Palm Springs Final Thoughts

 Very cool that this area has its own aquifer and is independent of other water resources and the area is intent on not polluting or harming this gift from the Jurassic (or earlier) age.

 

I wouldn’t be happy here. There is no color, no vibrancy when you drive around. Everything is shades of brown, tan, beige. The exception is the plant life, but that wouldn’t be enough for me. Florida has spoiled me for vivid, eye-catching scenery and buildings.

 

ALL the people with whom I interreacted were warm, welcoming, happy to be where they were; much more appealing than the buildings in which they were situated. I met not one grumpy individual while on this visit. Astounding!

 

I learned that no humidity does not mean I won’t sweat.

 

I learned that friends I met in person once, seven years ago, are as giving and good natured as I remembered them. FaceTime helps keep communications channels open, but NOTHING replaces one human being hugging another one!!

 

What seems to be snow on the mountain ridge below is sand/dust coming over the edge to descend on the valley we were in. Not awful but kind of unsettling as we watched it grow while we were driving.

I loved this desert experience and would probably visit agin, except that the friends I went to see are moving to Spain later this year.  

Try this area, even if you are not a golfer or a hiker, there is a tremendous variety of activities available and not all happen outdoors!

The Living Desert and (Sigh) Packing For Tomorrow's Flights

 Woke to another beautiful day here in the valley. We chose a perfect week to visit as later this afternoon, the temperatures will hit triple digits and continue to rise as the week progresses. We've enjoyed very cool nights and high 70's-mid 80's during the day.

This morning we headed to The Living Desert: Zoo and Gardens (another Rob and Craig suggestion).

We arrived at 8:45 and left about 12:20. Walking and gawking at animals and plants. Delighted by the Australia Exhibit. Unexpectedly entranced by the Model Train exhibit…neither of us expected an enormous running model train display with a variety of backgrounds and scenes.

Share our Zoo experience (without the walking and the rising heat):

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When we stumbled across the Aloe Garden, I found my horticultural home. Even I can’t kill aloe, I’ve kept 6 plants alive for several years. Now I have a plan for that space in front of my house…aloe varieties!

We left the Zoo, filled the car with gas, went back to the resort, lounged a bit, packed, ate most of the left overs. We decided we’d planned exceedingly well food wise, though I did have to borrow olive oil from Rob. 

Bedtime came earlier than usual because we had to leave the resort by 3:30 AM to make our flights home. 

Planes, Fabric and Pizza

We spent the several hours at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Barbara found planes like the ones her Dad worked on while he was a Marine in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. She didn’t find a Jeep like the her Mom drove during her World War II stint in the Marine Corps.

I had a great conversation with one of the volunteer docents about visiting Solent Sky while I was in Southampton during a Cunard cruise. 

I found a plane named Barbara III, then discovered it had been George Bush’s plane when he was a Naval aviator.

We did not expect to spend hours there but it was an enthralling experience.

I walked around the end of one plane and spotted this amazing trike! And even more intrigued when I read its history!

An excellent morning, one I would repeat again in a heartbeat if I lived near here!

Now we’re off to Quilters Faire to shop (maybe) and poke around (definitely). 

Great store. Looks of variety and very pleasant, helpful with being nagging staff. I found what I believe is the perfect pattern for Rob and Craig’s quilt. I also found a project that is definitely in my future. And, I love that Klimt quilt!

We made it Craig and Rob’s for lunch, three types of homemade pizza, with only a minute to spare! Fabulous food, as usual! What a magnificent chef Rob is! Their home is so relaxed and comfortable that the hours we lingered at the table flew past! And Barbara got to vamp a bit in a full length Black Mink coat!

The pizza Rob sent for us to nosh on was saved until the next day as we were sill sated when we went to bed!

Sunnyland and Thrift Store Browsing

Sunnyland is the Annenberg estate. The couple’s home lies surrounded by a nine hole golf course and mind-boggling gardens. Barbara and I took the birding tour as the house tour is sold out months in advance. 

I couldn’t tell you the number of birds we saw. We did finally see the Vermillion Flycatcher everyone was looking for. Look closely at the photo of the bird sculpture and you should spot it posing on the bird’s beak tip. 

I did find the boxed water sold in the cafe stayed cool much longer than the plastic bottled water I usually carried.

Interesting tidbits learned during our tour: 

• Lenore Annenberg loathed desert plants so many of the trees on the estate are olive trees. When President Eisenhower visited the estate, he commented to Walter how odd it was to be in the desert with no palm trees in evidence. Walter asked Lenore if she would acquiesce this one time. Two tall palms were added to the golf course. They remained the only desert plants until after her death in 2009.
• The Delos Bench is one of the non-golf themed whimsical additions to the course. It offers a place to “chill” on the cool marble while one watches the activity.
• Another whimsy is the Chinese Pavilion, where the couple would have lunch as they golfed.
• The Totem Pole was a Henry Hunt created gift in celebration of the couple’s open-mindedness.
• The Annenberg’s home is 25,000 square feet with one bedroom. Visitors were relegated to the guest houses completely separate from the main house. 
• The dry, tired looking trees forming a “wall” around part of the estate are Salt Cedars that were planted by the railroad to slow the blowing sand from damaging property. The trees are almost impossible to kill; our guide shared her experiences with trying to destroy them…nothing has worked so far.

Should you ever be in the Palm Springs area, Sunnyland should be MUST during your stay.

After Sunnyland, we browsed a couple of thrift stores and found a few things to fill up our suitcases. 

Another excellent day in the desert.