TQE | That Queer Expatriate

Expatriate, not ex-patriot: I'm a progressive liberal and queer American in Berlin, Germany. My roots in include 18 years in Denver, 6 in Laramie, Wyoming, 6 in Bloomington, Indiana, and 6 in Weimar, Germany. Sense a pattern? Don't want to leave a comment on this blog? Email scintillatingme at gmail.com, username "elmadaeu"

My last day in London – with Hairy Goat

The Shard, Europe’s tallest building.

I’ve been meaning to throw up a couple pictures from my last day in London –it’s only been three weeks. I don’t really have a good excuse other than the fact that work has been keeping me extremely busy, and when I’ve left work, I’ve been feeling exceptionally lazy [...]

18:00 CET is the perfect time for Peking Duck – Lunch in New York

The duck led a happy life and, therefore, made me happy at lunch.

At noon Saturday I found myself in the heart of New York City’s China Town eating Peking Duck at Peking Duck House.

Tour Guide Bert

It was a part of the Chinatown Food and Culture Walking Tour offered by Foods [...]

It’s been a very lazy Sunday. Plus an aside on my Side trip, etc…

Watching the passing boats.

My big actions of the day: a walk through the historic harbor areas and a long afternoon nap.

Yup, that was my big day. I’d originally planned on finding the beach, but it was rainy in the morning, and after the sun came out, it didn’t really stay out and [...]

I’m high: Elevation 5,280 Feet

Sign at visiting team entrance.

My decision to visit my family in the mile high city of Denver was a rather spur of the moment decision—taking advantage of the long Easter weekend (and neatly avoiding Closed Germany).

Coming with such short notice I didn’t really have a chance to develop a to-do list. If [...]

Not So Peachy: Georgia’s State Capitol Sucks

It was wet out.

One thing that I enjoy doing is seeing and touring state capitols. I’ve been on amazing tours of the Texas and Arizona state capitols; I’ve poked around the Colorado, Wyoming, and Indiana state capitols, and I’ve even had a wonderful tour of the Ontario provincial capitol in Toronto.

So naturally [...]

French, Kissing.

I’m now in Paris for a few days—the first time I have ever spent more than 22 hours in the city.

I took the RER down from CDG to Paris; after exiting the train and going up the stairs I passed a young couple snogging in the station. A closer couple with clothing you could [...]

Los Tres Gringos Gays get Tequila

Although none of us are serious Tequila drinkers, Jay, Murph, and I decided to take a tour out into the countryside to the center of Tequila, Tequila.

Yes, Tequila is not just a drink, it’s a town, and we hopped onboard a bus for a 250 peso (about US$25) Tequila tour showing us how tequila [...]

Walking Lunch Tour

In between my morning meeting and my afternoon meeting, I needed to have lunch, and because I cleverly scheduled a large gap of time in order to take a food tour of New York—specifically the “Original Greenwich Village Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour.” For twice the price of a nice lunch out, I got [...]

Put Your Hands Up; You’re Surrounded!

Despite having lived in Europe for three years and connecting at Paris CDG at least five times, I’ve never actually been to Paris.

This changed Sunday when I stepped off my flight from Leipzig and made my way to my hotel in Paris. In the heart of Paris’ Marsais. Fourth Arrondissement, corner of Rue de [...]

Grass Sweet Hut

As it was dark when we arrived, CQ and I had no idea what the area looked like until we woke up in the morning.

For me, that first glimpse came at 06:30 or so when I emerged from the hut and looked around. We’d walked across a grassy field after dinner and I had [...]