Maspalomas Pride 12/05/2010 -- 18/05/2010

Spent the next 2 days trying unsuccessfully to find an earlier flight and running up an extra £40 on my mobile phone bill. Finally gave up telling my boss it wasn't worth the stress.

Stopped typing up my diary -- partly as I wasn't really on holiday any more lol

Los Salmones is a nice complex but suffers from being at the far east of the resort, high above the beaches (about 200metres from a cliff) and exposed to the strong winds that you don't get elsewhere. Was frequently cold in the apartment even having to wear a fleece hoodie indoors.

I am just going to post some of the photos I took during the extra third week.

Maspalomas Pride 11/05/2010 Tuesday

Got up about 06:30hrs and had breakfast Pint of milk and a huge orange that was a bit dried out :(. Showered then did final pack throwing out several pairs of white socks as they were past their best and the old blue jeans I bought in Vecindario 5 years ago…

Handed my keys in to reception just after 08:00hrs bumped into a guy that was using their internet terminal that said the flight to Bristol today was cancelled – had to go to the airport anyway to see what Ryanair were saying. Got to airport went for a pee then had to find the Ryanair desk which was hiding in the basement :( a long queue to wait in which took 3 hours to get to speak to someone. Got offered a flight tomorrow to East Midlands and would have to find my own way to Bristol (Seem to remember the flight was going to arrive at 23:30hrs) said I wanted a flight to Bristol as that was what they had contracted with me to do. Given flight in one week’s time – same time and flight on 18/05/2010. Asked if they were going to arrange my accommodation and food until then and told that Ryanair would treat this as a national disaster and I could try claiming but had to arrange everything myself and unlikely to get anywhere. Had phoned my travel insurance and told I was not covered for ash clouds and I was on my own :(

Tried to signup for wireless internet on an airport hotspot but couldn’t get anywhere so went to find a bus back to Playa del Ingles. Eventually got a bus and got off at Yumbo. Tried to book accommodation with Travel Republic at an internet terminal but couldn’t book for starting today :(

Went to Nestor to ask where the Yumbo travel agent is and went to it and paid for a week at Los Salmones for £132.50 on my credit card. Took a taxi there and signed in and paid for a safe for the week. Discovered wireless internet and got the code – only meant to use it in the bar but did get connected from room does drop out from time to time – am I cheating? Checked status of ash cloud and will get worse tomorrow so East Midlands not really worth having tried. Had phoned Mum and my boss both told me should have taken East Midlands – I bet it gets cancelled too!

Maspalomas Pride 10/05/2010 Monday

Got up at 07:30hrs and decided to walk to the beach and swim in the sea and have breakfast on the walk home. Left at 08:00hrs and phoned Mum on the way there. Got there about 09:00hrs and had a skinny dip for a bit. Towelled dry and walked back by the dunes dressing when people walking towards me were clothed lol.

Stopped on the way home at Benny Hill’s bar for a cooked breakfast. Back home by 11:00hrs Mobile’s pedometer says I walked 8.3 miles in that round trip. Showered and shaved. Had a practice packing of my bags and weighing them with my luggage scales. Then walked to a supermarket in San Fernando I think it’s a good 4 mile round trip but my mobile was on charge so can’t confirm) to get a couple of things including the Honeyed Rum they give you a shot of with your bill at dinner. Will have to leave some stuff behind to make the weight limit on my hold luggage :( but I had planned on what could be left so not really a problem.

Went to Reception to see if I could hand in my safe key in the morning they’re not open until about 09:00hrs so no. The guy was the odd-job man that spoke no English but I understood enough of his Spanish to know I had to go back about 16:00hrs to hand in the safe key and get my €15 deposit back. Suspect I only got billed for one week for the safe but it’s their mistake and I don’t really think this practice of charging for using the safe in your appartment is fair anyway.

Had lunch then listened to music and started Harry Potter 4 snoozed a bit then went to hand in safe key – got my deposit back as it was the odd-job man that sorted me out :). Decided to sweep the floor in the bedroom as when I got back from safe to get the laptop out from under the bed, my backpack was covered in fluff:( swept the downstairs too and the stairs so took me a bit. Been listening to music and typing up this since – now it’s 18:30hrs.


