Paris is one of those places that is hard not to love. It’s a city adorned with iconic monuments, world class museums, and a gastronomy that would make anyone’s taste buds dance. During the long summer days Paris is buzzing with tourists from around the world eager to drink up the culture, but as the sun sets late in the evening, the lights switch on and the true beauty of city begins to show.
Here is a photo gallery of Paris as the lights began to twinkle and truly dazzled us.
Sun setting over the famed Moulin RougeLa Diva. Feeling Sassy.Evening bottle of wine at with a view of the Eiffel TowerCity of Love. Locks.Pont de Bir-HakeimPont de Bir-HakeimRiver boats passing by the Eiffel Tower.Traffic lights surrounding the Arch de TriumphThe buzz down Champs-Élysées.Store fronts. Galleries LafayetteThe calm around Musée d’OrsayPalais Garnier opera houseMagical Fontaine des Mers.Obélisque de LouxorFrench Flag in lights.Reflections. Musée du LouvreMusée du LouvrePyramide du LouvreStreet lamps with warm light.Napoleon. Colonne Vendôme.Illuminated bridge underbelly. Bridge details.Cathédrale Notre-Dame de ParisHeadless. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris.Paris Town Hall in all it’s glory.Town hall water feature up close. Vintage metro entrance. Time to head home.Long night in Paris.
Koh Phi Phi is an island paradise in the south of Thailand. During the day, Phi Phi is an island paradise, but when the sun goes down, the buckets come out and the party begins (we will talk about the buckets in detail later).
Sunset
We started the evening by watching the sunset over Loh Dalum Bay. Pause for a romantic moment…awwwe….now for the party, because, at night, Phi Phi is a no-holds-bard fun fest! Here was how our night played out.
Lights Over the Bay
Now that the sky turned dark, we couldn’t help but notice lights strobing all over the beach and across the bay. This dictated the mood for the night letting us know great music and dancing was a for sure thing happening later in the evening. We hung out a while with a beer and watching the beach come alive.
Fire Throwers
Like a moth to a flame, we were then drawn to the many fire throwers littering the beach. Each beach dance club had their own throwers with various skill levels. After picking our jaws up off the floor gawking at their talent, and 6-packs, we decided it was time to take some pics! Our favorites were the longer exposure ones showing the path of fire cutting through the air.
Buckets
We told you we would be back to talk about these. With our beers gone, time for something stronger, buckets. When we first saw stands all over the island selling “buckets,” our curiosity was peaked. Buckets are exactly that, buckets, much like ones you would see a child making sand castles with at the beach. The special thing about these buckets was they were filled to the brim with whatever mixed cocktail you could ever want; definitely not kid friends. We decided on long islands and headed to the beach clubs.
Jump Roping
We all know liquid courage makes everyone sultry dancers, but did you know it also makes you a champion jump roper? Not only are the beach clubs pawing for your business with great music and fire dancers, they are also offering various activities like beer pong, limbo and even massive illuminated jump ropes (our favorite). Kevin decided since he was the jump rope champion of his first-grade class, it was his time to show those skills again 23 years later!
Dancing
Blood pumping now, we joined in with the crowds of people and danced the night away. We love the fact that Phi Phi is an island full of love and acceptance. It seemed like most of the people here were like-minded, budget travelers with no prejudice towards us for being LGBT. Love is love! We didn’t take any photos of us dancing but here is one of Kevin doing cartwheels on the beach!
Snacking
Getting lost in hours of dancing, fire throwing and good times, it was time to call it a night, which means a much-needed snack before bed. The island is prepared for this most important time of the night with pizzas stalls, ice cream vendors and more serving up sweet and greasy goodness.
Bed
The night ended a little hectic. Earlier in the day, Kevin had purchased a new pair of swim trunks, which he was still wearing for our night out. It turns out they had a hole in the pocket he had our hotel key in and the key could have fallen anywhere in the sand. Not the most fun end to the night, but fortunately the front desk had a spare. Not letting the little things get us down, we made it upstairs, brushed our teeth and let our heads hit the pillows hard and drifted off into the best sleep ever.
Germany is one of the most advanced countries in Europe and one of the most outstanding about acceptance to LGBT, specially its capital, Berlin. But the gay night in Frankfurt, though much quieter than Berlin, offers its options.
Note that there are two cities called Frankfurt in Germany. A not so well known is Frankfurt an der Oder, which borders the city of Slubice (Poland), in north-eastern Germany, near Berlin. The most famous one is the other, Frankfurt am Main, also known only as Frankfurt, It’s in the central-western area of the country and it is the one I’ll talk about here today.
I visited the city at the very end of January 2015, with my father, in a backpack trip through the four countries bordering the Czech Republic (Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria) and paying a quick visit to Hungary! All in 15 days!
