Jan 9, 2023·edited Jan 9, 2023Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen
Please offer some advice. Let's suppose a traditionally masculine Gay couple in their mid-60's (older than you two Gents), want to follow in your travel footsteps. They're traveling in a predominantly Muslim region in Eastern Europe, or maybe in the Middle East. These two men are friendly, polite and respectful travelers and strike up a conversation with men in a mosque or other obvious environment that frowns upon or prohibits homosexuality. A local asks if the two men are related. Do they - SHOULD THEY - pretend to be brothers or cousins, so as not to offend anyone or endanger themselves? Or do they proclaim they are married to one another, are "Friends of Dorothy" and turn this simple, harmless inquiry about their relationship into a potentially explosive situation or even a "teachable moment?" I can appreciate you want to live with personal dignity. In this situation, one of the Gay men wants to fib the details to keep things, simple, light and safe. The other Gay man in this couple, feels he must speak his truth when asked. And that's when the fireworks will begin. As the internets seem to have very few normal, grounded Gay couples such as yourselves, please take a moment and share how you would handle this situation. One of the men in this couple wants to skip his way through this merry encounter and the other believes they will be confronted with being taken into custody, imprisoned, in which case, things go badly -- and not in a Gay sex fantasy way. Thank you! We found you from the Nomad Capitalist and look forward to following along with you. And BTW, determining how best to handle this is shockingly in 2023, one of our top concerns! (Thought we and the world were way past this!)
Oct 31, 2022Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen
I second all of this! Eastern Europe is amazing and so different from the usual places.
Being near a war zone is a strange, surreal thing. I lived in Vienna when the war in Yugoslavia was happening, and you never would have known it and they're only a train ride apart.
Nov 2, 2022Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen
Great article Brent. We’re about to take our first dip into Eastern Europe (Croatia) in December. Admittedly, we are going then for the Schengen hop (which won’t be possible after Jan. 1). Your comments about history studies resonated and I’d love any recommendations you have for books that provide historical context to that region, and also Turkey, that have a narrative or even fictional approach (e.g., Michener’s Poland) as opposed to actual academic history books. Looking forward to Part 2!
Nov 2, 2022Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen
This is actually very motivating for me to check out Eastern Europe. I'm not sure why I found myself hesitant - perhaps I was worried about the language barrier? Have you two been to Slovenia? I've heard it is beautiful and I'm excited to make it one of the Eastern European countries I visit :)
Sorry, Brent, I was speaking euphemistically regarding time. We are in the US til mid-November. We will go back for sure as we both liked it so much. We have vowed to go back to Croatia if only to see some of the interior.
Yep. Those gorgeous brochures reel them in, as do enthusiastic travel writers. Maybe we are our own worst enemies for posting our beautiful photos (well, Michael’s are beautiful)…..
Great article. I’m a digital nomad in Istanbul but visited Croatia this year. My itinerary next year will be The Balkans and Eastern Europe. Like you I’ve discovered so much, and the Ottoman Empire is truly fascinating.
Only discovered you these last couple of months, but really appreciate your work. Cheers Dom.
Not sure whether to be glad you wrote this or not. We too love Eastern Europe for many of the same reasons you’ve mentioned. But we are also aware that as word gets out, our refuge from the Schengen will gradually inundated with tourists. We like being the only Americans on the beach in Varna, Bulgaria or the only ones this week at the Sibiu, Romania daily market. We tend to interact with local residents this way rather than English speaking tourists. “Best kept secrets” should maybe be kept a secret!
Oct 31, 2022·edited Nov 1, 2022Liked by Brent Hartinger
This is so so true. Extended time in the Eastern Bloc while the wall was still up, with family behind the wall, direct connection to a less polished reality makes all the difference. A meaningful life.
Please offer some advice. Let's suppose a traditionally masculine Gay couple in their mid-60's (older than you two Gents), want to follow in your travel footsteps. They're traveling in a predominantly Muslim region in Eastern Europe, or maybe in the Middle East. These two men are friendly, polite and respectful travelers and strike up a conversation with men in a mosque or other obvious environment that frowns upon or prohibits homosexuality. A local asks if the two men are related. Do they - SHOULD THEY - pretend to be brothers or cousins, so as not to offend anyone or endanger themselves? Or do they proclaim they are married to one another, are "Friends of Dorothy" and turn this simple, harmless inquiry about their relationship into a potentially explosive situation or even a "teachable moment?" I can appreciate you want to live with personal dignity. In this situation, one of the Gay men wants to fib the details to keep things, simple, light and safe. The other Gay man in this couple, feels he must speak his truth when asked. And that's when the fireworks will begin. As the internets seem to have very few normal, grounded Gay couples such as yourselves, please take a moment and share how you would handle this situation. One of the men in this couple wants to skip his way through this merry encounter and the other believes they will be confronted with being taken into custody, imprisoned, in which case, things go badly -- and not in a Gay sex fantasy way. Thank you! We found you from the Nomad Capitalist and look forward to following along with you. And BTW, determining how best to handle this is shockingly in 2023, one of our top concerns! (Thought we and the world were way past this!)
I second all of this! Eastern Europe is amazing and so different from the usual places.
Being near a war zone is a strange, surreal thing. I lived in Vienna when the war in Yugoslavia was happening, and you never would have known it and they're only a train ride apart.
Great article Brent. We’re about to take our first dip into Eastern Europe (Croatia) in December. Admittedly, we are going then for the Schengen hop (which won’t be possible after Jan. 1). Your comments about history studies resonated and I’d love any recommendations you have for books that provide historical context to that region, and also Turkey, that have a narrative or even fictional approach (e.g., Michener’s Poland) as opposed to actual academic history books. Looking forward to Part 2!
This is actually very motivating for me to check out Eastern Europe. I'm not sure why I found myself hesitant - perhaps I was worried about the language barrier? Have you two been to Slovenia? I've heard it is beautiful and I'm excited to make it one of the Eastern European countries I visit :)
Hope to bump into you guys one day.
Stay safe D x
Well written, Brent, and having travelled most of the same place you have over the last year I can say you're bang on! I look forward to the 2nd part.
Sorry, Brent, I was speaking euphemistically regarding time. We are in the US til mid-November. We will go back for sure as we both liked it so much. We have vowed to go back to Croatia if only to see some of the interior.
Yep. Those gorgeous brochures reel them in, as do enthusiastic travel writers. Maybe we are our own worst enemies for posting our beautiful photos (well, Michael’s are beautiful)…..
Great article. I’m a digital nomad in Istanbul but visited Croatia this year. My itinerary next year will be The Balkans and Eastern Europe. Like you I’ve discovered so much, and the Ottoman Empire is truly fascinating.
Only discovered you these last couple of months, but really appreciate your work. Cheers Dom.
Not sure whether to be glad you wrote this or not. We too love Eastern Europe for many of the same reasons you’ve mentioned. But we are also aware that as word gets out, our refuge from the Schengen will gradually inundated with tourists. We like being the only Americans on the beach in Varna, Bulgaria or the only ones this week at the Sibiu, Romania daily market. We tend to interact with local residents this way rather than English speaking tourists. “Best kept secrets” should maybe be kept a secret!
This is so so true. Extended time in the Eastern Bloc while the wall was still up, with family behind the wall, direct connection to a less polished reality makes all the difference. A meaningful life.