Won’t got out to eat until 09:00hrs then not stay out drinking – don’t want to leave the laptop and video camera etc not secured in the safe unattended for long…

Went out to the Marbella and had the Chicken fillet in mushroom sauce and then had a banana split for €5 -- it was my last night :-)

Went home and finished the Gin then went to bed. Up early tomorrow for my airport transfer.

Maspalomas Pride 09/05/2010 Sunday

Had a lazy lie in then had breakfast read a lot and snoozed a lot finished the Harry Potter 3 book.

Went out in the afternoon for lunch a toasted cheese and ham sandwich then went on internet in the amusement arcade to check on flight news… Says to keep checking…:( Also watched 2 movies Latter Days then The Day of the Jackal.) Had a bit of sinus pain which was giving me a sore ear and headache.


Went out for dinner to the Chinese place on the corner at the far end of the Yumbo – the one with fixed price “House Menus”. Took them a good time (at least 10 minutes) to notice me sitting there even though I’d waited to be shown to a table! Then they gave me a menu and asked what drink. I asked for a large lemonade WHOOOOOSH and it was by my side then a 20 minute wait ( I checked on my watch) with the three waitresses who weren’t at all busy ignoring my attempts to catch their eyes to order my meal. I was not impressed – they were totally ignorant and frankly rude. I had quite a long wait for my spring rolls starter and a 15 minute wait for my main course after I had finished my starter. The food when it came was swimming in grease, tepid and over-seasoned with massive quantities of MSG. It was unlike any Chinese food I have had in many European countries and in two other Chinese restaurants in the Yumbo...

They then took ages to bring the bill when I was finished and even longer to bring my change too. Needless to say, I did not tip.

Interestingly, the staff made no attempt to hide what they think of the food they are serving by having several pizzas delivered for their staff meal.

I’ll note the name of the place tomorrow -- Took the photo of it (above) instead.

Had a look in Jackie’s bar for the 2 trannies as they said they’d see me for a drink – no sign of them so, sore head still there I went home and straight to bed.

Maspalomas Pride 08/05/2010 Saturday

An extra post with some more pics from the Pride Parade :-P

Maspalomas Pride 08/05/2010 Saturday

Had a long lie, breakfast lazed about for a bit reading Harry Potter had an early lunch as to be at Jackie’s Bar between 13:00hrs and 14:00hrs for helping with the float for the parade… Not much helping was needed:( so it was a long wait until 14:15hrs when we finally set off for the marshalling street to get ready for the parade. Took about 5-10 minutes to drive there and then a wait until about 16:10hrs for the parade to start late:( was bored to tits. Stewarding official T-shirt was a pink pride T-shirt with SECURITY on the back – very fetching. I persuaded Jackie that I didn’t want her to chop the sleeves off and crop it like she did for the other Steward whose name is Carol.

Parade took over 2 hours but it was fun enough took quite a few pics of cute lads :-P Helped take the banners off the float with the scissors bit of my Leatherman Micra and lost the suede sheath for it looked on the road the next morning and couldn’t find it despite the council not having cleared up leaflets left lying around.

Carried the step ladder used to get on the float by people back to Jackie’s Bar for them was tired and hot so went home and transferred my photos from mobile and digital camera to the laptop then had a swim and shower and read more Harry Potter and had a G&T until about 21:00hrs and went out to eat. Had rump steak grill at the Marbella. Back to Jackie’s Bar for a drink after food – Jackie appeared when I was getting an XL beer (1 Litre plastic glass €4) asked what I was having and told the barmaid it was on the house so I thanked her and told her it wasn’t expected as I’d enjoyed doing the Stewarding. Got chatting to a big Lesbian and stayed for another XL Beer then went home. Chatted to the 2 Trannies at one point and also said hi to Graham and John as they went past on their way to Centre Stage.

Went straight to bed.

Maspalomas Pride 07/05/2010 Friday

Got up fairly early breakfast and typing this until now 10:38hrs :) Peeling a lot so probably won’t swim in the pool today.

Hey sometimes there's nothing special to write about! lol

Maspalomas Pride 06/05/2010 Thursday

Up early and had a swim once I could. Showered and went to the bank to get some more money. Phoned to confirm my airport transfer back home on Tuesday. That went easily – much better way of doing it than in the past when you had to phone and no answer – they give you a day you have to phone on when you see the rep on arrival at the airport unlike previously. As I’d been told 11:00hrs for the coach trip, I watched some porn to kill some time lol :-P


Arrived at the Yumbo Mini Golf at 10:35hrs with no-one waiting so, checking my ticket it said 11:30hrs bus leaves so, went for a wander around the Yumbo looking in the Visante electronics shop that Eddie said was honest 5 years ago. Not bothered by any hard sell assistants like other places tend to do when you even look in their windows. Got back to the Mini Golf at about 10:55hrs and still no-one that really looked like they were waiting but a group of Lesbians turned up about the same time as me and then a couple of trannies people did start to arrive shortly but no sign of the organiser Jacky (nails) until about 25 past:) couple of Ollie Geoffreys cute blond in a shocking pink T-shirt and a Mediterranean looking one with him – they were talking in some eastern European language and doing the usual attitude queen thing of making obvious comments about others in the group lol got a couple of not so subtle pics of pink T-shirt later in the trip :-P

Got handed raffle tickets by the rep on boarding the coach she gave me two and wasn’t bothered when I queried her maybe because she was Scottish? lol Trip to blankets presentation was straight up the motorway to Doctoral the town next to Vecindario – rep was OK with some almost bored fake enthusiasm for that sights to point out. Was sat across from the two trannies and handed them my guidebook saying I’d marked the pages of the places we were stopping at – a village and the cave homes place. They read the pages and thanked me. Took lots of pics from the bus window but as usual many had reflections of the bus interior on them some OK :)

Presentation was longer than 5 years ago – not the same outfit I think we got bucks fizz or fizz or orange juice to drink no cake or tea offered like last time and no liqueur either (the liqueur is the local honeyed brandy – been getting a shot of it with my bill after most evening meals). I won the raffle – a pair of wool insoles and bought a wool back pad – will try it at work – something's needed for the draft there! Been sitting on it as I type (not big enough though) back is sore again so had just put it on my lower back comfy (on top of my T-shirt and it feels nice – maybe the easing of my sore back is just because it’s change my posture but I think it’s going to be worth the €18 it cost).


Got to the caves place and had a pep talk from Jacky – there was a photographer for the local gay press and a journalist – we got a group photo and they wanted to chat to 4 volunteers – I didn’t and went off videoing and taking some photos – DVD doesn’t seem to be wanting to play on the laptop – I hope it’s going to read into the macMini at home for editing!? probably have a watch of it on the camera today to reassure myself. Don’t have PowerDVD on here was using VLC player – hopefully that’s the problem or I’ll have to disappoint the people I offered a copy to…


The tapas lunch included in the €10 was OK drank a couple of tumblers full of the local table wine fruity and not at all harsh. Had the local garlic butter type stuff to spread on the freshly baked petit pain rolls. Local cheese was bland and rubbery like mozzarella, Serrano ham was OK didn’t taste the Spanish omelette (understandably lol), no tomatoey sauce for the Canarian potatoes had extra ham from another table of guys who hadn’t even tried theirs :) Did chat to the guys at my table but only about the food. There was a Norwegian pensioner called Nils who was up and down from the table throughout the snack. He’s moved to Playa del Ingles for retirement and taken up a 2 year rental of an apartment already but, I think, regretting it already and was saying he may sub-let it and move somewhere more authentically Spanish… Seemed a nice chap not sure if he was gay or not lol did some more videoing and was tempted to pinch a toilet roll from the public loo – soft compared to the sandpaper like stuff at the apartment lol


Onto the village -- Aguimes. Had a feature of some bronze statues in the side streets – took pics o them chatted to Michelle one of the trannies and got her e-mail to make contact when DVD is edited also chatted to Nils and offered him a DVD too got his e-mail address. Also spoke to Jacky if she wanted to tell people I’d make copies of DVD if they want to contact through her.

On leaving the coach I asked the rep for contact details as was only by chance that I was on the blanket trip as self-organise my trips here. She gave me a local phone number of the office to be able to get told pickup points next time. I was impressed by the presentation and do think I want to buy but this time money is tight – it’s about £900 for a bedding set with 2 pillows all totally Merino wool and soft was anything £1200 for a mattress as well in the deal you get a second set of bedding included but no second pillows as part of the deal – I think you get that even if you don’t take the mattress. I do intend to save up and buy next holiday here.

Went to Jackie’s bar to get sorted out for the Stewarding thing. After guddling about I got taken to see the President of GLAY that organise Pride and told they couldn’t sort me out until Jackie had handed in her paperwork to them lol went to see her and she had it back home so I went back and told them she’d get it to them tonight :) they told me there was a briefing for Stewards at Nestor tomorrow at 16:00hrs Helgor the owner of Nestor is organising the floats in the parade…

Went home and lazed reading Harry Potter then watched the second half of the Italian Job then went out for meal at Marbella – did look at other places around the Yumbo but they were really expensive. Had a pork escallop (battered not breaded but hey ho) nice enough but getting a little bored with the “salad” the 2 tomato slices were nice and ripe though :-P had planned to just go home and watch Get Real but went to Jackie’s for a pint – she told me that she had it all organised and she’d give me my T-shirt on Saturday – I said I’d been told to come to a briefing tomorrow… Oh, OK was the answer lol

Saw Graham and John on the way home as popped into the loos next to Nestor for a pee on the way. Said I might see them tomorrow night – they said they’d been in a hire car to visit Puerto Mogan and Puerto Rico and other villages on the way, Told them about gorge trip and said I could do them a DVD…

Went home and read more Harry Potter and G&T before bed.

Maspalomas Pride 05/05/2010 Wednesday

Woken fairly early by gayers coming home about 06:20hrs they made noise for a bit finally quiet after several people entering the pool (who knows if they jumped, fell or pushed/thrown in? who cares?) Snoozed at bit then got up when light and read and had pint of Fanta :) then read again.

Decided to take a few pics of the bungalows and pool from bathroom window as no-one up yet at 10:00hrs:) had to open the louvré window fully then get camera outside to not have window ledge in the frame but pics came out well:) Had breakfast while uploading pics to laptop then spent time typing up diary. Got text from Rach telling me about her date with some religious maniac she’s met on the internet and going for a date with in London on Saturday… Also got text from my sister their stranded in Greece with an Air-traffic controllers strike and apparently the Volcanic Ash cloud is back too not a problem for me yet so hey ho… lol

Lazed about reading mostly and snoozing indoors:)

As I had been earlier, the pool sex “party” at the Basement Studios was only just starting when I got there at 21:35hrs as it was very quiet I decided to come back in an hour or so. Went back into the Yumbo and had a pint in Nestor watching the world go by. As I was sitting at a table alone, and they were getting busier, a waiter asked if my mates were joining me I said I really didn’t know. So, he brought 3 young Irish lads over to sit with me one was really cute young blond and a little geeky and a short arse he was a bit like a younger and blond version of Shane (my fellow postman) from a week ago at Nestor :-P Didn’t really talk to them as they were on their first night and one of them had been before and was telling them all about “Open the Box”. (did get a couple of pics of the cutie at the Pride Parade later :-P)

Went back to the Basement Studios sex “party” and there were more guys there:) some cuties got a beer as my included drink – no strict dress code of underwear or naked this time so, I just kept my clothes on and went cruising saw some cuties one tall tanned skinhead in only football shorts that was staying there and kept going in and out of one of the bungalows – didn’t get him but saw him shagging a guys with his long thin cock must have been 9” :-P also later saw him getting shagged hard by an older guy :-P during the cruising I had a feel and a suck of a cute short arsed chicken about 5’ nothing he took me to the fucking area and got up on the bench I got hard and put on a condom but not hard enough to fuck him so many guys crowed around us I stepped away and another guy shagged him and another 2 too during which time watching I got totally hard then came in the condom :( found him later just after the tall tanned lad had been fucked and he was still interested so I rubbered up and got hard almost immediately dropped my pants and shorts and slipped him the full length he was a little loose but really seemed to appreciated a long slow deep fuck from me I came and he gave lots of appreciative moans during :) didn’t get to suck him as I would have wanted to but it’s the only fuck so far and I did enjoy it:) went home satisfied:)

Read some Harry Potter on the laptop then went to bed.

