By Don Church & Tony Schillaci

 

      Stockholm, Sweden knows how to make visitors feel welcome from the moment they land at Arlanda airport.  It's one of the most user-friendly ones on Earth.  For fares,
check out SAS - the airline of Scandinavia.  (www.flysas.com.)
      The sleek Arlanda Express train leaves directly from air terminals 4 and 5 for the 20 minute ride into the center of royal Stockholm.  

      It arrives at the central transportation terminal and is steps from excellent hotels, as well as bus stops and underground trains called the “T.” The city starts here on the mainland in a district called Norrmalm and is spread out over fifteen islands connected by bridges along the Baltic Sea coast. 

      This is a walkable town in the same sense as Venice and Amsterdam because you’re never far from glorious water views as you explore winding streets and cross the fifty-five bridges That are the dots that connect this ancient city.

      When you’re not in the mood to walk, just buy Stockholm Cards and get 24 hours of unlimited access to all public transportation.   As a bonus, the card gives free boat rides around the islands, admission to 70 museums and other attractions on land and on sea.  

      Stockholm is a small town with a big city vibe with short winter days and long, light summer nights. It’s light          Old City (Gamla Stan) Stockholm        until about 11 p. m. and the sun rises again around three in the morning. 

      And the city is as classically beautiful as its people. Both the boys and the girls live up to the renowned image of being statuesque blue-eyed blonds.  Even the occasional short ones are blue-eyed cuties. It must be said that some Swedes do have darker hair and eyes, but that’s okay because they’re still wonderful looking.
           For us, there’s no better place to have fun in this land of the midnight sun than in Stockholm where homosexuality was decriminalized in 1944, and where civil partnership for Swedes has been the law of the land since the 90s.  

          This is a socially liberal country and as you might expect, there are many fine gay-friendly boutique hotels that include the opulent Berns with a ballroom that is reminiscent of the Phantom of Opera. It’s where Mr. Gay Sweden is crowned during the  annual pride festival in late July and early August.  The Clarion - not at all like the US variety – is  ultra-modern Swedish with luxury details.
     The Rival is owned by Benny Anderson of ABBA.  The Nordic Light, next to the airport train station, was voted “The world’s sexiest hotel” by the UK’s Elle magazine. The top choices in the heart of  old town include the 5-star Victory as well as the Lord Nelson and the Lady Hamilton. 

     The most popular gay restaurants include the Cattelin in old town. The Roxy  is women-owned and considered one of the finest restaurants in town – straight or gay. The ship, Patricia, a former British royal yacht is gay on Sunday nights. Reservations far in advance are a must. There’s always a long line to get aboard for the cuisine and the cruising.  

     There are a few gay sidewalk cafes that offer good food as well as memorable views.  Mandus is on a narrow cobblestone street near the St. George and the Dragon statue. It offers superb food, but it’s pricey as are most good restaurants. Chokladkoppen on Stortorget (torget is Swedish for square) and stands out among the other cafes because of it’s bright yellow awning and rainbow flag.
     Mälar Paviljongen, is a handsome, gay-owned waterside café that draws a large young crowd for lunch and dinner.  Its 300 seats meander along the water’s edge. It’s especially beautiful at night with lights twinkling in the trees above and moon light streaking across the water. The food and service is fast, fun and very good. 

      The Strandbryggan is a floating restaurant complete with a rainbow flag and near the Vasa museum, home to a 16^th century warship that was buried in mud for 333 years and is now resurrected and 90% intact. It’s a truly awesome sight.  Close by is the Nordic Museum that is currently featuring a collection of never before exhibited still photos of Greta Garbo that were discovered shortly after her death.  It is so convenient to have lunch here and then walk to Vasa and the Garbo exhibits.

      For nightlife, the top bars and clubs are Lino in a handsome building with four bars, three dance floors and a huge terrace on the river. There’s always a long line and even those on the VIP list might not get in after midnight.  The Connection is another great club with many rooms and an outdoor Atrium that’s adjacent to the Cattelin restaurant. 

      To get on the VIP lists at clubs and restaurants, e-mail your request before leaving home.  See the Little Rainbow Address Book below for details.

