Argentina & Buenos Aires Gay Travel

El pasado miércoles 14 de julio de 2010 se aprobó en el Senado argentino la Ley de Matrimonio Igualitario, que establece la igualdad ante la ley de parejas de distinto e igual sexo. La llamada ley de “matrimonio gay” fue aprobada luego de un encendido debate que opuso a partidarios del matrimonio gay y voceros de la Iglesia católica.

En la capital de Argentina, Buenos Aires, existe hace varios meses la ley de Unión Civil, que permitía a parejas del mismo sexo legalizar de cierta forma su situación. Esta nueva ley, de alcance nacional, brinda ahora a las parejas del mismo sexo el mismo status legal que los matrimonios heterosexuales, incluyendo la posibilidad de adopción.

Ya en 2001 la discusión había sido iniciada en Holanda, cuando se aprobase la ley de matrimonio homosexual. Le siguieron Bélgica, Canadá y España. Hoy en día, son 10 los paises que aceptan y reconocen el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo, con el mismo status y los mismos derechos que las parejas heterosexuales.

La posibilidad de adopción ha generado encendidos debates. Muchos opositores a la ley de matrimonio para parejas del mismo sexo han demostrado su homofobia en este aspecto. La tolerancia, muchas veces, ha mostrado como límite la convivencia y el reconocimiento de la existencia de la pareja, pero negando el derecho a adoptar un niño. Dicen los detractores que estas parejas, si bien existen y son “toleradas”, son anormales e indeseables, en definitiva, por lo cual no es conveniente que un menor pueda crecer junto a ellas.

La sanción de esta ley no sólo a puesto a Argentina a la cabeza de los paises que luchan contra la discriminación homosexual sino que abre un camino de posibilidad y felicidad para los miembros de las comunidades locales. No sólo es Buenos Aires, la ciudad cosmopolita e históricamente avanzada en legislación, sino todo un país el que reconoce que las parejas del mismo sexo son, en esencia, iguales que las heterosexuales. Ahora los argentinos y argentinas tienen el camino libre para demostrarlo, ser felices y hacer historia.

New Year in Argentina

The start of a new year is usually a time for resolutions to improve your life and health in the coming months. Try your best to stick to your goals. Go to Argentina on holidays with your couple, friends or family tofind the peaceful promised land you need to make 2010 the best year ever!

The Argentina & Buenos Aires Gay Travel staff wish you a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

Mendoza winery

If you consider yourself well traveled and enjoy the finer things in life, you probably enjoy visiting places before they become too popular. If you’ve not been, now is the time to visit the delightful center of Argentina’s wine country, Mendoza, before it gets too well known abroad. The number of American visitors has increased steadily in the past few years, and many have even started their own wineries there; people like Francis Ford Coppola and Ward Lay of Frito-Lay are two of the better known who have done this.

The province of Mendoza has more than a thousand wineries, referred to as bodegas, 300 alone in the immediate area of the capital city of the same name. Many of these have gourmet restaurants, provide wine tours, and some even provide very comfortable boutique accommodations. But the destination is about to go big time. In the last five years, Mendoza’s wine tourism has dramatically evolved, and this is the perfect time to visit. There is another reason not to delay; the prices are a fraction of what you’d pay in Europe or in the California wine country for similar accommodations, gourmet food and fine wines, and a romantic atmosphere. In Argentina, wines remain an incredible value, despite the country’s high, yet officially unacknowledged inflation rate.

While the Andean summer (December-March) is high season, the climate is mild enough to welcome visitors year round, and the range of accommodations is wide. Winter in Mendoza usually means sunny, crisp days, and nights in front of a cozy fire.  English is widely spoken, due to the touristic nature of the area, and Americans represent the largest group of international tourists, followed by Brazilians and Chileans. (Mendoza is closer to Santiago than Buenos Aires.) Some of the larger wineries are generally prepared to provide drop-in visitors with tours and tastings, but the majority, including many of the boutique wineries, will only do this by appointment, and virtually all require reservations for their gastronomic dining experiences. Most tastings and tours, however, are free, and guides attempt to personalize their narrative depending on the visitors’ level of wine experience and interest. You won’t find buses in the parking lot.

