Wanderlust Wednesdays: Sitges, Spain

The LGBTQ’mmunity is a found family. We were born into a straight world and then sought each other’s acceptance and inclusion, smile by smile. Thanks to our concerted efforts, society has become gayer over the past few decades. Safe havens summon us from the collective closet and usher us to that elusive state of being that we all deserve… OUT.

Out of the shadows, out of apologies, and out of the ordinary – this is where we belong. Gay Meccas have emerged around the globe, and every year they color our calendars with a rainbow of possibilities.

But 2020 is not a typical year. Understatement alert! The pandemic has driven us inward, even as our hearts yearn for the next same-sex embrace. But a sense of connection still lingers in cyberspace, and we are SO here for that. To celebrate our shared gaycation vibes, we invite you to join us on a virtual getaway to the Spanish capital of caliente: Sitges.

Just a 25-minute train ride from Barcelona, Sitges is a decadent destination for LGBTQ travelers who have an adventurous side. Follow our fierce lead to the three B’s…

BARS – With suggestive – and downright dirty – names like XXL, Man Bar and Bukkake, Sitges inspires naughtiness. Start your night innocently enough with a cocktail at Parrots Pub and then allow your inhibitions to set along with the sun. Explore dark rooms and even darker fantasies as you traverse the Sitges strip. Bottoms up, indeed.

BEARS – Early September is bear season in Sitges. Burly men clamor for your attention and rub beefy shoulders on dance floors galore. All official Bear Week events have been canceled this year, because… 2020 – but our filthy minds will be there in spirit. Grr to the max!

BEACH – Clothing is optional on many Sitges beaches, but it has no place at Playa del Muerto. As the name suggests, you’ll die for the scenery, which includes manliness by the mile. The trek is a bit treacherous, flanking railroad tracks and steep inclines, but the payoff is well worth your trouble. Shenanigans abound not only on the beach, but also in the mysterious wilds on the other side of the train tracks. Some say it’s the “wrong” side, but we say it’s oh so right.

We can’t wait to see you in Sitges next year for happier – oops, we mean GAYER times.