Berlin

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Gay Berlin will blow you away and make you come back for more

You should have thought that more than 50 years of tyranny – first under Hitler and then as part of a puppet state under the USSR – would have put a permanent mark on Berlin’s historic open and accepting attitude towards the LGBT community.

But when you visit Berlin today it’s like those years never happened. Surely they are clearly visible in the cityscape with historic landmarks and architectural elements, but the people of Berlin seem so friendly and tolerant that it is unbelievable that they have lived under oppressive regimes for so long.

Berlin is unlike any other city on Earth. It’s closest “competitors” are probably San Francisco and Amsterdam, but neither of those cities offer quite the laid back ambience of especially Berlin’s Schöneberg neighborhood.

Related: Gay travel Europe

Maybe it is the city’s historic background that makes it so unique, the combination of tolerance being such an important part of its soul while people also share the burden of such a brutal past. “Never again!” virtually seems to be infused into Berlin’s streets and walls.

In 2001 Berlin got an openly gay mayor, Klaus Wowereit (born 1 October 1953) from the SPD (Social Democratic Party). To avoid his opponents from outing him during the election campaign he outed himself at a party congress with the legendary words “Ich bin schwul, und das ist auch gut so.” (“I’m gay, and that is a good thing.”) Wowereit stayed in office until December 11, 2014.

Gay neighborhoods in Berlin

Traditionally, there have been gay neighborhoods in the districts of Schöneberg and Kreuzberg (both in the western part of Berlin) as well as in Prenzlauer Berg (eastern part). Most of the gay hotels, bars, cafes and shops in Berlin are located in the Schöneberg district which had dance halls for men already back in the 1920s.

Berlin’s Schöneberg district will not strike you with grand architecture and fancy restaurants. You’ll have more of a feeling of coziness and, for me and my boyfriend at least, of “coming home”. Its neighborhood bars welcome you with friendly bartenders and patrons that are more than happy to have a chat.

And if you’re in the market for something more it has plenty of cruisy clubs with active dark rooms, even though you won’t find any of the big clubs you might have expected at such a major gay travel destination.

Gay Berlin

Motzstraße with it’s side streets is dotted with gay businesses and offers dousins of shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. It’s the place to go to see and be seen and is perfect for bar hopping from early afternoon until the next morning. In fact you can easily stay out around the clock if you so desire.

Here you’ll find legendary Tom’s Bar, which has been a landmark since 1982. Don’t expect it to be packed until really late. It has a very cruizy atmosphere and they screen you when you ring the door bell, but once you’re inside you’ll have a good time. In the day time, drop by Café Bario, a gay institution for more than 50 years. Other noteworthy bars in the area include Scheune, and Mutschmann’s, a pretty cool leather bar.

Related: London Is Gay at Heart

Nearby Fuggerstraße goes paralell with Motzstraße. It’s maybe a bit more relaxed than its “big sister” and is the perfect place to retract for a breather or a good meal. We loved Prinzknecht with it’s friendly bartenders and nice mix of different age groups, and also a good mix of locals vs tourists. WOOF is a small but very friendly bear bar, while Connection Club is an after hour techno club.

We stayed at Hotel Artim on Fuggerstraße and totally loved the place because of its helpful staff and perfect location. We were lucky enough to be upgraded so I don’t know if the regular rooms are as nice and clean as our was but we were very happy with it. You also have  gay exclusive Axel Hotel just around the corner with beautiful rooms and gorgeous common areas.

Other gay friendly areas of the city include Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg, Mitte, and Friedrichshain. Each district probably has more gay establishments than most mid-size European cities so don’t be afraid of trying them out.

Big events you may aim at or away from, depending on your affinity for big crowds,  include Berlin gay pride aka Christopher Street Day in June/July, the local-feeling but quite massive two-day Stadtfest/Motzstraßenfest in July and Folsom Europe in September.

Gay Prague – Spring in Prague Is Such an Experience

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The Czech capital Prague is strikingly beautiful and one of the most gay-friendly cities in Central Europe

Prague – at times – seems almost bipolar: it has a western vibe but is still proud of its eastern roots. It’s modern but beautifully authentic. And it’s utterly cosmopolitan with a neighborhood feel.

Prague and the Czech Republic have earned a reputation of being more liberal than the neighbours to the east like Poland or the Baltic States, and Czechs’ attitude towards gay rights issues are far more tolerant.

In 2006, Czechia legalized registered partnerships (Czech: registrované partnerství) for same-sex couples and a law legalizing same-sex marriage is being considered by the Parliament as of 2019.

