for participation or spectator enjoyment---plus a Wine Tasting of local Argentine wines including the renowned Malbecs. There is also an option to enjoy the El Querandi's dinner and Tango Show after the tour completes in their impressive wine cellar.</p><p style="text-align:left;"><img width="721" alt="" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008549454,original{{/staticFileLink}}" /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;">The historical journey by private tour bus travels through Recoleta, Abasto, Corrientes Avenue, the Theatre District, Plaza de Mayo and San Telmo. In English and Spanish a tour guide recants the Tango story and historical ties to each community, plus other tour attractions and highlights.</p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;"></p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;">Ending at the famous El Querandi's Academy of Tango the event includes a private instructional dance session and informative wine tasting in this historic San Telmo edifice.</p><p style="text-align:left;"><img width="721" alt="" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008549289,original{{/staticFileLink}}" /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;">If all of this is not enough to really experience Tango then an evening of dinner and show is also available at El Querandi for a nominal extra charge.</p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;">The tour is for two to thirty people and includes a hotel pick-up and drop-off starting at about 4PM on Saturday afternoons and concludes around 8:30PM after the wine tasting. Reasonably priced at US$125 for the tour and US$175 with the dinner and show option this will be a memorable evening of Tango and local Buenos Aires culture.</p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom:0in;">For More Information Visit: <a href="http://www.duquesdelplata.com">www.duquesdelplata.com</a></p><p style="text-align:left;"><img width="721" alt="" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008549873,original{{/staticFileLink}}" /></p></div>