yumbo centre

[mmmbeer]

hi all i dont mean to be funny but i think the yumbo centre
has some great bars im not gay i just think they got great atmosphere and i meet some great people who work in them
so why do some people take the **** by saying dont go to the them unless you gay that does my head in

wat do any of you guys think honest answers only:angry:

[shirley]

A VERY HONEST ANSWER FROM ME
does my head in as well, (these people miss out though) but thats there fault So lets feel sorry for them.

[mary]

I spent an evening there the other week. It was really good night out, all the bars joking with each other and everyone having fun. The atmosphere was a good family orientated one.
The drag queens were a good laugh too with different bars putting on different types of shows. One of the bars, the waiters were only dressed in G strings, which was good for the people watching angle!!

Talking to some of the bar owners there, they said that it is very different in September, but the summer is generally more family orientated

[redswanlady]

I agree Mary the yumbo is a great laugh, all the bars make you feel welcome straight or gay.

It is great to sit in the bars and watch all the different type's of people go by:thumb:

[BIG TONY]

We always have at least one night out in the Yumbo, the wife would kill me if I did'nt take her. She is mesmorised by the custumes and evening gowns people wear, It's also a great place to celebrate the New Year with easily the best fireworks display on the island. Some great eating places there too. If you're unsure about all the stories of it being hard core gay, give the place a try, you could be pleasantly suprised !!!!!!!!!!

[andrew021]

I am gay and always go to Yumbo when in PDI. Its a safe environment to have a drink.

When there in February I attended the Tour Rep meeting, first time I ever went to one as have been to GC 4 times but was curious.

She was telling people about the different shopping centres, Cita, Chaperal.... and then came to the Yumbo.

Her comment was it a great shopping area by day but in the evenings it is exclusively gay and if you drop your wallet in the vicinity, kick it the whole way home, of course getting laughs from tourists.

I waited until the end of meeting until eveyone had left. I tackled her about her comments stating I found them stereotypical and homophobic and as a gay man thought they were very offensive.

She apologised saying she hadnt realised what she had said until she said it, she has lots of gay friends and has been to nights out in the Yumbo that she enjoyed.

As the major tour operator from Ireland I reminded her that a lot of gay people from Ireland travel with this company and I would be reporting her comments in a complaint to the Tour Operator. Of course I never did.

Once again its just peoples attitudes to gay people and areas. The Yumbo is a great place to drink, socialise and people watch.

[vecino]

For a gay website and guide also look at http://www.gaymengc.com

[catxxx]

well i went on hol wiv my mates ther was 5 girls that went n we went 2 the yumbo centre a few times n ad a good time we went ther to eat we went to just look around n went in the bars n had a few drinks n had a laff it dosnt matter that we wer in a bar full of gay guys n ther wer no girls we wer jst avin a night out it was buy any drink n get shots free u cant grumble!

[Honeymist]

We are heading for PDI tomorrow and are bound to spend a few nights in the center. Why not, it's a laugh!

[taggwa]

I'm straight and me and my girlfriend always have a couple of nights during our week in the Yumbo. Great relaxed atmosphere and a good place to chill out, people watch and see the world go by. We'll be there again in October.

[Gracie]

I got back from PDI a few weeks ago and went last summer aswell. 2 of my male friends I traveled with are gay so we always spent part of our night in the yumbo before me and my straight mate headed to the Kasbah. The Yumbo is ALWAYS a great laugh. All the People there are friendly and I personally have loads of great memories from there. XXXXX

[shirley]

Yes a great place to go either in the day or night.
I dont know why people differentiate at all about other people we are all just people to me.(Whatever our personal choices are on anything in life.)as long as people are not criminals, dont hurt anybody else or children. and just get on with there lives in a peacefull respectfull of others way, Well they are just (people )thats all, no need to stick labels on anyone.

[stonehouse0121]

I think what I love most about the Yumbo is that they welcome everyone! I don't go anywhere else, if your holiday is all about chasing women (assuming you are straight), getting pissed and maybe rounding the night off with a fight then perhaps the Kasbah would be better. To someone who has never been to the Yumbo I would just say relax no one is going to grab you and try and 'convert' you, even if it were possible to do they are all out to have a good time!

[debbieduck]

I agree with everyone else here...the Yumbo is a great night out. Have been there a couple of times for a few glasses of wine with a friend who lives in GC and everyone was so friendly and welcoming and always up for a laugh.:grin:

The Yumbos reputation precedes it far too much sometimes and just doesnt do it justice.

GO THERE AND ......:have-fun: :boozy: :boozy:

[sticky_063]

Me and my partner are due to fly out on the 16th, we are a young gay couple and are looking forward to nights out at the yumbo centre, somewhere we can be ourselves. It seem from searching the web that PDI is very gay friendly... so can't wait:grin:

Anyone recommend bars we should go?

[redswanlady]

ZaZa's is well worth a visit, great cocktails brilliant atmosphere.