Prague has far more gay and gay-friendly clubs than most Eastern and Central European cities, and it’s Gay Pride celebration is a week long festival of concerts, lectures, parties and events.

The festivities culminate in the official parade on the last Saturday of the week, normally the second weekend in August.

Gay bars and nightlife

Prague is increasingly getting a reputation as one of Europe’s premium gay-party cities and has a buzzing and diverse nightlife.

The city has everything from cozy cafes and upscale cocktail bars to drag-pubs and late night gay dance events.

For a relatively small city, there is a large amount of gay bars to choose from mostly located around in the Vinohrady gay district, close to Náměstí Míru metro station.

Prague became a bustling gay adult movie center in the 1990s when a producer named George Duroy founded the adult film studio Bel Ami, and the city is still a major hub for the gay adult industry.

Related: Gay Berlin

Sightseeing

You cannot go to Prague without being touched by its historic and architectural beauty so you don’t have to check out every historic landmark to have a memorable vacation.

The Malá Strana area is a charming neighborhood to walk through if you love looking at historic architecture, and the style of its buildings lends Mala Strana a gentile atmosphere left over from when it housed Prague’s wealthy citizens.

It’s overlooked by the magnificent Prague Castle, which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest castle in the world (70 000 m² is equivalent to 17,297 acre or 0,027 mile²).

From there, you can easily walk to the impressive medieval gothic Charle’s Bridge, which was inaugurated at 5:31 in the morning on July 9, 1357.

Church of St. Salvator

The exact timing of the inauguration had significance to King Charles IV, who ordered the construction of the bridge.

The king was obsessed with astrology and numerology, and believed it would be a good fortune if he arranged the numbers symmetrically: 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1.

Places to stay

There are no exclusively gay hotels in Prague, but you are likely to feel welcome as a gay man in most upscale hotels. However, some smaller family-owned properties may not always be gay friendly.

The Grand Mark Prague presents an unforgettable combination of tradition and modern design throughout the hotel and features spacious, well furnished rooms in the Golden City, most of which feature a separate living room with a full kitchenette and a seating area, a large bathroom with heated floors, and beautiful garden or street views.

Located in the Old Town in Prague, the 5-star Four Seasons Hotel offers views of the Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. The hotel is set in 3 historic and 1 modern building, decorated in various historic styles.

Guests can enjoy AVA Spa which is set in a historic neo-classical building overlooking Prague Castle and the Cotto Crudo Restaurant serves fine Italian cuisine with fresh ingredients and homemade pasta.

Located opposite the Florenc metro station, Jurys Inn is a 20-minute walk from Prague’s Old Town Square and 5 minutes by metro from Wenceslas Square. It offers free WiFi, an on-site gym and bike rental.

The spacious and modern soundproof rooms at Jurys Inn Prague include a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a work desk and complimentary tea and coffee.

La Fenice is a beautiful and extremely popular property in the heart of the Vinohrady gay quarter. Dance all night and return to this hotel featuring basic but spacious rooms and a large breakfast to help you feel better the next morning.

Related: Gay Travel Europe

Best Gay Friendly Casinos across Australia

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Gambling has been a big part of Australian life – more than 80% of Australians indulge in this pastime in some form or the other. Casinos in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and all other major Australian cities, the biggest of them being Crown Casino, are mostly gay-friendly.

That is not surprising, given that Australia is considered to be among the most LGBTQ-friendly countries. Gay couples love traveling around Australia because it offers stunning views, overall good weather, excellent food, fantastic wine tours, and lots of surf and sun. Australians also allow gambling to take place at many top-tier hotel resorts that welcome gay couples with open arms.

The following are 3 major casinos in Australia that are gay-friendly.

Crown Casino

One of the biggest casinos in Australia is the Crown Casino. All visitors get access to loads of pokies, table games, the finest food and wholesome entertainment overall.

Be sure to play at the huge selection of table games and you will also find pokies and an amazing poker game with a progressive jackpot – WSOP Texas Hold ‘Em Poker. If you like poker, then check out the 50+ poker tables with some of the friendliest dealers around.

That is not all; there is an excellent online version as well that you can use to play the fantastic games that the casino offers directly from your home, and there are amazing bonuses that you can use while you are there. If you feel like you’re more in the mood to stay in the hotel room than to head down to the games rooms, you should check out our favourite online casino guide – AustralianCasinoClub.com. The advice and strategies you can learn will certainly help you extend your playing time when you do feel ready for the action of the casino floor.

