Where Have I Been?

Since the last time I posted, not including the photos from Pride weekend below, I was out of town for awhile. I took a week and a half vaca down to Ft. Lauderdale where I nested at a cool little hotel called the Worthington. This place had a real community kind of vibe, kind of like an international hostel. I met peeps from all over the country and one cute boy from Australia.

The hotel is really made up of two properties next door to eachother and most of the interactions among guests take place around the courtyard clothing optional pool and jacuzzi. The management bills it as fun and frisky, which it was for the most part , though with any place like that the frivolity depended alot on who was currently in residence.

The first 3-4 days I was there, there were a great group of guys who provided a 24/7 open bar for all guests. The hotel does a happy hour on the weekends but these guys decided it should be extended throughout every day. However, no one was desperately drunk every day as you might imagine although one poor soul did fall into the bushes and the side of the pool. This group kept life happening within the hotel grounds almost all day and night every day, so much so, that I didn't really go out at all until late the next week after most of them had left and a new group came in. The newbies weren't much for hangin around all the time, but this was good because I needed to see some of the life Ft. Lauderdale had to offer.

I went out to all the hot clubs in town including Voo Doo, Jackhammer, Alibi, and Boom. I had a fantastic dinner one night with some friends from San Fran called Herban Kitchen. The portion was large enough to feed, at least, five people. Most of the gay life takes place in a neighborhood called Wilton Manors where a centralized strip mall structure houses both the Alibi and Boom as well as an assortment of retail stores.

Of course, I went to the beach a few times and it was wonderful. The sand was clean and the water was almost warm due to the 90 degree days. Trust me, I wasn't complaining. Growing up in Florida, I always miss the ocean and the tropical climate. Alot of the people I met were looking into buying vaca places down there but I don't know if I'd want to spend much more time than I did on a regular basis. It was fun but it's still Florida. Flat and uneventful. I wish I had made it down to South Beach which wasn't that far away but I was kept pretty busy and content in Lauderdale. Maybe next time. Now I'm planning a trip to the west coast.

Pride Chicago 2006