FRIDAY FANTASY 74

CHEAP VACATION

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Travel dates: May 1 - June 13

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Capitol City More Tolerant?

Santo Domingo.- The Parque Duarte in the city of Santo Domingo is becoming the preferred place for homosexuals, lesbians, transgender people and male prostitutes from across the country, said newspaper EDGE in a report today.

It notes that Santo Domingo is Dominican Republic’s least homophobic city, which prompts a large number of homosexuals to gather in the Colonial Zone to meet with friends, drink and even “cruise.”














Quoted by the Boston-based EDGE, David Báez and his boyfriend said Dominican society is accepting this movement and homosexuals and lesbians feel freer. "People may see you, but they won't judge you. You can do what you want."
They said there are many older Dominican gays still hidden in “the closet” because of homophobia or conservative attitudes towards homosexuality from their own families, though noting that these attitudes continue to change.

Complete article here, in which Anthony Montgomery, a promiment voice for the gay scene in Santo Domingo, offers his view.

A VERY GOOD FRIDAY

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AMIGO 7

Bermuda, the isle of mystery, where things disappear without explanation. I would love to disappear with Lukeno for awhile.

FRIDAY FANTASY 72

This is what happens when you combine your love of chocolate with your passion for latin hunks!

EXPANDING SERVICES IN DR

These are two news items of interest if you're flying or cruising to the DR.

JetBlue Airways has begun flights to Santo Domingo from Orlando, Florida. The flight is in time for the Easter Week holiday traffic and summer 2008. JetBlue flies using Embraer E190 jets and provides free films and snacks on board. The low-fare airline is celebrating the new route with sale fares starting at US$99 each way for travel through May 14, 2008. Introductory fares must be booked by March 13, 2008. The new service departs from Orlando (MCO) at 2:25pm, arriving at 6:05pm, and departs from Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) at 6:50pm, arriving at 8:50pm.

The Tourist Terminal at Sans Souci, on the eastern side of the Ozama River, is nearing completion. The first stage of the cruise ship facility includes a rebuilt wharf and tourist reception area and various other nautical features that cost an estimated US$50,000,000 according to Diario Libre. The work progress report on the new San Souci Tourist Dock was issued by group president, Lisandro Macarrulla. He said that the Don Diego Terminal Building on the west side of the river had received 150,000 passengers over the past year, and the new facility was designed to handle over one million passengers over the next five years. The new three-story terminal will be the most modern and functional in the region, according to Macarrulla.

MARCUS REVISITED

Marcus Patrick continues to be one of my Favorites. In this scene he reveals why. He is confident, sexy and flirtatious. He also made a guest appearance on "My Wife And Kids" where he played a gay stud!

IN MEMORIAM

I had been hoping for conflicting reports. The rumor mill is often busy. Someone may dissappear from the scene for awhile and people will say that person died. The practice seems to be more prevalent in gay or underground societies.

I refused to mention anything until confirmation was given. I believe Angelo and his memory deserve as much. I have received information from reliable sources. So, it is with sadness that I pay tribute and honor to the memory of a beautiful, loving, genuine person. I will surely miss him.

OIL SPILL IN BOCA CHICA

If you will be in the area within the next week or so, it may be wise to inquire before going to the beach. dr1 reports:

The beaches of Boca Chica, between Caucedo and Andres have been affected by a small oil spill from a ship belonging to Seaboard Caribbean. According to the Diario Libre, 800 gallons of bunker C oil was spilled, allegedly from a hole in the ship's hull. The ship itself has been seized by Navy and Ministry of the Environment personnel. Minister Omar Ramirez met with the ship's captain, whose name was not revealed for "diplomatic reasons", and he reported that the captain had signed two statements of complaint, one to the ministry and the other to the Environmental Prosecutor's office. According to the statements, the accident that caused the spill occurred at around 9am yesterday when the ship was docking at Caucedo to drop off a few containers. As a result all beaches in the area have been closed. According to the paper, the ship is being held until the damage assessment and payment are determined by the courts.

