Travel in Europe

[kayegirl]

I am hoping that later in the year I can cross the channel then travel down through France and into Spain. Apart from brief visits to friends in both France and Spain, where I will have to be my male self, I am hoping to spend the entire trip in full femme mode. What are the attitudes to crossdressing in France and Spain, will I have a hard time, or am I likely to be accepted for myself, whichever self that is.

Thanks for your advice so far. I will not be travelling into Portugal, so no probs there. I plan to use PnO North Sea crossing into Zeebruge, then its just a short trip into northern France. Journey down through France heading for the Ardeche where it will have to be male persona for a few days, then on into Spain and the Valencia region.

I shall be travelling in my motorhome, using regognised official Aires, no wild camping (no pun intended), and at the moment my travelling companion will be my little dog

[BlUeDrAgOn]

Well, I don't know about those countries, but if you happen to extend your journey to Portugal, I wouldn't advise you to go out on the street en femme. People around here are way too conservative. In the best of chances, people would definetely make fun of you on the street. I still didn't ind the guts to go out fully dressed (the farther I went was with very disguised breast forms and lingerie).

[Michelia]

Well, I don't know about those countries, but if you happen to extend your journey to Portugal, I wouldn't advise you to go out on the street en femme. People around here are way too conservative. In the best of chances, people would definetely make fun of you on the street. I still didn't ind the guts to go out fully dressed (the farther I went was with very disguised breast forms and lingerie).

Blue, are you in Lisbon? I love Portugal and I can see the problem. But Lisbon and that area around Sintra, Cascais, and even the Algarve area seem so cosmopolitan. My favorite part is the north, but I would love to do some CDing in the big city if I ever got back. I guess it may not be a good idea then?


France is no problem at least as far south as Bordeaux. I occaisonally hear warnings about Marseille, but you won't be going near there I guess?

In practice, you should be accepted anywhere if you're moderately passable and avoid the shady parts of town.

Please feel free to e-mail me if you want any contacts. If you come via Roscoff or St Malo we might even meet up?

This would be a dream come true for me. My kids are fluent French speakers, so sooner rather than later this trip will be obligatory for me.

[BlUeDrAgOn]

Blue, are you in Lisbon? I love Portugal and I can see the problem. But Lisbon and that area around Sintra, Cascais, and even the Algarve area seem so cosmopolitan. My favorite part is the north, but I would love to do some CDing in the big city if I ever got back. I guess it may not be a good idea then?

Well, as we use to say, Algarve is not Portugal. Not geographically speaking, of course, but in a more social way, if you know what I mean. There are parts of the Algarve where it's really hard to find people speaking portuguese.

In the major cities (Lisbon, Oporto, Coimbra and a few more) people tend to ignore each other on the streets, but if they saw a CD person (or a transexual or a gay couple or anything of a similar nature), it would most definetely not pass unnoticed. And after this, I can only think of one of three endings: unconfortable looks and comments; bad taste jokes and the worst of them all, phisical violence.

Of course, if we could go out in groups, it would be much easier to handle all this, but for a single person I think it would be too risky.

For my part, and because I'm a terribly shy person even as a man, I would have huge difficulties to deal with being the centre of attentions. Since I live in a smaller town, I find it even more frightening to go out on the street and being noticed by someone I know.

[Melanie R]

On our Dignity crossdressing cruises over the last 5 years, many on our cruises including myself have been enfemme in Italy, France, Monaco and Portugal and have never experienced any problems. Most in our group pass without any problems. Our next cruise from Europe will be November 29, 09 on the Voyager of the Seas from Barcelona with stops in Cartegena, Spain, Madiera, Portugal, Canary Islands, Bahamas and then into Galveston/Houston.

[docrobbysherry]

Going in a group, with folks that r experienced in the areas you're visiting, would seem the most enjoyable, and safest was to CD abroad. Unless you're there meeting CD friends!

Otherwise, I would think that either risking your health, or the enjoyment of your travels, mite not be worth the wearing of ladies gear in unfamiliar places!:sad:

[freeindress]

France is no problem at least as far south as Bordeaux.
True ! when I was living near there, once went to a large sports store (Decathlon), bought a blue short tennis skirt and orange striped bikini swimsuit bottoms, then went back home boldly wearing them - the bus drove through suburbs loaded with young people of color so there were a few stares and comments but I kept having fun (both fetish and CD).
Another summer, I spent some really good days at the beach in the same region (Lacanau) wearing a 2-piece swimsuit (bra strap tied behind neck) and a BananaMoon sundress, thin straps, blue with large white flowers :daydreaming: