2010 September
Sep 13

To welcome not only for Trekkies, but the general public, the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum has brought Star Trek to Spain for the first time. This is an exhibit that includes replicas of the sets, costumes and many original objects related to the mass culture phenomenon of the Star Trek universe that has captivated generations.

Star Trek was and is for many people their first contact to science and a great motivator to continue exploring the world. Much of its history has a scientific basis, capturing the knowledge of specialists from various fields. Today, it consists of a huge franchise: themed novels, video games, movies, role play, TV series and thousands of toys. Conventions are constantly underway for fans to meet up and there was even an entertainment centre in Las Vegas called Star Trek: The Experience, which may have even lent some of its treasures to the exhibit.

After renting their apartments in Valencia, people of all ages can enjoy this show, whether they know much about the series or not. Surely there are some who want to their children to know  what inspired them to name them Data and Dax (surely there are some) or who just want to understand the media phenomenon. Its scope has reached such extremes that last year a porn version came out with famous actors and actresses from adult film, including the existentialist Sasha Grey, an admirer of Jean-Luc Godard, who has lent mainstream porno an intellectual touch. But back to Star Trek, which is as impressive in scope as the space between Sasha Grey’s legs.  This exhibition about the show is an interesting study of scientific dissemination in mass culture.

For hardcore fans of the Enterprise, the museum is sure to become the perfect place to meet friends, talk in Klingon and simulate a space adventure in Valencian. Frankly, the exhibit is ideal for dressing up and taking pictures, as there are several models of ships, original chairs and a 1:1 scale model of the Enterprise-D Bridge. And of course, it’s a great opportunity to introduce a younger audience to this American series created by Gene Roddenberry in 1966.

The large amount of material presented on Star Trek theme also gives the visitor lots of information: for those more interested in the television production, the exhibition reveals the behind the scenes goings on, and collects models, scripts and information about the actors who worked on Star Trek, among other things.

There will likely be some Trekkie meet-ups, independent of the official organization of the museum, so be on the look-out until February 2011, when the exhibition closes. The Príncipe Felipe Science Museum is within the City of Arts and Sciences and Admission is 7.50 euros or 5.80 euros, and you tickets online.



Sep 9

Many years ago, between 1859 and 1905,  a select group of photographers travelled to the Middle East to photograph this place full of mysteries and still basically unknown to the people of the West. Unfortunately not many pictures have survived until today of these long and risky trips, but a project researcher from New York named Clark Worswick has collected images from this period that has managed to stand the test of time.

Javier Varela, MuVIM director, said the first time he saw the pictures the first thing that came to mind was “East.” As he explained “The orient is mysterious, ancient, sensual and deep. The pictures are very beautiful and precisely for this reason we decided to display them for the benefit of MuVIM´s public.” The exhibition is called” Gardens of Sand: commercial photography in the Middle East 1859-1905 and is displayed in the main hall of the museum.

In the exhibition you can see places like Tangier, Tunis, Alexandria, Cairo, Jerusalem, Damascus, Mecca, Beirut and Istanbul. In these photographs, these cities can be seen as the symbols they once were, reflecting a past which has since been lost but not forgotten.

According to the Valencian deputy of culture Salvador Enguix, this exhibit is especially interesting because  this will be the first time these images, which all form part of a private collection, are shown to the public.

The exhibition runs through Oct. 12 in the Alfons Roig hall of MuVIM and visitors can enjoy all the mysteries of the East as captured by the cameras of different photographers who travelled between 1859 and 1905. If you want to attend you can rent apartments in Valencia and find out all the secrets of one of the most curious areas of the world.

Sep 1

For more people than one might imagine, cruising is one of the most exciting sexual fantasies. While traditionally linked to male homosexuality, the practice is spreading among other groups.

Cruising in Valencia

After all, who hasn’t felt an uncontrollable desire to have sex with a stranger who, with eyes or body language, tries to convey their uncontrollable interest in you?

By definition, cruising is the act of seeking sex with strangers in public or semi-public environments such as parks, beaches, public toilets in train stations, buses, airports, etc … It wakes up a deeply primal interest, and allows for casual yet intense seduction. The contact is fast and loose and the risk involved in the practice makes it even more exciting.

Perhaps our education, which instils in us with all sorts of hang-ups about what we can and can’t do sexually, is exactly the reason we find such “forbidden” acts so exciting. In succumbing to them it’s as if we are possessed by an alter ego above our learned moral norms. We love to break certain barriers, sometimes also motivated by simple curiosity.

All that being said, I’d like to encourage responsible cruising, which if you think about is undoubtedly a more healthy manner to channel ones sexual urges than through the virtual channels of chat and dating sites. This virtual world is so often built on lies, and prone to create disappointment and frustration when users are faced with the large gap between the limitless reality created on the computer and the constraints imposed by the physical and psychic realities in which we live.

So if you do not want surprises Get out there and meet people face to face. Make use of cruising, but keep in mind certain concepts and basic precautions:

1 Cruising and public nudity are legal in Spain. The only exceptions are around children or mentally handicapped people (Article 185 of Criminal Code).

2 You could be the victim of a robbery. Use common sense and never leave belongings unattended. It would be best not to take anything of value with you.

3 Be discreet. You are in a public space and not everyone has the same intentions as you do. Choose to cruise at times when you’re not going to bother others.

4 Be clean. Nobody has to pick up your condoms, lubricant, or dirty tissues: that’s your responsibility.

5 Be careful. Some cruising areas can be dangerous on windy days or because of their conditions: ruined buildings, undeveloped underpasses, cliffs, etc …

6 And, of course, think about sexually transmitted diseases. If you stick to masturbation or penetration with a condom it is almost impossible to happen to catch anything even if you tend to be very promiscuous.

If you fancy a little bit of cruising, keep in mind that most sexually oriented city guides can inform you about the most common cruising areas in a city. One great place to give it a try is in Spain and liberal culture may make for some hot nights out. Rent apartments in Valencia and go out for a cruise…