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Bryan Herb - Now better known as one of the men of Zoom Vacations, Bryan has been a high school English teacher, personal trainer, model, freelance writer, and a hotel marketing and events sales manager. He grew up in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, known today as Oregon's premier wine country, and his childhood was filled with outdoors adventure. His roots in the outdoors, coupled with his inquisitive teacher's mind and his appreciation for health and fitness (as well as for fabulous hotels and resorts) have led him to adventures in every continent but Antarctica. He has toured the ancient catacombs of Rome, swam with horses where Australia's rainforest meets the reef, climbed Guatemala’s Mayan ruins, haggled with Hong Kong merchants, danced the Samba in Brazil (though not very well), and has even studied ecology in a Scottish commune.
Bryan Herb
Chief Marketing Officer
Zoom Vacations
716 West Buena Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
phone:773 935-1728
fax:773 935-2177
mobile:917 604-7955
Watch for Bryan Herb on the Travel Channel's new show, "Vacation Challenge"
Learn more about gay group vacations ,call 866 966-6822, or send Bryan an email, or visit him at his website:
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www.zoomvacations.com
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GAY TRAVELS |
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by Bryan Herb |
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Everyone’s a Little Gay at Carnaval in Rio
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Every year thousands of people zoom to Rio to celebrate the world’s greatest celebration of dance, culture, good times, and good will.
It’s the standard against which all other carnivals are compared. Never ones to miss a good party, it is no wonder that thousands of these tourists are gay.
However, this is definitely a time and place where the lines between straight and gay are blurred. It would not be uncommon to see a man and man and woman walking hand in hand through a street parade and then see them suddenly in a three-way lip-lock with someone from the crowd. In fact many of the locals say that during Carnival (Carnaval in Portuguese) everyone is “a little bit gay”.
The specific dates change every year, but the Carnaval festivities officially start on a Saturday in February and end on a Tuesday. The official dates for 2007 are February 17-20.
Throughout Carnaval, the streets of Rio have a spirit and vigor which has everyone enraptured for four days of infectious dancing and indomitable partying. At any given moment multiple street parties are taking place in various parts of the city. For gay travelers, there are two gay parades (bandas) that meander through the streets of Rio’s gay area in Ipanema, plus a massive nightly block party that consumes the
street, Rua Farme Amoedo. These are perhaps the most popular unofficial parades in the city, with music, dancing, drinks, food, and above all, people having the time of their lives. This is in addition to the elaborate circuit-like dance club raves that take place late into the night and into the next afternoon.
One would think that that with so many drunk, dancing, partiers about that drama would inevitably ensue. However, the opposite is true. It is a time when differences are
forgotten, and when what makes each of unique is celebrated. Experiencing Rio’s Carnaval is like entering an altered reality in which all the inhabitants have two goals: to make each other happy and to have fun. Carnaval’s gay travelers seem to appreciate this more than anyone.
Of course the week’s main celebration takes place at the Sambadrome, the samba dance parade competition televised to hundreds of countries and viewed by millions of people worldwide. Fourteen samba schools prepare all year, each creating as many as 30 elaborate floats and 1000s of spectacular multi-colored costumes. The result is an unparalleled two night parade and dance party. It is the type of over-the-top splendor and artistry that one must see to believe, and certainly something everyone should see in their lifetime.
Zoom Vacations offers an incredible trip to Rio for Carnaval, February 16-21, that combines the perfect hotel, exclusive Zoom events, Zoom Concierge services, and plenty of free time to create a vacation that is fabulous, fun, safe, and customized to one’s specific interests. For more information on this trip, go to www.zoomvacations.com or call 866 966-6822.
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Learn more about gay group vacations ,call 866 966-6822, or send Bryan an email, or visit him at his website
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photos by Bryan Herb
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