Manka Khala's annual celebrations

Gay and straight travelers alike flock to Brazil in droves to enjoy the pristine beaches, beautiful people, exciting nightlife, diverse culture and lavish annual celebrations, such as Carnival. As one of the most welcoming and accepting gay travel destinations in South America, Brazil is a popular choice for both gay men and lesbians looking for fun in the sun or a relaxing respite in a tropical paradise. From luxury gay vacations in exclusive beachfront resorts, to exotic excursions into remote Brazilian jungles, Brazil has much to offer to every type of traveler and is an ideal setting for international gay travel.

Rio de Janeiro is among the most popular gay travel destinations in Brazil and offers gay beaches, gay and lesbian bars and clubs, drag shows, circuit parties, bathhouses and a vast array of dining, shopping, recreation and cultural activities that attract travelers from around the world. While the establishments and gay culture in Rio de Janeiro are geared more towards gay men, lesbians will find a welcoming atmosphere at most gay establishments and events and can enjoy women’s nights at several locations throughout the city, as well as a lesbian club that is open nightly. Of course, Rio is also home to Carnival and world-famous New Year’s festivities, both of which provide plentiful parties, parades and festivals for gay and lesbian revelers.

While perhaps the most popular, Rio de Janeiro is not the only gay vacation destination in Brazil. A number of Brazilian cities host annual gay pride parades and festivals, including Sao Paolo and Belo Horizonte, and most urban areas enjoy a thriving gay culture. For gay vacations that are not centered around gay pride festivals or annual events, gay travel options include all-inclusive luxury eco-gay cruises and tours of historical and cultural landmarks offered by organized tour companies catering specifically to the gay and lesbian community.

Planning a gay vacation to Brazil is an exciting endeavor that is sure to lead to many memorable once in a lifetime experiences. Partaking in gay travel in Brazil is much like traveling throughout the United States when it comes to safety and necessary precautions. Just as in the U.S., some areas of Brazil will be more welcoming and accepting than others and using your best judgment in determining the safety of a given area is always a good idea. Also, for travelers interested in visiting Brazil’s bathhouses, keep in mind that Brazil, like the U.S., is combating the spread of HIV and appropriate precautions should be taken to ensure that you play safely.

Planning gay vacations to Brazil is most easily accomplished when working with a travel agency that is well-versed in local attractions, vacation package options, the best times to travel throughout the year and information of particular interest to the gay travel community. Whether you are looking for a jungle adventure, a wild week in Rio or a restful vacation on the beach, enlisting the assistance of a travel agency serving the gay community will ensure that your gay vacation to Brazil is everything you hoped for.

Pristine beaches, diverse culture, beautiful people, an invigorating nightlife and exciting, over-the-top annual celebrations, such as Carnival, bring both gay and straight vacationers to Brazil by the thousands. Brazil, being one of South America’s most popular destinations for gay travel due to its welcoming and accepting atmosphere and large LGBT population, offers a variety of travel options that are appealing to both gay men and lesbians and include opportunities for exhilarating nights on the town, as well as relaxing getaways in paradise. Whether your idea of the perfect vacation is a week-long trek through Brazilian jungles in search of ancient ruins or lounging in the lap of luxury at an exclusive resort overlooking the beach, Brazil is sure to deliver the international travel experience you seek.

One of the most visited travel destinations in Brazil is Rio de Janeiro, home to beaches, gay and lesbian clubs, bathhouses, drag shows, circuit parties and world-class recreation, shopping, dining and cultural activities that appeal to vacationers from around the world. Although Rio de Janeiro is well-known as a cosmopolitan playground for gay men, lesbians will find that most  establishments and events in Rio de Janeiro are welcoming to lesbian women and offer special ladies’ nights. Lesbians will also find that, while fewer; there are lesbian clubs and establishments for their enjoyment. And, naturally, no mention of Rio de Janeiro is complete without the famous Carnival and New Year’s celebrations that provide a wide array of activities, parades and parties for gay men and lesbian women.

Rio de Janeiro might be the most well-known  vacation destination in the country, but there are many other gay travel options throughout Brazil. Annual gay pride festivals and parades are held in several cities, such as Belo Horizonte and Sao Paolo, and travelers will find thriving gay communities in the vast majority of urban areas. And, if the party and pride scene is not your style, other Brazilian travel options include luxurious all-inclusive eco-gay cruises and historical and cultural tours organized by tour companies serving the LGBT travel community.