      If you go to Sweden, keep in mind that contrary to rumors that the Swedes are reserved, if not unapproachable, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, they’re so unbelievably shy, they don’t  even play the ‘eye-game.’

      If you see someone you like, just walk up and say ‘hello. ‘ (They all speak perfect American English.)  Chances are - unless you’re a troll - they’ll say, ‘Hej’ (pronounced ‘hey’ and it means hello) and the rest could be history.  And the frosting on the cake, it that the Swedes are among the friendliest folks on Earth.  If you ask a Swede for directions or to take your picture, They never say ‘no.’  

      And no matter the time of day or night, you’ll soon discover that you always feel safe on the streets.  You think were exaggerating?  Just ask anyone when was the last time they were mugged by an incurably shy Swede.   

      If you go to Sweden in the summer, remember the premiere party of all is the Stockholm Pride Festival at the end of July – it’s the largest one in Scandinavia drawing tens of thousands of folks for five days of out-and-proud revelry. 
    Its program features a film festival, some of Scandinavia’s most popular entertainers, and many social and political events that take up an entire city park. The main event of the festival is the parade from the royal palace through the center of the city.   

      For everyday contact with the gay community go to Stockholm's LGBT center. It has a café, disco and a political headquarters.  It’s here that the successful struggle for Swedish gay rights was organized by activists. The free monthly entertainment guide QX is available here and many businesses throughout town. Its online edition offers a complete visitor guide and map in English.

           If you’re not packing your own electronics, the best place for Internet access is in the Kulturehouset (Culture House) in OldTown.  It’s a place called Access IT in the lower level where a ½ hour will cost about $3.25, based on the current rate of exchange of 7.6 Krona to the dollar. 

      The TouristInformationCenter is also here and it’s where you can buy the all-important Stockholm Card.  A one-day card cost 220 SEK and gets you into seventy top attractions, bus and boat tours; unlimited travel by underground and local trains throughout the country, and a visitors guide book. 

      A suggested sightseeing tour of the city’s four important districts would start in Norrmalm on the mainland and the adjacent islands of Gamla Stan (OldTown), the oldest part of the Stockholm. Sodermalm, once home to the working class, including Greta Garbo, is now a highly desirable and expensive residential area with a large gay population. Here you’ll find trendy shops and restaurants.
      Djurganden is the most parklike district in the Swedish capitol and offers a lot of tourist attractions.  And don’t miss a visit to Drottingholm to see the royal palace of the same name. The most fun way to get there is by ferry from the town hall. It’s an hour’s sail and lunch is served on board.

      The Stockholm Visitors Board has offer a wealth of information in English on gay life in the city At www.stockholmtown.com/gay  The excellent gay publication, QX, offers a gay map and a complete listings in English of all the gay clubs, restaurants, cafes and events online at www.qx.se. 
      Garbo wanted to be alone, but in Stockholm, you won’t want to be once you see  and meet these fantastic people.                                                     

                                                                            

       ©  1999- 2009.  OUT&Travelin’  Queer Travel News Syndicate.  All rights reserved

 

Little Rainbow Address Book ® 

 

www.stockholmtown.com  Gay visitor guide
www.flysas.com  airline of Scandinavia
www.patricia.st/   Floating bar & restaurant

www.qx.se  Gay visitor info

 

Let's Go to Sexy Spain!

Spain has always been a gloriously romantic destination but now it’s more so - for our community - with the legalization of same-sex marriage on June 28, 2005. Viva España!

We can’t think of a better way to celebrate this civil-rights victory with our Spanish brothers and sisters and non-gay allies, which includes the prime minister and his party, than to visit Spain now. Viva gay-friendly Espana!

When thinking of Spain, the images of sultry flamenco dancers, sexy bullfighters, the grand Spanish and Arabian-nights architecture comes to mind. All of these images, and more, come to life for travelers in this beautiful story-book country.

From the plains in Spain to the castles in the skies, let’s take a quick tour of the major cities and regions that offer much for gay travelers.

Madrid: The centrally located Chueca district is the heart of gay nightlife here in the capitol city. There are dozens fun places for gay men and at least fourteen are popular with women, too - bars, dance clubs, after-hours clubs; and gay and lesbian cafes, restaurants, shops and other diversions that abound in this gay quarter.

