8 Baquis Sexual Health Space

It’s been a long time coming but the city of Nice now has its own dedicated sexual health space for LGBTQIA+ people.

This is the result of an innovative collaboration between the Côte d'Azur LGBTQIA+ Center and the Alpes-Maritimes Department.

Although still considered a pilot project, 8 Baquis offers services every Friday from 11 am to 9 pm at the CEGIDD, at 8 avenue Baquis, in Nice.

Trained in LGBTQIA+ health and issues related to sexual health and HIV, these health professionals intervene at 8 Baquis and have a caring and inclusive approach with specialists in psychologists, gynecologists, addiction counselors, dermatology, infection specialists, proctologist, nurses, etc.

 

The aim is to provide consistent care and services at 8 Baquis in: HIV and STI screening and prevention, PrEP initiation and follow-up, post-exposure treatment delivery, Chemex support, gynecology for lesbian and trans people, hormonal follow-up for trans people, access to rights and support in the face of discrimination, workshops and debates on LGBTQIA+ health, vaccinations, teleconsultations, and community reception.

This is all done with the support of the ARS PACA, the CHU of Nice, the Region SUD, the Groupe SOS, ENIPSE, and the institutional support of GILEAD and VIIV Healthcare.

Evidence Fétiche

 

Wanna join a gang? A gang of lovers in the world of fetishism?

Well, there is an extraordinary group of men in the French Riviera just for those seeking something a little bit different off the beaten track.

Evidence Fétiche is an association that was created on April 27, 2016, formed by three founding members who felt there was just such a need to be recognized in the region of the Provence-Alpes-Côte D'Azur in France for the world of fetishism in the LGBTQ world.

The association has been set up as a non-profit organization that produces various events, not only in the Cote d’Azur but throughout France and Europe to help build a strong base in the fight against homophobia and discrimination.

The events allow those interested a sense of freedom in themselves and their passions in the world of fetishism.

Honestly, these are some of the best parties around in the region and are highly anticipated when an announcement is made of an upcoming event. It doesn’t matter if you are new to the world of fetishism or legendary, everyone is accepted.

It’s a great way to discover new passions whether you want to partake or not by just simply being witness to what is happening around you at an event. The Evidence Fétiche events are generally at local cruising bars and LGBTQ nightclubs and are promoted usually a month before to give you time to plan.

These are also not full-on sex events, rather a camaraderie of people with similar interests. You will see the odd sexual hookup, literally or otherwise, or perhaps a flogging demonstration or a rubber/latex show as examples that all make for an interesting night out.

On the promotion of the events, there is usually a mention of the costs to get in if you are not a member. Which seems to range in price from 10 to 25 euros but the main thing to remember is their dress code is fully enforced.

Just showing up wearing shorts and a t-shirt won’t get you through the doors. Anything leather is will usually suffice, even if it is just a chest harness and jeans but going all out in your fetish gear is best. Think of it as your opportunity to wear something edgy that will impress a like-minded fetish crowd of men.

Joining Evidence Fétiche is a great way to support the efforts of the group made every day to keep the association going and for more events to be organized for your pleasure.

More information about Evidence Fétiche and obtaining a membership can be found on their website. 

Photos courtesy of Evidence Fétiche.

Update On The Café de Paris Revitalization in Monte-Carlo Monaco

On Friday afternoon, SBM (Société des Bains de Mer) unveiled the exciting, new design plans for the revitalized Café de Paris at an exclusive press conference.

The renovation plans have been approved and the works, which are said to total €40 million, will be completed at the end of June next year.

Architects Alexandre Giraldi and Alain-Charles Perrot are in charge of modernizing the Café de Paris. The aim is to maximize the potential of an iconic building, which honestly was starting to look very dated and not in keeping with the glam potential that Monte-Carlo usually likes to adhere to and showcase.

In the images shown at the press conference, it appears the building will thankfully keep to its Belle Epoque era architectural design, yet offer even more to the people it has already enticed for decades.

With this revitalization, the brasserie of the Café de Paris will be getting two additional floors, including a unique rooftop and a variety of boutiques. The Brasserie will extend onto two floors, with a partially glassed roof that will create a naturally lit ground floor bar.

There will also be an ‘Amazonico’ restaurant, a concept from Madrid that combines tropical and Latin American cuisines. The restaurant, which also has a presence in London and Dubai, will be placed in the Salle Bellevue, which will also be enlarged, and will open onto a large rooftop. With that, there will also be a speakeasy-style bar.

It has been said that there will be an additional 800㎡ dedicated to boutiques which will be accessible from Casino Square to Jardin des Spelugues.

The revealing of this new design shows great respect to the Monte-Carlo Casino Square and once opened, will once again be a much-desired attraction for all to enjoy.

At this time, the Brasserie has moved to the Salle Empire for the duration of the work, while the lemonade terrace has been left undisturbed. The Café de Paris casino and the boutiques will also remain in place, although the SBM boutique has been moved to the Avenue de Monte-Carlo at this time.

Get Packing! Nice Airport Reopens Flights!

Here is something many of us not only in the French Riviera but worldwide have been waiting for, the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport reopens flights to over 100 destinations.

A sure sign that things are coming back to a new normal, with most of the remaining Covid19 restrictions being lifted as of March 14, 2022, now, the Nice Airport has announced they will open again to an almost complete capacity starting on March 27, 2022.

Just in time as people start to plan their summer vacations in the region and the rest of France.

Nice’s airport is considered the main hub of all flight activity in the region, and now, this means instead of all flights going through Terminal 2, now Terminal 1 at the airport will also soon be reopening its doors, with the best sanitary conditions in place.

The airport will be offering 106 flights from 52 airlines (18 in France and 89 international flights, including 8 long-haul flights) to 41 different countries. This number is close to the number of pre-pandemic flights: Nice Côte d’Azur Airport offered a network of 121 destinations to 44 countries in the summer of 2019.

In addition to this news, more direct flights will also be available.

Many travelers have been eagerly awaiting long-haul flights, which will finally be making a comeback with eight direct connections. Air Canada and Air Transat will connect Nice to Montreal.

Kuwait Airways will fly to Kuwait, with a stop at Rome Fiumicino, and Emirates will fly directly to Dubai.

Delta Airlines will offer a daily flight to New York JFK, while La Compagnie and United Airlines will connect Nice to Newark daily. In addition, Gulf Air will operate at Nice for the first time and will open a route to Bahrain.

Seven new destinations will also be added to the airport’s list: Bahrain, Heraklion, Cluj, Reykjavik, Southampton, Tirana, and Valencia.

Five airlines will operate at Nice for the first time: Condor, to Düsseldorf and Frankfurt, Icelandair, to Reykjavik, Fly One, to Chisinau, United Airlines, which is adding a third long-haul flight to New York and Gulf Air.

Nice Côte d’Azur will then be able to maintain its position as the second airport in France to offer long-haul seats, with 380,000 seats offered.

These new additions at the airport signify a welcome recovery from the pandemic, and that the French Riviera still stands as a much-desired travel destination.