Taking part in vacations to Brazil is sure to provide the opportunity to partake in exhilarating experiences that you will remember for the rest of your life. To ensure that your Brazilian vacation is full of the right kind of excitement, keep in mind that travelers should exercise the same awareness used when traveling throughout the United States. The level of acceptance will vary in different areas of Brazil, just as it does in different areas of the U.S., meaning that awareness and good judgment will help to ensure an enjoyable vacation. Playing safe also applies to travelers with an interest in visiting some of Brazil’s famous bathhouses. Like the U.S., Brazil is also working hard to stop the spread of HIV and bathhouse visitors should use the necessary precautions to ensure a safe trip.

Working with a professional travel agency with expertise in Brazil and gay travel packages is the best way to ensure that you will have a fulfilling, enjoyable experience. Whether a luxury beachside retreat, an exciting jungle excursion or a wild week in Rio is more your style, choose a travel agency committed to providing memorable travel experiences to the LGBT community in order to get the most out of your Brazilian vacation.

One of America’s favorite actors is coming to PBS this January. Kevin Kline’s Cyrano de Bergerac adapted taping is getting shown on the Public Broadcasting Station this year. The Oscar and Tony Award winner, who performed the title role on Broadway’s stages last year, received loads of critical acclaim for his portrayal of the 17th century warrior poet and is allowing the rest of the country to enjoy the performance. If you want to get a live shoton Kline’s award winning performance before it airs on your small screen, check out http://www.stubhub.com/cyrano-de-bergerac-tickets> for the best Cyrano de Bergerac tickets!

Kevin Kline’s reviews were sensational when the production first began previews on Broadway October 12, 2007, with an official opening on the first of November 2007. The show, which also co-stars Daniel Sunjata and Jennifer Garner, is produced for the television by Ellen M. Krass with Bonnie Comley, Stewart F. Lane and David Horn as executive producers. Directed by Matthew Diamond for the television version, Kline’s performance will be enhanced more than ever for the television debut on PBS.

A long time fan of Edmond Rostand’s 1897 classic, Kline mentioned “I’ve wanted to play this part ever since I saw it in high school. He’s living a life as large as life gets, if not larger. I think it’s very romantic.” One part that is noticeably large is Cyrano de Bergerac’s nose, which has been dramatized over the years to resemble something from Pinocchio’s lying days. With sensational reviews that reveals an easily soothing story, the performances closed in January but were captured in HDTV by Thirteen/WNET New York’s Great Performances for PBS. The airing will be on Wednesday, January 7th at 8pm.

Cyrano de Bergerac, according to press notes, concerns “the soulful poet/philosopher and dazzling swordsman Cyrano falls for the lovely Roxane, but ashamed of his large nose, Cyrano is unable to woo her. Instead, when he learns that Roxane loves the handsome but inarticulate Christian, Cyrano writes love letters to Roxane on Christian’s behalf. She falls deeply in love with the author of the letters, unaware that Cyrano penned them.”

Kevin Kline has been internationally recognized as one of the most versatile actors of this era for his roles on both the silver screen and stage. He was born in Saint Louis, MO in 1947 and studied at New York’s Julliard School after Indiana University at Bloomington. He joined New York’s Acting Company in 1972, touring with the company performing Shakespeare. Returning to New York, Kline was cast in the Broadway play On the Twentieth Century and earned a Tony and Drama Desk Award for his role. Just three years later he earned the same honors for his work in The Pirates of Penzance. It wasn’t until the early ’80s that Kline finally started to take roles behind a video monitor. His film debut came in 1982’s Sophie’s Choice. He continued to take both controversial and award winning roles, including The Big Chill, A Fish Called Wanda (where he earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar), In & Out and Dave.

When performing at the Richard Rodgers Theatre for its nine week run, Cyrano de Bergerac “broke the record for highest grossing performance of a play at the Richard Rodgers during its first week of previews,” according to http://Playbill.com. The Great Performances is funded by the Irene Diamond Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, public television viewers and PBS.