Chueca is just north of the Grand Via, the city’s main street that cuts through the historic and tourist district of Madrid. Here a part of the area is largely closed to traffic and a walking tour will reveal the magnificent Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Royal Palace, and Opera House.

The streets and alleys are filled with wonderful shops, galleries, outdoor cafes and tapas bars that are teeming with people night and day.

Save time for the treasures of the Prado museum and other world-class attractions in this gracious and beautiful city.

Barcelona:

For women, there are social groups and a feminist publication with local listings. La Singular is one of the lesbian-owned and operated restaurants.

For the boys, there are about two dozen bars and dance clubs, including some that feature drag; and six saunas. But don’t miss the Gaudi architecture and other cultural attractions in this magnificent Catalonian city on the Costa Brava.

Sitges: This coastal area thirty minutes by train from Barcelona is considered by many to be the “Spanish Provincetown,” and is one of gay Spain’s most popular beach resorts.

For women, there are six bars/clubs and many restaurants and cafes. And there are also three beaches that are popular with women.

For the boys, there are beaches, too, and approximately eighteen \bars and dance clubs. They range from cruisy and fetish bars to ones that offer videos and traditional music. There are saunas, too, if the nude beaches don’t do it for you, but take a peek, anyway.

Costa del Sol – Málaga,Torremolinos and Marbella: There are about twenty bars and clubs for women and gay men along this endless stretch of beach on the Mediterranean.

There are also gay- and gay-friendly restaurants and cafes, great shopping as well as sightseeing and cultural highlights, including the new Picasso museum; sailing on the Bay of Malaga and nighttime walking tours to wine cellars for tastings and snacking on tapas.

And there are many golf courses, tennis courts, water sports and other recreational facilities through out the Costa del Sol in the land of the Moors. 

One of its most glamorous resort towns on the Costa del Sol in Andalucia is Marbella. It’s a favorite playground for the jet-set, royalty, pop idols and film stars, and where they go, so goes the gay crowd. Through the years it’s been one of our personal favorite winter towns, too. Queer Eye for the Glitterati.

This exotic and glamorous region wends it way along the warm Mediterranean coast to the Atlantic with it’s resort towns and nearby mountains that are dotted with white-washed villages.  And everywhere there are grand estates and palaces with columns and arches built around courtyards filled with exotic scented flowers, date palms and pools.

Basque Country is a region of northern Spain that is of importance to the gay community. Inigo Lamarca, a gay-rights activist became Spain’s first openly gay person in a high-profile political post when he was named ombudsman by prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Lamarca is also the head of the Basque Association of Gays and Lesbians.

Despite the independence movement in Basque country, we recently traveled though this picturesque area without incident and were warmly greeted with great hospitality by the proud and independent locals. The renowned Basque regional foods and wines deserve its international acclaim.

La Rioja and Castile y Leon are two more regions that offer spectacular scenery and bountiful rewards for foodies and wine lovers. There’s not
an abundance of gay life here so you may want to import your own as you roam through ancient towns, cities and the legendary castles in Spain. It’s a glimpse of the golden age of Spain.

La Rioja, a major wine producing area, is three and a half hours north of
Madrid and the breath-taking medieval, walled city of Avila in Castile y
Leon is an hour west of  Madrid.

And let’s not forget those gorgeous men and beautiful women who stroll the plazas in the evening throughout the country, watching each other - and possibly you! This is an age-old tradition that adds spice to Spain’s exuberant night life. The ‘paseo’ is a way to cruise all the eye candy.

Taking your meals “late” in Spain is a good thing because no one has dinner before 9 or 10 p. m. The late dining can take a bit of getting used to, but visitors soon fall into the Spanish rhythm of life. And it’s a good idea to take a siesta in the mid-afternoon so dining late is a pleasure; not a problem.

For those who just can’t wait for a very late dinner, we suggest heading for a traditional tapas bars... pub-like tavernas where you can order a drink and nibble on an infinite variety of small appetizers (tapas) while listening to flamenco music or practicing your Spanish with the locals – you’ll have a better time if you do.

In Spanish culture it’s traditional to always have something to eat with drinks and
to share both with good company.