[vecino]

For alot more gay Gran Canaria info look at :-
http://www.gaymengc.com/forum/index.php
http://www.gaymengc.com/

[sticky_063]

For alot more gay Gran Canaria info look at :-
http://www.gaymengc.com/forum/index.php
http://www.gaymengc.com/

Thanks I'll have a look :D

[stonehouse0121]

My favourite bar is Centre Stage. It has to be one of the campest bars in the Yumbo and it is generally a friendly welcoming place. The funniest thing about the place is that you see some of the scariest looking skinheads and leather men in there dancing and singing their heads of to The Sound Of Music then an hour or so later you see them again in Construction Bar looking mean, moody and scary again - that is assuming you ever leave C.S., many nights we have all gone in "for an hour" and been the last to be kicked out many hours later!!

The best thing about the Yumbo's gay bars is that there is something for everyone... and remember; start at the bottom and work your way up or you'll be wondering if your'e the only gays in the Yumbo village!

Roll on December - me and my mate are there for the month!!! :D

[shywazz]

In PDI and every nite the yumbo centre, from 25th sept to 9th oct hope to c some of you there. x us two gay guys from Birmingham.

[Hillbankdee]

Hi,
My wife,2 kids and myself always have at least one night out at the Yumbo even though we stay in PR.I was reading on Holidays Uncovered of a rep who at the welcome meeting jokingly advised any man who drops his wallet at the Yumbo centre to kick it all the way home before he picked it up.Quality.

[stonehouse0121]

Sorry for the lack of a sense of humour that I might be accused of but I don't think that's funny. Why is it still okay to make fun of gay people but a 'joke' in a similarly discriminative way about, say, black people isn't? Instead of laughing along perhaps it'd be better to challenge people's perceptions by letting them know you go to the Yumbo and the people there are "quality" and not the homophobic comments about them.

[shirley]

I dont think any (secondhand ) jokes like that are funny either, Why do people keep the ignorance like that rolling over? Thats predjudice.Thats my opinion, No further comment.

[horus1410]

I am gay, so lets get that out of the way first. My partner and I go there whenever we are in Playa because we feel comfortable and at ease. There is nothing for families to be frightened of. In fact from the number of families and hetro couples walking round the place after about 10 at night, it must be quite an attraction. Some of the shows are worthy of the London West End.

The Yumbo offers something for everyone, gay straight, whatever and if you don't like what you see, then get out and find something that suits your particular tastes.

[pauld]

My girlfriend and i thopught hat the only decent area to go for a drink was the Yumbo center.

The Irish center is a dirty hole and the English center is a place where every second person tried to sell you cocaine!

[shirley]

Well we are Aged 58 and 59, heterosexual couple, with grown up children,
weve been in most centres in pdi, And we always prefer the yumbo centre in the day and at at night, we always head there and really enjoy it there,

[oll30]

Well i'm there 25th sept-2nd oct

Been to yumbo once but ages ago. Just going to chill by myself aftr busy year!!

So if you see a 30 yr old shaved head, stubble, slim guy sat there come say hi...lol

[Leannef55]

I have recently come back from my first holiday in Gran Canaria- I was actually staying in Puerto Rico, but my boyfriend and I decided to check the Yumbo centre out after hearing various things about it. Well, we enjoyed it there so much more than PR we ended up going there a few times. The nights we went there were by far the best of the holiday, no aggro or lager louts or blokes trying to sell us "charlie", just a real laid back holiday atmosphere, with nice friendly staff in the bars! I cant recommend it enough! :grin:

[AndyHull]

We have been to PDI 6 out of the last seven years - the kids love the Yumbo.
We sit and have a few drinks in the bars near the trampolines - kids in the amusements and us being entertained by the bar owners and staff - laid back atmosphere - great.
As for people who take the mick about the fact that its just for gay people - WRONG !
Give me that atmosphere any day when we have a 5 year old and 2 teenagers -better than being hassled by drunks and dodging trouble for a fortnight.
A great place - and reps shouldnt be coming out with rubbish that at welcolme meetings really should they ?
Going in Feb for a week - cnat wait !!

[stonehouse0121]

Good points Andy, though i would argue perhaps that is because of the gay people there that make the atmosphere of the Yumbo so much better than the Kasbah. Whatever... the main thing is that the people who are too prejudiced and to easily led by similarlily prejudiced travel reps get exactly what they deserve - a night being hasstled by touts, drug dealers etc in less salubrious venues!!
Perhaps it should continue to be 'our' little secret!!! :D

[AndyHull]

You are right there Stonehouse0121 - it is because of the Gay people there which makes the atmosphere different ( and better) than the Kasbah - we have been to PDI without the kids and still used the Yumbo everynight - and stayed there later to watch the various shows.