The casino has bonus offers for its players, including a birthday bonus and private poker packages. And if you want a bite or a drink then visit the excellent restaurants and private dining rooms and to try out their spread of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, steaks and grills, seafood and buffet.

The Star Sydney

The Star Sydney is a fine casino that is part of the Star Entertainment Group. The casino has a whole section of exciting games – a massive segment of blackjack games and a fair-sized baccarat station.

Other games here include dice games like craps and Sic Bo, and a great selection of poker games. The casino has also been the venue for the Australian leg of the World Series of Poker. Star Sydney boasts a large selection of live dealer games like blackjack, roulette and Sic Bo. Live dealer games can be played at The Stadium, which comes with a mega screen that measures 15m x 3.5m.

You won’t go hungry as food joints are available at every corner to whet your appetite. Discover spots for casual dining, signature dining locations as well including the Black Bar & Grill, The Century, Flying Fish and Asian hotspots like Momofuku Seiobo and Sokyo.

Treasury Brisbane Hotel and Casino

Another Australian casino that is gay-friendly and has quite a huge following is Treasury Brisbane Hotel and Casino. The casino is based out of Brisbane and has a whole collection of casino games. Visit the Dragon Zone for a superb selection of Dragon titles and also the biggest Dragon Link Grand Jackpot, which starts at a base pool of $50,000.

Feeling lucky? Try grab some of the other jackpots that the casino offers players at regular intervals. This is a fantastic casino for those who love pokies and electronic games – there are more than 1500 electronic gaming machines here. Along with these you get amazing jackpot games like Golden Dollars and Lightning Link. Discover table and card games like baccarat, roulette, blackjack and a whole lot of other games.

When you are done gaming, then head over to some of the many dining options available which include steak and prawns, Asian food and more. Watering holes include Will & Flow and the Livewire 24/7 Sports Bar.

How to Find an Honest Gay Man

There is an honest gay man out there somewhere – longing to find someone just like you

Dear Max,

I am a 43 year old man and I’m feeling very lonely. All I want is to find an honest and decent man that I can trust.

Do you think that I’m setting the standard too high?

Should I just settle with what I can get?

I have been screwed by every man I’ve been with and all I have ever asked for in a relationship is honesty and trust.

Why does this not exist in the gay lifestyle?

-Dean, Tampa

Related: New in Town and Feeling Lonely

Dear Dean,

If you listen to the news, you will know that women do go through the same thing. So it is not just a gay lifestyle thing, but the way our society is.

There are too many choices and most people do not want to commit to a relationship.

It takes a while to find the right person and you should never give up.

There is something you are doing that is causing you to feel lonely. So find out why you can’t trust men anymore and try to gain the trust back.

Not all men are pigs and you are one of the good men.

You are an honest person and there are many like you out there.

I promise you there is an honest gay man out there somewhere – longing to find someone just like you.

The problem is that many of the good men do stay home alone.

So my advise to you – and all the other good men out there – is to get out of the house and show the world that guys like you do exist.

Good luck!

Related: How to Meet a Man When You’re a Shy Guy

What You and Your Man Need to Do Before You Retire

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There are a lot things you and your partner need to consider before you can retire. Max has some advice on what you can do to prepare.

Dear Max,

My partner & I have lived together for 32 years, we’ve been in business together for 20.

We are carers now for my handicapped sister who has lived with us since my parents died (she has Down’s Syndrome.)

He wants to retire & I’m not ready, he’s 61 & I’m 57. I can’t face the thought of being alone together 24/7.

But I don’t want to be an employer again as staff difficulties are why he came to work with me in the business in the first place.

However I can’t run the business alone.

What do we do?

-Spencer

Related: Am I Too Old to Date?

Dear Spencer,

You need to sit down with your partner and write down all the different choices you have.

Write down what you want and write down what he wants.

Remember that to retire you need money and also piece of mind.

So try to come out with the best plan you both can handle.

Ask yourself the following questions:

  1. What am I going to do when I retire?
  2. What are my new goals in life?
  3. Do I have enough money to retire?
  4. Will I feel productive doing nothing all day?

The truth is that most people can’t wait until they retire, but when they do, they can’t wait to start working again to feel productive.

So try to pick the best choices for both of you and be realistic.

Good luck!

Related: Elton John – A symphony of love

PS! Gay pop icon Elton John has no plans to retire from show business entirely but said last year that he is retiring from live performance because he wants to spend as much time as possible with his kids.

Gay actor George Takei on the other hand has said that he finds the word retirement offensive…