An “Airline Baby.” That’s what I was called as a child, the son of a flight attendant. From the early age of, well, before I was born, I was already flying high. So it’s no surprise that, as an adult, I’ve caught the travel bug with no hope of shaking it! From flying to Boston for an afternoon to have lunch with my mother when I was 9, to taking any opportunity to sneak away for a long weekend now, traveling is not something I enjoy — it is a part of who I am.
My most recent getaway took me overseas on a 10-day cruise on the Celebrity Equinox, a trip through Atlantis Events. Catering to a primarily gay male audience (but not leaving anyone out), the cruise exceeded ALL expectations. I left from Rome (technically Civitavecchia) and made stops in Mykonos and Santorini in Greece, Kusadasi and Turkey in Istanbul, Malta, and finally Palermo before arriving back in Rome. It was 10 days of perfection.
Many people may think that a gay cruise can be overwhelming: There are more entertainment elements, fascinating people, and cultural experiences packed into those 10 days than most people could experience in a lifetime. From a live surprise performance by Andy Bell of Erasure, to The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, I only found myself asking: What’s next?!
The beauty of this cruise was the amount of time I got to spend in the ports. Without question, Istanbul made an impression on me that will last the rest of my life. Fashion, nightlife, and a rich history left me wanting more (and laying in plans for a dedicated return trip). The highlight was the most fabulous cocktail bar that anyone could stumble upon. Munferit, Istanbul was the place to be in this sprawling city! Each person I met was more interesting than the next: a writer from the Associated Press, who lives in New York; two actresses, who live in Los Angeles and are in Amy Poehler’s comedy troupe (and may be the two funniest women I have ever met); and a woman who owns one of the largest ad agencies in Istanbul. I was intoxicated on interesting people.
I discovered wine cellars in Rome, shopped at the base of the Spanish Steps, took in sunsets in the Greek Isles, and spent the night of my life in Istanbul. And I can’t wait to do it all again.