[shirley]

Yes I think that HOMOPHIBIC HATE CRIME which is exactly what it is being done by the travel reps in the tourist industry,here are ruining this island and tourism here,For a lot of people and families, not to mention the business owners in the yumbo center. I have read a lot on here of the state of the other centres, but not ONE BAD WORD about the YUMBO CENTRE, on here, And whats been said about the other centres would put people off visiting Playa del ingles.As a whole.

[Suzi]

Playa del Ingles is recognised as the 'gay capital' of Europe.

I've been coming to GC for over 23 years now, work in travel and I give people the truth, whole truth, etc..... Not once has anyone said anything detrimental about Yumbo.

Yumbo is a place for all sexes, ages, creeds, etc, lots of good restaurants and bars.

No, it's not drug free, nowhere is in our own world.

It needs a face lift but it's one good place.

[shirley]

They have on here,carried on a very stupid, and homophobic remark, about what a Tour rep said to someone.And thats a fact.
I hope i dont see anymore of that behavior on here. (It should have been deleted immediately) I dont like behavior like that.Good on you decent people, Who have brains and decency,and dont do homophobic hate crime, and have, The where withall in your brains to get on with all walks of life, and live and let live.

[andrew021]

Shirley, are you referring to my post at the start of this thread.

I have been to PDI 4 times and am a gay man who drinks in the Yumbo every night I am there.

I was very offended by the remark the Tour Rep said at the meeting i attended. I put that post there to show that some Tour Reps still have a homophobic attitude. Maybe you should go back and read it again.

[shirley]

NO Andrew 021, Im Not at all. If you go back on this thread on page 3, you will see that hillbank d has told this story, after you, It made me annoyed,Repeated it. That is why i have said what i have,
You were quite right to start this thread and tell your upset at this.And say what you did.Im on your side,

[maxine]

I love the YUMBA, i have a gay cousin, nephew, and uncle, all have been here to the yumba.
Me and my husband go to Gay Pride have done 2 now and had a briliant time.
I always had gay freinds in my teens, my daughter is a true Fag Hag, has 2 gay best friends, regually goes to GAY in London, which im going to, to see PINK in Dec by the way wooooo.
One thing i didnt agree with was at Gay Pride we went to go to Heaven and wasnt allowed in because we were straight!!! This angered me as i wouldnt dream of saying no gays allowed, and just as we attended Gay Pride, were they were telling everyone not to put up with prejudice, here we were being confronted with it, and were with my daughter and her 2 gay freinds??
the other thing that annoyes me is why do a lot of men think that all gay men will fancy them?
All straight men dont go around chasing very women, we all have our preferences.And why do they feel uncomfortable with men i dresses when they would except the sods opera that the Navy do every year.
for those who dont know its a play the sailors do every 6months or so to lift moral and they put on full make up and fancy dresses.No one minds that!
So come on people its 2006, get a grip!!:bronwen:

[stonehouse0121]

You made some good points Maxine the only one that I could really address though is the point about Heaven not letting in straight people over GayPride. I'm tempted to assume it was partly an economic decision and wanting to keep the space as 'gay' as possible.

It seems that you and your family have an enlightened attitude but you are aware, I am sure, that not everyone is like you. I think that until it is possible for two men or two women to kiss, hold hands and even dance together in a 'straight' bar without fear of derision or physical violence we will always have a need for 'gay-only' spaces. It's a good thing though that many of the bars and clubs in the Yumbo are for everyone. :D

[taggwa]

Got back on Monday and we spent four of our seven nights either in the Yumbo all night or started it there. Me and my girlfriend love the place and as mentioned many times before, the atmosphere is like no other in Playa and the majority of visitors there are straight couples and/or families. Yes it may be classed as the gay centre but it should not be an issue for anyone, everyone mingles superbly and make one fantastic atmosphere and place to spend an evening.

[Hillbankdee]

NO Andrew 021, Im Not at all. If you go back on this thread on page 3, you will see that hillbank d has told this story, after you, It made me annoyed,Repeated it. That is why i have said what i have,
You were quite right to start this thread and tell your upset at this.And say what you did.Im on your side,
You really need to get out more.I have nothing against Gay men or women and as I stated in my last post I spend at least 1 night out of my holiday at the Yumbo centre.It is the polically correct brigade like yourself who are trying to make an issue of my post.I meant no harm and if anyone was offended then I apologise but for Gods sake lets not make a mountain out of a mole hill as what appears you are doing.As for taking sides then that to me says it all to me.

[stonehouse0121]

I for one accept your apology.

I just wish that this type of nasty 'joke' would stop being repeated ad nauseum - will straight men ever get it into their heads that not all Gay men want to rape them anally and therefore they are fairly safe to bend down anywhere! Most Gay men like to be with other Gay men and don't want to spend their time converting Straight men to their ranks (as if it were possible!).

The biggest joke of all is that it is usually the baldest, fattest and least attractive straight men who perpetuate this myth. I mean, c'mon??! :D

[vecino]

and for a gay Gran Canaria website and forum maybe look at :-
http://www.gaymengc.com/
http://www.gaymengc.com/forum/