Although this is a Catholic country, the scene has gotten better since homosexuality
was decriminalized after the end of the Franco dictatorship in 1979. This welcomed
event also led to decriminalizing –of all things– the sale of many cheeses that Franco
didn’t like. Beware of governments that start to legislate the personal lives of its
citizens. Need we say more?

Spain is a Constitutional moarchy and has same-gender marriage:  Read as glamours and fabulous! 

For the most current gay listings in Spain, we recommend that you Google ‘gay Madrid’ or ‘gay Costa del Sol,’ or where every your heart take you. 

When you arrive in Spain, go to the nearest gay business to get free English-language publications that have visitor information.

One vital travel tip: if you really, really want to have a good time in Spain, just remember these two words, ‘si’ and ‘gracias’ – usually in that order. Ole!

 ©  1999- 2009.  OUT&Travelin’  Queer Travel News Syndicate.  All rights reserved


Ole! Same-sex Marriage Legal in Spain!  Let’s Go!

By Don Church & Tony Schillaci

Spain has always been a gloriously romantic destination but now it’s more so for our community with the legalization of same-sex marriage on June 28, 2005. 

We can’t think of a better way to support our Spanish brothers and sisters who approved same-sex marriage than to visit with them and celebrate this victorious milestone in our history. Viva Espana!

This exotic and glamorous region wends it way along the warm Mediterranean coast to the Atlantic  with it resort towns and nearby mountains that are dotted with white-washed villages. And everywhere there are grand estates and palaces with columns and arches built around courtyards filled with exotic scented flowers, date palms and pools - thanks to the Moors.  

Basque country is a region of Spain that is of importance to the gay community.  Inigo Lamarca, a gay-rights activist became Spain's first openly gay person in a high-profile political post Sunday when he was named ombudsman by liberal Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero   Lamarca is also the head of the Basque Association of Gays and Lesbians.  

Despite the independence movement in Basque country, we recently traveled though this glorious area without incident and were warmly greeted with warm hospitality by everyone from politicians to inn and shop keepers.  The food and wine are exceptional by any international standard. 

And let’s not forget those gorgeous men and beautiful women who stroll the plazas throughout the country in the evening , watching each other - and possibly you!  This is an age-old tradition that adds spice to Spain’s  renowned night life. 

Taking your meals “late” in Spain is a good thing because no one in Spain has dinner until 9 or 10 p. m. The late dining can take a bit of getting used to, but visitors soon fall into the Spanish rhythm of life.

And it’s a good idea to take a siesta in the mid-afternoon so dining late is a pleasure; not a problem.

For those who just can’t wait for a very late dinner, the region is famous for its tapas bars…..pub-like tavernas where you can order a sherry (the drink of choice made in  the region), and nibble on an infinite variety of small appetizers (tapas) while listening to
flamenco music or practicing your Spanish with the locals – you’ll have a better time if you do.

Tapas bars take the place of living rooms in Spain.  Instead being couch potatoes, families, friends and singles congregate in the cafes along the boulevards, around plazas and side street dominated by  tapas bars in the evening to nibble on grilled vegetables, fresh fried fish, spicy sausages, among dozens of other dishes while sipping the many superb Spanish reds, whites, including sherry and sangria.

Although this is a Catholic country, the scene has gotten better since  homosexuality was made legal in 1978 after the end of the Franco dictatorship.  This welcomed event also led to decriminalization -  of all things -  the sale of many cheeses that were outlawed during dictatorship because if Franco didn’t like something it was made illegal.  Beware governments that start to legislate the personal lives of its citizens.  Need we say more?

All things considered, Spain is an ideal place for a getaway because the Spanish people in general are openly warm, friendly and socially liberal thinkers. They have a passion for love, food, wine, music, and the spectacle of color and movement known as f lamenco.
And best of all, their live-and-let-live attitude as evidenced by the overwhelming support of same-sex marriage is apparent throughout the land.        

One word of advice….if you really want the best time in Spain, simply remember one word..”SI”.  And then, ten minutes later, don’t forget to say “Gracias.”
                                                                         
Little Rainbow Address Book ®  (La lista importante)

www.okspain.org   
www.andalucia.com  -  Gay/Lesbian Listings
www.iberia.com

© Copyright 1999 - 2009. OUT&Travelin’ Gay Travel News Syndicate. All rights reserved.