Joshua Cactus

We escaped Gotham for a quick weekend in the southern tip. Quick indeed, using my man's (almost) free stand-bye air tickets we lurked in JFK until a vacant seat heading to the sunshine was located and hopped on. After a few relatively cheerful hours on a JetBlue plane, where lots of carb rich snacks were poured to our laps by a friendly M2F look alike attendant, we hit a dazzling Florida sunset, loose clothing and looser attitude. Our hotel, a party-central boutique on Collins Ave was composed of a bar and suspiciously looking rooms you might expect in a Dutch steam house. All the necessities were there: kinky bed with dark velvety covers, large flat TV, overflowing minibar and a shelf of the "essentials" for the busy traveler: condoms, lube and munchies. The lobby bar features a host of VERY liberated Israeli staff, a pleasant surprise. They were well informed on all matters party-related: where are the hot boys, which beach is essential, when are the happy hours and the...

The visit of the Iranian mongrel president to New York is not over yet. Using the podium at Columbia university he declared to the world that there are no gays in Iran. Having met some flamboyant ex-Persians in the raunchier bars of this fair city I went looking for some counter-evidence. Well CBC Canada has done it already and here is the brave piece they put together. Eye opener indeed. Watch and learn Mr President because this is what happens to gay men and women in your country. Like these two young men in the photo (no, it's not a BDSM flick, it's the real horror) who were whipped 100 lashes when caught snuggling at home. See below the YouTube version or click here for better quality video on CBC.CA site . There are gays in Iran and some of them are real heroes . Would I have the guts to stand up in public and face such danger for the potential to be happy? Would you? Video Part 2 Video Part 3

The last official weekend of summer. My friend A invited me ( finally !) to join him for a weekend at Fire Island. A little stretch of sand off the shore of Long Island. An hour on the train, then a fab ferry ride and I reached paradise. Large houses on the beach, hot tubs for a late nite soak, a long and clean sandy stretch. And the village where I was staying has all gay population. Cute boys in minimal wear roam the wooden trails winding among the bushes. The housemates were great, the atmosphere relaxed, the waves cool and the wind breezy. It is a sort of Chelsea on the water but much less attitude and a whole lot more drugs. The energy and the vibe cleansed a tough week in the city. Try it for yourself.

Take thousands of men, eager, fit and ready, put them in one fantasy enclave for a long weekend, and you are in Gay Days. The turnpike to Orlando took us from the real world, where people have kids and beer bellies and schedules to a place where abs and shiny white smiles are the norm. Beautiful men of all shapes and colors roamed the parks and the hotel halls. Four days of non stop parties, sun and music. It was my first time in Disney and the first major circuit party. Our group became close and connected, each found his mate/s and all shared a forming experience. I felt free, happy, sexy. New friendships were forged under the waves of Typhoon Lagoon (the most amazing water park party I ever saw), in the scary seats of the Rock and Roller-Coaster at the MGM park, at the Donna Summers concert. It felt GREAT to be gay . I was never as free in my life. The group we formed there is meeting again soon at the NYC Pride. Can't wait.

P is a guy with connections. Mostly connections in the porn and rent-boy industry. I am staying at his house in Fort Lauderdale and it's a very special house. First floor is cozy and inviting. Second floor is where the action happens. That's because P is the manager, scriptwriter, photographer and handy man of a live men sex site. Guys of all shapes and sizes (we are talking many inches) do their thing in front of the camera to the comments and remarks of paying viewers twice a week. On a large blue bed under the hot spotlights they come in, take off their cloths and party. All for 200$ an hour. Tonight we had a few of the employees (or models to use the professional tag) over for drinks and games. A bunch of gorgeous guys gathered, symbolizing the porn casts: the twinks, the muscle boy, the big Latino. Instead of the expected flirting around I just got curious. What makes a boy do porn? give escort services to men three times his age? After a few drinks and lots of chit chat I...

After a short shaky flight from NYC to Montreal (Do they use little planes so it will take longer and we could feel we are getting our money worth??) I met my dear friend D. We went to college together almost 15 years ago. Scary thought. The city is beautiful, large but cosy. Somewhat European with all that French around yet obviously North American. D is marrying his boyfriend of 8 years next month. It's all very hush hush as they are planning on a small family event. I guess they are not willing to expose aunt Willma to the queery bunch they usually hang out with. After spreading my stuff all over their massive loft I headed to the city center to find some adventure. It didn't take long. Montreal has a downtown stretch nicknamed "The Village". The only farm animals in this village are muscle boys, lesbos with kids and punk twinks on the prowl. Even the policemen have shorts, bikes and over developed calf muscles. That's where I met N, a cute twink now mastering...

Vienna presented an interesting dilemma. How does one cactus meet new plant life in a German speaking-early-sleeping city with no familiar faces? The gay answer was obvious, hunt online. So this is just what I did. Set up a profile on Gayromeo.com , the local Manhunt/Atraf website, put up some nice yet sexy photos (no nudity for this cac) and waited for the inbox to fill up. Messages poured in from all across the former Austro-Hungarian empire, twinks and bears, muscle queens and closeted heteros. After a careful evaluation of the key elements (face, abs, age, kinky-level, safety) I met some locals who made the visit a much better experience. It's not necessarily about sex, its about finding company in a strange land. My first online date was with a cute tall blond with killer abs and great blue eyes who knew his way in bed but also fixed my laptop. The other guy, a smallish twink, took me to a hidden local gay bar where all the hotties of the hood hide. We had a few Coronas and e...

Saunas date back to Roman time. Rare ones actually still function since. Being an amateur historian with a preference to hot guys in skimpy towels I could not resist exploring one. In the middle of the old city of Vienna, amidst herds of tourist, I knocked on a hidden door shadowed by a giant church. 16 Euros later I changed my casual attire to a less then casual little towel and found myself following a hunky down marble steps into a magical world. Archways, statues, frescoes, dry and wet saunas, two bars, a small gym and long winding secret catacombs. Small and large rooms, some with videos, popped out around every turn. The place is built on ancient Roman baths and they can be seen under a glassed walkway. Old foundations but immaculate modern sanitation make the place a real heaven. I met a cute Italian and we ventured the many secret passages and made use of some. Even the Schnitzel at the bar was yummy. Highly recommended for a few relaxing (and busy) hours in the heart of Vienn...