I love beautiful architecture.
And that is probably why I got out of the small I lived in when I was 18. I wanted to be in a big city. I wanted to see things. And of course since I am gay, I just had to get out of that town with one gay bar!

But seriously, I love when I travel to see new things; new cultures, new landscapes. To me, that is life is about. New experiences. Seeing as much and doing as much as you can!

I am a very visual person and I thank "God" all the time, I was blessed with eyesight. It is something so many of us take for granted.

Not that gay travel is usually associated with religion, I have  a deep appreciation for architecture, like I said. - And  there are so many beautiful churches, I thought it would be fun to run some here.


St. Basils in Moscow - Built in the 1550's.






  

Above left  is St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic church (Chicago - where I live currently)   is most known for its ultra-modern thirteen gold domed roof symbolizing the twelve apostles and Jesus Christ as the largest center dome.  Next  is  Sagrada Família - a very massive Roman Catholic basilica under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Construction began in 1882 and continues to this day. A very famous architect Antoni Gaudí worked on the project for over 40 years, devoting the last 15 years of his life entirely to this endeavour.

In the remote mountains of southwestern Columbia, Las Lajas Cathedral certainly ranks among the most enchantingly beautiful pilgrimage shrines in all the world. The overall look is really fascinating.

Built in 1916 until 1949 (what took them so long? I can't imagine....)  inside the canyon of the Guaitara river where, according to local legend, the Virgin Mary appeared.

You can find this church in southern Colombian Department of Nariño, municipality of Ipiales, near the border with Ecuador.



  
This is the  very famous Cathedral of Brasília designed by Oscar Niemeyer. This concrete-framed hyperboloid structure, seems with its glass roof to be reaching up, open, to heaven!  Built in 1970.

The Church of Hallgrímur is very very unusual. Construction work began in 1945 and ended in 1986!

It's a Lutheran parish church in Reykjavík, Iceland. At 74.5 metres (244 ft), it is the fourth tallest architectural structure in Iceland after Longwave radio mast Hellissandur, Eiðar longwave transmitter and Smáratorg tower.


And last but not least, churches come in all shapes and sizes! Check out this out!

In  2002 the Los Angeles Times reported that "Praise Christian Center... has been forced outside because of a zoning battle that has caught the attention of several national religious and conservative organizations.

Praise Christian held services inside a converted warehouse at American Landscape Supply on Goldenwest Street until it was ordered from the building because of city zoning codes.

The yearlong dispute between the tiny church (15 people)  and the beach city could become a classic standoff.  The city may have violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act that says local governments cannot "substantially burden" the free exercise of religion through zoning laws. - I have no idea why they have a SHELL sign!