Happiness on day one of the backpacking trip in Frankfurt!
Frankfurt was our first stop and at the very first night, a Saturday, I left my dad at the hostel where we were (read here the review) and went to check the city buzz.
My father wanted to go along with me, but as we had arrived that day, walked all day and it was cold outside, he preferred to stay at the hostel and have a well slept night.
My Gay Night in Frankfurt, Germany
“Let’s shake that ass, baby! Ohhh, please!!!”
With a quick research, I tried to list what seemed to be the best options of the gay night in Frankfurt. I got the addresses, put the map on my phone, and there I was facing the German cold with courage. The gay district of the city is the center (Innenstadt), close to the street Alte Gasse.
Despite being a Saturday, do not expect from Frankfurt a very hectic scene. My choice was a circuit near Zeil street, the famous and posh shopping street in town. There’s a block there that brings together several bars and clubs for LGBT between the Alte Gasse and Elenfantengasse streets.
I started at the Central Bar (check the map). The bar was very small and I got the feeling that the people who go there are regulars. I ordered a drink and stayed a while there even though it was a “half dead” environment. It felt super weird. Not the bar itself, but it felt weird to arrive alone in a bar or club in a city where I didn’t live, not knowing the customs, and it turns out to be full of the “regulars.”
Gay night in Frankfurt: Kaiserstraße, the street from my hostel
The second bar was, literally next door to the Central Bar, but I cannot remember its name, nor found it in the research. Sorry, honey! As soon as you enter, you go down a staircase and the club/bar is below street level. It was not my scene, so, of course, I would not recommend.
Third place I stopped is called Tangerine and was more like a pub and was, perhaps, the most enjoyable of the three, having a more relaxed atmosphere, not so posh, but not so underground. I remember the clerk to be super friendly and the public more relaxed, although not so full.
It was pretty strange for me that nowhere was busy on a Saturday night, but from what I learned talking to the people there, gay night Frankfurt is really calm. Good for you to know before going out in Frankfurt, I didn’t.
Because I was looking for more upbeat, I felt a bit frustrated. I thought about going to Gibson, a club at Zeil and the most famous the city. It is not totally gay, but has a LGBT night called Delicious. Since it happened to be that night, I said to myself, “let’s go!”… But I was barred at the door! 😮
It turns out that in Germany, it is common that the security guards standing at the door assess whether or not you can enter the club. I was in jeans and T-shirt, but on a more tidy footprint, and the sweater was smart casual. But he said I was not well dressed enough! It was an outrage, you know, but will I discuss in German? Of course not! My 1 year and a half of German classes helped me to order in restaurants, but not to argue how my presence was renowned and I would brighten up the place. Then I went away, right? LOL
What I had for the night was turn back to the hostel and rest well because Frankfurt is an amazing city (that I loved and want to go back), and has a lot to do during the day.
Other Frankfurt Gay Night Options
You can’t get to know everything in such a short time, but in addition to the options already mentioned, on my fabulous research I found some other points around the city you can test if you’re there for a longer time. Shall we?
Gay bars in Frankfurt
You can try the Zum Schwejk, which is super traditional, or Babylon Frankfurt, which has karaoke on Wednesday nights. Lucky’s has karaoke on Tuesdays and is known for low prices. Halo is open every day from 8pm and has shows, warming up the gay night of Frankfurt. If your style is more of a pub, worth trying the Birmingham Pub, which is popular with gay clients.
But the Switchboard, besides being a café bar, is also a support site on HIV/AIDS, providing care to the public. On Sunday evenings, the locals usually go for coffee and cake there. During the year, there are some events and lectures.
Gay clubs in Frankfurt
Club 78 plays songs of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s on two floors and is recommended in the gay night for those who like to party, that’s why they organized a gay cruise last September.
The party Atomic, which takes place on the second Friday of each month at the club Nachtleben, offers a more indie/pop party for a mostly younger audience. Admission is €5.
Delicious, in Gibson, mentioned before, only happens 3 times a year and is your highlight if you want to know the selected people from Frankfurt. Each party has a unique theme with spectacular shows and outstanding production! The dates are posted on the official website.
Not totally gay but still fabulous
The Alte Oper Frankfurt is a historic building in Frankfurt. It is a venue used for musicals, concert and other posh events. Great for a sophisticated gay night out. Also, it doesn’t hurt that it’s very handsome! 😉
And that’s not all! If you want to know more about the gay life and other attractions in Frankfurt, here is the translated version of what I told about Frankfurt at Viaja Bi!.
Hope I had helped you all and thank you guys for inviting me to write here! Loved it! See ya!
Rafael Leick is a Brazilian travel blogger at Viaja Bi! and Viagem Primata. Communication specialist and more than 30 years-old, have lived in London and São Paulo. Follow at Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.
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