Maspalomas Pride 04/05/2010 Tuesday

Woke early 05:00hrs. Read a bit. Breakfast at 08:00hrs swam at 09:00hrs and showered. Still a little sore in the head :(, neck and back :( bad mattress is part of it :(

Been listening to iTunes and typing up entries since Friday evening’s entry.

Have decided to go to the Basement Studio’s Pool Party tonight probably get a decent shag there like last year €5 or €10 entry including a drink so should be fun :-P Just checked -- It’s not until Wednesday night :( But they have a daytime Pool Party today – it’s cloudy so won’t bother today . Oh Well… tomorrow night it is then:)

Went shopping at Hiperdino fucking cute chicken in front of me at the checkout (local) footie kit with boxers underneath and the footie shorts were very low showing several inches of boxers :-P
He used his credit card and had to wait while I got served for authorisation from the supervisor which extended my delicious view of him – he was a short-arse too which was even better :-P

Spent a lot of time indoors reading my book Terry Pratchett’s “Men at Arms” which is OK no real belly laughs though :(

Went out earlier with the “green Banana” discount card I got from the coach transfer people to McDonald's the booklet said 2 Medium Big Mac Meals for €9.50 I walked over 2 miles to get to the dump to be told that offer does not exist… I said if you want to move the goal posts then I wont bother then marched out and bent the card twice and put it in their bin outside. It wasn’t as if their “offer” would have been that good value for money compared to the UK.


Went to Marbella again instead had rump steak grilled with chips and salad and a pint of Tropicale for the same price as the non-existent McDonald's deal. Which was better anyway :)
As was still early, went to Nestor for a Sprite and texted the guys (Glynn and also Graham) were they out to play? Got no answer so when my drink was finished walked to Chaps but couldn’t drum up the enthusiasm to go in. Walked back to Yumbo and watched some tumblers (fucking cute!) and a drumming band that was accompanying them then had a look to see if Jackie’s bar was an option… It was packed out the door and most of the people in the street were customers – well they looked like Lesbians :) Went back to Nestor and Graham and John were there with Glynn and Daryl. Had a couple of pints of Tropicale Glynn and Daryl left early as flying out Wednesday. Finished our drinks and G&J went for a romantic walk I had a turn round the Yumbo then went home for a G&T then bed.

Maspalomas Pride 03/05/2010 Monday

Slept through until 10:00hrs bad hangover didn’t get up all day eventually got up and ate a tomato and some crisps about 22:00hrs and back to bed.

Maspalomas Pride 02/05/2010 Sunday

Spent whole day in virtually did go out to get pens to be able to write my postcards. Cleaner’s dog came in to say hello but then he didn’t want the water I put out for him until his mum carried him back in to drink it. In the evening he barked a lot at me when I went past Reception lol.

Went to a different place for dinner as Marbella is closed Sundays – had “Sirloin” steak with pepper sauce and Canarian Potatoes (asked for medium and got very rare didn’t bother sending it back) and a flat beer. Queenie fair haired waiter was so limp-wristed he had one in a sling lol

Met the guys and it was, of course, Open the Box so stayed for that and drank far too much beer 5 pints! Then on to Centre stage for 2 more pints and then on to Jackie’s Bar for 2 G&Ts (I know!) staggered home.

Maspalomas Pride 01/05/2010 Saturday

Slept quite late then went to the beach to sun bathe.
Arrived at the beach about 12:00hrs. Put my towel down at the end of the gay bit at the bottom of a tall dune. Went for a swim immediately which was fun then sunbathed 40mins and swam again repeated until about 15:10hrs and walked back – didn’t see the others but told they had been there :(

Got rather burnt as took only factor 50 sun cream instead of factor 25 so hadn’t used it – stupid I know!

Stayed in until evening and went looking for a McDonald's which I didn’t find so got bored and went home for an early night – no alcohol in-case dehydrated.