Gay Travel Phrase Book

by Adrienne Wilson on

Everyone here knows I’m into learning as much and many foreign words as my brain can possibly soak in, which is why this particular book caught my eye. I’m a straight woman so I don’t know how far some of the phrases in eight different langs will take me in some place like Portugal, but I find it might help someone. I saw this one over at Get Lost Books and laughed at first because I don’t know any of my gay pals that would use this book. (Unless they’re secretly doing so.) According to the short blurb on Get Lost Books the most interesting part of the book are the euphemisms for being gay in different lingos with literal English translation. For example: “he’s from third parish” or “slipped an okra.” That was in English and I’m still confused.

Oh well.

Prude Paris Bans Boobs

by Neil Woodburn on

Sacré bleu!

It’s the end of civilization as we know it when the French start getting prudish and begin covering up their scenic domes and Eiffel Towers.

A new decree just passed by the city of Paris prohibits “nude sunbathing, g-strings and toplessness” within city limits. Although legal elsewhere in France, the city government was getting concerned about the amount of flesh busting out on the banks of the River Seine.

Every summer truckloads of sand are deposited here to create an artificial beach for over-cultured Parisians longing for some simple, sun-worshiping hedonism. Some have apparently carried this hedonism a bit too far.

One city official told Le Parisien that such public display of Parisian accoutrements might lead to “temptations and dangerous behavior on the banks of the river.” As a result, those who snub the new decree must pay a 38 euro ($48) fine.

This is simply tragic and undermines everything that the French Revolution and its rally cry, “Liberté, égalité, toplessness” has stood for all these years.

Photo of the Day (07/29/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on


During all my years of school I never really had the chance to go abroad in an exchange program to learn another lang, which is a real bummer considering how much I adore lingo immersion. Anyhow, this photo comes from my younger cousin Camille’s photo files from her Junior year jaunt through Paris. As much as I’m in love with the bright red lights, wind mill and hearing her experiences I’m also a wee-bit green. Green with envy that is, but I suppose I’ll make to Paris one day. Until then, I have the photo and the stars to gaze into.

Photo of the Day (7/21/06)

by Neil Woodburn on

Last week we posted about the catacombs below Paris. We also featured a section of the tunnels for the Photo of the Day last Friday. This week we take you to an entirely different part of the catacombs where bones are scarce and graffiti abundant.

The shot comes to us compliments of Loupiote (via Flickr). The shutter was left open “for 3-5 minutes” during which a few cavers crossed the path of the camera, their headlamps leaving a strange, electric stream of light.

Utterly Unique Louvre Tours

by Neil Woodburn on

The Louvre, in all its gloriousness, is simply inundating. The sheer volume of art is overwhelming and, after too many hours, can become mind-numbing as well. Our brains can take only so much visual stimulation before shutting down.

The trick is to break it down into manageable pieces, or in the case of popular tour guide Bruno de Baecque, manageable themes.

The French guide specializes in tours that focus on unique themes that would wipe that smile off Mona Lisa’s face. Wednesday and Friday evenings he leads tourists through the museum in search of “The Most Beautiful Buttocks of the Louvre,” “Violence in Art,” “Feet, Hands and Wings of Angels,” or other similarly unique topics not normally found in Art History 101.

His website is found here, but only in French.