From "Gay Friendly France," a travel brochure produced by the French tourist bureau:

Outstripping all the other countries in Europe for just the right mix of fun and sophistication, France is a gay-friendly destination par excellence. Whether you want to watch a can-can—or even be in one—or take in the monumentally moving sights of grand Gothic cathedrals, royal castles in the Loire Valley, or unsurpassed art collections, France is the in place to be out.

At the heart of Paris is a liquid valley, the Seine River. In warm weather the river's walkways attract sunbathers, and all year round the banks are lined with booksellers' stalls, lovers ambling hand in hand, silent contemplative wanderers, a fiery group of tango dancers here, an impromptu gathering of musicians there, and always the quiet fishermen with their long thin poles bobbing at the waves. At the west, the iconic Eiffel Tower, erect in all its iron glory, dominates the Seine, and as you travel farther east, there's the Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre, and wonderful apartment buildings that will make you ache with envy.

Are you among those who've always suspected that in a past life you were "to the manor born"? France's châteaux present hundreds of opportunities the bring out the king, or queen, in you, and to satisfy whatever appetites you may have.

Champagne, the most celebratory wine of France, is, of course, that bubbly concoction that renders you even more giddy. It is credited to a certain Dom Pérignon, a monk living with his brothers at the Hautvillers abbey around 1700, who is said to have proclaimed when he tried it, "I am tasting stars!" If you, too, would like a heavenly mouthful, then head to Champagne, the province east of Paris.

The biggest contribution to spirits in the southwest is Armagnac, one of the most distinguished brandies in the world. The town of Condom has and Armagnac Museum and plans to open another museum dedicated to the love sheath that shares the town's name.

Who could resist sending a postcard: "In Condom. Wish you were here"?

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