TV FAVORITE

OMG!! I have always had a crush on Mario Lopez. He is one of my favorite latin actors. I remember him on Saved By The Bell. He was amazing in the Greg Luganis Story and looked awesome on Dancing With The Stars. Here is a sexy clip from the show Nip/Tuck. He truly leaves me breathless...http://youtube.com/watch?v=jY8FNlfsWhU

HOMBRES DE SANTO DOMINGO

These are some pictures of a few of the guys I've photographed over the years. I thought you all might like them.

VEDADOS CUBA

This information and photos were furnished by one of the blog readers that I met a few years ago in Santo Domingo. Thank you Senor Vedado!





















I have made 8 visits to Cuba in the last 4 years... Havana is a very beautiful city..with the most amazing architecture...the people are very, very friendly..and there are so many good looking, sexy men there.. some of whom are very friendly indeed...and very anxious to make foreign friends...there are many very good and comfortable hotels in Havana .. and other places in Cuba... but it is forbidden for Cubans to stay in these hotels... so Cuban guys cannot even visit a hotel bedroom..but it is much more interesting to stay in a private home...and there are many, many beautiful houses in which one can rent a bedroom...usually with a bathroom en suite..and they are SUCH good value for the money..usually about $30 a night and $5 for breakfast..many of the owners are very gay friendly.. and not at all judgemental.. they are very happy for guests to be entertained.. and I know two very friendly gay guys who rent rooms..and who are also happy to make introductions..

there is no organised gay scene.. there is, however a beach which is about 12 miles outside of Havana..there are always some very,very sexy guys on this beach who are more than happy to go 'swimming'' with any gay foreign visitors who find their way to this beach.. and take a ride back into Havana with them!! I met Rainier, (the guy in the pics above) 4 yrs ago.. he has become a very good friend of mine..He uses his motor bike as a taxi, as do many Cuban guys..I also met Edisbel(previous post) on this beach in july'05.. he was visiting with two other very good looking friends from Santiago de Cuba.. I spent some time with him in Havana and later went to stay with him in Santiago..Cuban guys are so fun loving and lively.. they really are great company, great fun.. and considering they have very difficult lives they are so cheerful and happy..!!

The private houses in which one can rent a room have a bathroom ensuite! The other pic was taken on the gay beach... 3 young Cuban gay guys sharing a beach umbrella..since there is not much of an organised gay scene in havana there are impromptu parties that start late on a saturday night.. you have to know the meeting place..there is one cafe on the corner of 23 and P streets, but A LOT can be acheived by eye contact on the street.. then let word of mouth takeover... once you have one contact other introductions are easy..!!!

FRIDAY FANTASY 71

It has always been a fantasy of mine to travel to Cuba. I can only hope that the heavenly powers allow me to go while I'm young enough to really enjoy it!

These photos are of Edisbel. He is one of my Hi5 friends in Cuba. I will be sharing more information about Cuba from an acquaintance who has traveled there many times.

CASTRO RESIGNS!!

This news item was just released by USA Today and has been confirmed by CNN, CBS and other international news media.

An ailing Fidel Castro stepped aside as Cuba's leader Tuesday, ending nearly a half-century of rule that saw him become an arch-enemy of 10 U.S. presidents as head of one of the world's last communist nations.
Castro, 81, announced his decision in a letter posted in the online edition of the Communist Party daily Granma, which has been his main form of communication since July 2006, when a crippling illness rendered him too weak to appear in public.
His brother Raul Castro, 76, has run Cuba on a day-to-day basis since Fidel became sick, an arrangement that is likely to continue for now. However, Fidel Castro's formal departure will deprive the Cuban regime of its most charismatic leader and could spark new calls for democracy from Washington and from Cuban Americans living in Miami and elsewhere.

Surely there will be speculations, implications and ramifications. Whatever, just lift the embargo, open the floodgates and let us in!!