My very first post on this blog on 11/25/06 was about the New 7 Wonders of the World, and the opportunity to vote for them, and that the winners would be announced on 7/7/07, (yesterday.) I of course voted for the only candidate i have actually been to, Chichen Itza, which, i am happy to announce, won a place in the top 7!

Jester coming back down

Popularity: 73% [?]

Internationally known nude photographic artist Spencer Tunick is looking for volunteers to participate in his future art works.

Imagine… getting to get naked with a bunch of other people, being in a work of art that will be seen by (who knows how many) people, and finding an excuse to travel! What could be better? I bet it would be an unforgettable experience!

Popularity: 25% [?]

It’s winter, it’s cold, the light is dim. And then something wonderful happens. Suddenly i’m in a tropical paradise where it’s 80 degrees F and i’m wearing shorts and flip-flops and swimming in the turquoise ocean and laying in the bright sun on a beautiful beach looking at shirtless guys. No, it wasn’t a dream, and no, i didn’t need a passport. I just went to Miami Beach and Key West. (I know, we’re such lucky bitches, aren’t we?) I’ve never been there before, (except in the airport on my way to Cancun.) It was just a 4 day, unplanned, last minute trip to spend some time with Paul’s parents who are truck drivers. (They had to deliver a load to Key West, and they had never been there, either.) Paul found round trip tickets on Hotwire for only $280 each. We couldn’t pass up the chance, and it was SO worth it!
Of course, when i first realized that we would be going to South Beach, my first thought was, “I have to see Miami Ink!” Paul, being the loving boyfriend that he is, found out where it was and took me there on Monday. I was so excited! Unfortunately, their waiting list for an appointment is 3 weeks long, and the people from the show are not there. We did not even go inside, we just looked in the windows and saw 3 artists i’ve never seen on the show. I did take pictures of it from across the street, though.
We found a gay club in South Beach called Twist that has 7 bars and 2 dance floors and some very hot go-go dancers. We went there on Sunday and Monday night. Man, there are a lot of beautiful men in Miami!!!
I would suggest not staying at the Sovereign Hotel, though! It was cheap and promised an ocean view, but our room had no soap or shampoo or towels, no ocean view, i got stuck in the elevator when it stopped working the first time, and it is next to a loud construction sight. I went down to the lobby between 11 and noon and asked if they had any coffee. The guy at the front desk suggested i try next door. (It took me a moment to process the fact that “next door” was another hotel!) They never did deliver the soap and shampoo we asked for twice, but luckily i found it in the hallway the next morning while the housekeeping staff was cleaning down the hall. We never did get the ashtray we asked for either, even though it was a smoking room. (I had to use a water glass, which for some reason still had water in it from the guests before us!) However, we did not let our less-than-ideal accommodations get us down. We were still in paradise!
I told Paul i could live there. Paul was not as impressed. Oh well. If we move to Missouri or Nashville, we’ll be a lot closer to Miami than we are now in California.
Of course, i wish we could have spent a lot more time in Key West and South Beach exploring the depths of these gay meccas, but that will have to wait until next time.

A home in Key West

Beach volleyball in January

Miami Ink in South Beach

Art Deco architecture in Miami Beach

South Beach sunset

On the everglades in an airboat

Egret

Alligator

Popularity: 49% [?]