These days it seems all I do is travel. Most trips involve carefully curated itineraries and cramming all the sights, food, and adventure into a few days.
Every now and then I’m more than pleased to take an actually relaxing trip. Earlier this year, my friends and I rented a house in Marfa, TX (one of my absolute favorite spots) to unwind. We roamed the desert, played board games, and built a fort in our living room. It was a great time to reconnect and enjoy each other’s company. Can’t wait for the next one.
While we have made strides in achieving equality, there is a segment of the LGBTQ community that remains severely disadvantaged. We must stay active and not become complacent in our victories.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”As members of the LGBTQ community, it’s important for us to stand up for the vulnerable. In this case, we need to speak up for the rights of trans youth.
In the Texas legislature, the Republican majority has set its sights on passing a bathroom bill similar to the one in North Carolina.
A raging queer dance party was thrown at the governor’s mansion to protest this discriminatory legislation. The idea of dancing for a cause may seem ridiculous, but visibility is extremely important. Essentially, the purpose behind these bills is to discourage trans people from being a part of public life. If you can’t be guaranteed access to basic facilities, you’re less likely to enter public spaces. No one’s going back in the closet, y’all.
Not only that, but in times like these we need moments of levity to fuel the resistance.
The Queer Dance Freakout has been one of my favorite protest moments so far. For a night, we came together as a community with our allies to have a good time and show our detractors that we exist and we won’t be ignored.
If you’re a Texan, be sure to contact your state representative and tell them to Flush the Bill. Even if you’re not a Texan, contact your representatives and tell them you support trans rights.
Seville is described as the quintessential Spanish town. It’s definitely got a lot of charm and plenty of sights to see.
Where to Stay
We stayed in an apartment in the city center, which is close to most of the tourist attractions.
Eats
Fargo – Possibly my favorite meal in town came as a break from paella and bread heavy traditional food. The diner is very trendy and serves vegan and gluten-free organic dishes. It’s popular with Americans.
El Pinton – This spot is perfectly Instagram-worthy. Grab some light tapas and…
El Pasaje Bar– We swung into this bar for some happy hour tapas and glasses of sangria.
Drinks
Luckily we were in town on the weekend and Seville has a vibrant night life. Most of the gay bars are along Alameda de Hércules.
Bohemia Bar – You’ll find the bears at this watering hole.
El Bosque Animado – This was my favorite gay bar in town. It was perfectly rowdy but we managed to snag a patio table to sit back at.
El Baron Rampante – This one is similar to the El Bosque and sits next door. Their patios are essentially one.
La Carboneria Bar – If you’re looking for flamenco but don’t want to pay for a show, this bar offers free flamenco performances. But do be prepared for plenty of drunken tourists.
Sights
Cathedral of Seville – Get the best view of Seville by climbing to the top of La Giralda and wait for the bell to ring out.
The Real Alcázar– My favorite site in Seville, the Alcazar is a Moorish palace with impressive tile, gorgeous gardens, and tranquil courtyards.
The Jewish Quarter – If you’re walking around to all of the typical tourist spots, you’ll find yourself strolling through the Jewish Quarter. Slow down, it’s definitely charming.
Plaza de España – You won’t find a stick of shade at this place, we learned that the hard way. It was a sweltering day when we decided to wander around the plaza.
Metropol Parasol – Arguably the largest wooden structure in the world, the Metropol Parasol hovers over a small plaza and marketplace. We stopped here for lunch and of course Instagram opportunities.
Granada was one of my favorite places on this trip. We made a quick stop there since it’s on the smaller side. While I’d love to spend more time relaxing here, you can definitely see the entire town in 24 hours.
Where to Stay
We stayed in the Albayzín neighborhood, one of the oldest areas of town, in an apartment with amazing views of the Alhambra. Pebble paths wind through buildings and reveal cafes and shops. It’s tough to lug your suitcase through but makes for a charming walk.
Eats
Kebab King – Pretty sure this is a chain I’ve seen internationally, but we were starving after an afternoon of hiking around. Our priority was getting fed quickly and this place actually had great reviews.
Omka-Kool– Granada is an amazing mix of Arabic and Spanish cultures and I was eager to see that combination in food. Venture slightly off the beaten path for Moroccan style tapas.
Drinks
Although Granada is on the smaller size, there are a few gay bars to check out.
Tic Tac – On the smaller side but worth a visit for a drink.
Six Colours – This was probably my favorite in Granada. It’s on the smaller side but seemed to have a younger and more diverse clientele than the others.
Shop
Wander around the marketplace in Albayzín for great leather goods, textiles, and ceramics. I came home with several dishes, bowls, and my favorite new picnic blanket.
Sights
The Alhambra – Our first stop in Granada and probably what I was most excited about on this trip. The palace grounds are huge. We were lucky to be staying nearby and walked there, but be warned you’ll be walking a lot. There are several lush gardens and palace buildings with gorgeous tile and fountains. You might recognize a few spots if you watch Game of Thrones.
Valencia is a gorgeous and modern city with so much beautiful architecture and inspiring street art. It’s a much quieter city than Barcelona or Madrid, which is surprising considering its size and coastal location. If you were unaware, like I was, Valencian (similar to Catalan) is the primary language followed by Spanish. Spanish is obviously common, but some of the city’s signage and bus information is written in Valencian.
Where to Stay
We stayed in a beautiful studio apartment in the city center, Ciutat Vella. It was extremely convenient to everything we wanted to do.
Eats
Sagardi – This Basque tapas bar serves bites on toothpicks buffet style. Help yourself and at the end of your meal, your server will count up your toothpicks for your bill. Be sure to grab a glass of Agua de Valencia while you’re at it.
La Valenciana Arroceria – We started out our dinner by being greeted with a glass of vermouth. The restaurant offered a multi-course pre-fixe menu that we shared plus an additional entree. It was way too much food, but we were more than happy with it. After dinner, we gifted a glass of a digestif. Our server offered some of the best service we had at any restaurant in Spain.
Drinks
Sundal– We visited on an off night, so we were only the people in the bar. Still, we were happy to have some gin & tonics with free potato chips. Maybe on your visit the dark room will be busy, too.
Cafe de las Horas – This is a gay friendly cafe with plenty of outdoor seating in the plaza.
Horchatería de Santa Caterina – Drink plenty of horchata when you’re in town. We hit up this spot for some of the sweet stuff. You should also try it with the pastry, a fartón. They’re pretty large, so you may want to share.
Shop
Mercat Central – This market is located in a beautiful gothic building. It’s been updated with plenty of modern touches. We stopped by to sip on sangria and more horchata.
Sights
Playa de la Malvarrosa – The beach is a bit of a trek from the city center, but definitely worth your time. It was fairly quiet when we arrived, which was perfect. We rented an umbrella and chairs right near the water and napped for most of the day.
Platja de l’Arbre del Gos – This is a gay and clothing optional beach south of the city. It’s a much longer trip there, so we didn’t visit. But if you’ve got some time on your hands…
The City of Arts and Sciences – This gorgeous complex holds a museum, aquarium, garden, and opera house. We never went inside but spent a long time wandering the grounds and taking plenty of photos.
Túria River – The river has long since been diverted its banks have become a park that runs through the city. This was one of the only places I saw people actively working out. It’s a beautiful walk and there’s an interesting playground for children with a giant structure of the storybook character Gulliver.
Graffiti – I saw some amazing street art in various plazas and alleyways. Be sure to wander as much as possible.
