Since we are always telling our readers to "Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone" we decided to devote this travel column to the fabulous and interesting people that we have met and dealt with, in our travels. These, we will list in no particular order and they live from coast to coast.
Elizabeth Taylor has always been so gracious to remember our anniversaries and holidays. We have so many to list in Palm Springs. There is Jim Doyle & Jerry Efron, Tyke, Wayne, Millie, Shirley, Jim LaMartina, Ken & Grant, Tom & Doug at the Terrazzo, Burt Wahquist, Jerry Yerich, artists Robert Shafer & Giorgio and restaurateurs, Sol and Chris who we first met when they owned a B & B in San Francisco and now own a restaurant in Puerto Vallarta and also own a home in Palm Springs.
In New York City, Jean-Claude Baker, the exciting owner of Chez Josephine's Restaurant, author Tom Monsell, playwright Matthew Lombardo (Tea at Five and Looped) and movie director/producer Rick McKay. His movie "Broadway: The Golden Age " is a terrific movie.
In Florida, the famous portrait photographer Jack Mitchell & Bob Pavlik, entertainers Auntie Mame, Tony & Gloria, the best jazz duo and Miguel Reyna, who without a doubt is the finest piano entertainer/singer that we have ever met! and the lovely and extremely talented Faye Harrod. Casey Koslowki, owner; Herb Pianin, General Manager; Peter Mehas, Guest Services Manager and the entire staff at the Grand Resort and Spa in Ft. Lauderdale who operates the finest gay resort in the country, Chuck Smith and Chef Carlos at the Hi-Life Cafe, Alan Beck & Nick and Norma. Also in Ft. Lauderdale, Al & Tom and Steve & Ellsworth and the deceased fabulous pianist/entertainer, Houston. And then dear, dears friends, Ed Hayes & John Dunne in St. Petersburg who are truly delightful.
And there are the people that we have met quite by accident who have become dear friends such as Ginny & Willy in Florida, Kala & Frank, the absolutely "beyond Fabulous" owners of the Luna Vista B and B in Rimrock, Arizona, Michael McFall & Luis Gonzalez in Phoenix, Chef Marcellino and his fabulous wife Sima, owners of Marcellino Ristorante in Phoenix, Gordon & Kim at the Inn of the 410 in Flagstaff who are super special guys and Charlotte Welch and her daughter Katie in Flagstaff.
In Billings, Montana we met Barbara Hill, a wonderful entertainer who has "come out", no not lesbian, but "just simply came out to life" and has found true happiness at last. We just wish that everybody could find themselves like she did. In St. Louis, Michael Lance & Jeff Archuleta, owners of Napoleons' Retreat B & B where we first met the "fun couple", Smitty and Eddy in Mississippi who we will be seeing again on our way driving to Florida in January. They can't help it because they were born straight! And then there is actor, Leslie Jordan, authors Christopher Rice and Robert Hofmann, filmmaker Craig Highberger, (Superstar In A Housedress) and filmmaker Mialyn Hanna (White Shadows).
And wonderful people like the Countess Alexis who now lives in Hollywood, playwright Gene Franklin Smith and Steve Nycklemore, director of the Hollywood Museum, our good friend, Attorney Andrew Lee who now resides in Mexico, Dean Perkins (Crystal Chandlierye) in New Hampshire, Rodger & J.D. in the Quad cities, Chris Walsh in San Francisco as well as Walter Edgar, owner of the 24 Henry B&B and the Village House B&B in San Francisco. In Seattle, Stephen Bennett, owner of the Gaslight Inn B and B and visiting there we met Tom & Doris Friedman from the Hamton's in New York who we will visit when we are in New England next year. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, Ralph Bolton and Robert Frost, owners of the Inn of the Turquoise Inn.
Four outstanding people are the late Dalee Henderson who was and is an inspiration to thousands of people and to Raymond Bilbool, former owner of the Secret Garden B&B in West Hollywood and our dear friend, Stefan Hemming, owner of the Liberace estate in Palm Springs who hosted our 35th Anniversary Party two years ago and Mel Haber, owner of Melvyn's Restaurant and the Ingleside Inn in Palm Springs. Their lives have reached many.
In our travels, we really have been so fortunate to meet so many fun, interesting and exciting people. This column is warmly dedicated to all of these friends that we have met in our travels and we are looking forward to meeting many more in our future travels. Remember, when you wake up in the morning, it is a miracle! the rest of the day is up to you!
Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!
TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from Coast to Coast. You can email them at: gaytravelers@aol.com or visit their webpage at: http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/.