Mendoza naturally looks more Andean than European Buenos Aires, but the city is mainly flat with abundant desert palm and eucalyptus trees. An exception to this is the green Parque San Martin just outside of town, entered through ancient city gates, with the zoo, an amphitheatre, and at the top, Cerro de la Gloria, with a huge equestrian monument to the liberator General San Martin, of course. The view from here is quite dramatic, with condors flying overhead.

Mendoza is easy to navigate, even in a rental car, as opposed to the chaotic streets of Buenos Aires. There are plenty of sights in the central city, but the bodegas are all over the surrounding areas, and I strongly recommend you stop at The Vines of Mendoza at Espejo 567, just a block from the Park Hyatt, before you do anything. (www.vinesofmendoza.com) Open from 9 to 9 daily (with some seasonal variations), this unique information/tasting room was started by Americans Michael Evans and David Garrett and Argentine Pablo Gimenez-Rilili who could see the area’s potential for wine tourism. Just opened in March 2006, the helpful English-speaking young ladies are knowledgeable about all the bodegas and the wines. They offer free trip planning, reservations for visits, dining, guided tours, arrange transportation, and the adjacent tasting room features free samples of many boutique wines, nearly all averaging around $10US a bottle locally.  I especially enjoyed the Otello Malbec 2005 with its coffee and cherry aroma. There is a small charge for some specialized wines. The center does offer wines by the glass, but does not sell them by the bottle. Instead, they will take orders for cases (in Argentina a case is six bottles) for delivery to your home in the U.S. or Europe. If you fall in love with the area as many have, the Vines also will sell you your own vineyard land in the nearby Uco Valley, at $40,000 an acre (minimum two acres) and will help you get started.

There are too many reasons to visit this outstanding wine region. So put Mendoza on your list for a visit, but don’t wait long

Meet new friends in Gay Puerto Vallarta

In this post Argentina & Buenos Aires Gay Travel want to show you the Mexican seaside paradise: Gay Puerto Vallarta. Don’t miss this trip

In this beachfront destination, pre-Columbian mystical traditions unite in an eclectic marriage with Spanish mores, Catholicism and contemporary cultures from around the world.

Puerto Vallartas pride in its traditions is cause for colorful celebrations, processions and parades throughout the year. During the procession of the Virgin in December, and the cultural festivals of May and November, the streets are filled with music, dancing, and theater performances. Mariachi and Tequila flow in abundance amid a backdrop of traditionally dressed rodeo cowboys and elaborately woven Huichol art.

In this mixture of this tradition and international flair you can visit the legendary Los Arcos Amphitheater and Los Arcos National Marine Park, listen to world-class symphonies, dine with chefs from around the globe, and find art galleries to peruse.

Puerto Vallarta is synonymous with fun! Visitors can choose from an abundance of activities, from excursions to secluded beaches, scuba diving expeditions and hiking, biking, eco-tours, swimming with dolphins, whale watching and 4-wheeling. Whatever you need to get your adrenaline pumping, youll find it in Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta sets the stage for one of the finest culinary experiences in Mexico. The city offers endless alternatives for food aficionados. Some of Mexicos top chefs along with numerous chefs from around the world call PV home. From small, family-run taco stands to internationally acclaimed restaurants serving everything from regional Mexican cuisine to creative contemporary Mexican fare and the most varied international options, our gastronomic scene will impress the most sophisticated palates.

In Puerto Vallarta spend the day shopping at the boutiques and the nights dancing to the rhythms of Mariachi and hot Latin beats. In this exotic vacation spot you can always find something entertaining to fit your mood. Whether its mud baths, spa wraps, followed by beachside dining, or browsing the art galleries and catching the latest flick, Puerto Vallarta has just what you need to make your vacation ideal.

Puerto Vallartas Tourism Board announces a full schedule of special events, celebrations and festivals this fall. From art to gastronomy, golf to sailfish, Puerto Vallarta has a special event for every traveler (Puerto Vallarta Golf Cup, Puerto Vallarta Festival Gourmet International & Puerto Vallarta Film Festival). Schedule your vacation around one of these international festivals and be there as the world comes to Puerto Vallarta.

Don’t forget to visit the Gay Beach Blue Chairs
Take a look at this video: