Welcome to Palm Springs

Holy Frijolies!!! I didn't get to sleep until after 2 am!  Jenn was picking me up at 7 so I had to wake up early.  I was suppose to wake up at 6 so I can get everything good to go but I kept snoozing my celly alarm until before I knew it it was already 645.  CRAP!...Jenn will be by any time soon so I rushed to get ready.  Then I heard my celly's text message tone...it was Jenn...she was running late too so now I don't have to run around the house in a frenzy...what a relief I can now indulge in my daily morning glass of orange juice...awh...liquid sunshine!

Jenn rolled up to my house in her PHAT car just after 8 and she was so excited at the fact that she cleaned out part of her trunk of unnecessary paperwork, books, and manuals.   FINALLY!  Even though we were only gonna be gone for a weekend, I had enough clothes to probably last a week PLUS 3 pairs of shoes...my hiking boots, flat sandals, and flip flops which I was wearing.  I even brought an Igloo cooler with liquid refreshments, a beach bag for the pool and a fleece sleeping bag to lay out on the desert floor.  And not to forget my backpack filled with 3 types of sunscreen/sunblock, a baseball cap, and all the electronic recharging accoutrements for my celly, my digital cameras, and my Ipod.  For a weekend trip Jenn and I were truly prepared for anything that may come our way...perhaps too prepared.  

I was so happy that Jenn volunteered to drive because I love her car...the leather seats can be adjusted height, space from dashboard, and recline angle with one nudge of a motorized lever. ..and I am sure they have bum warmers to boot...most definitely riding in style!  I was definitely fighting the urge to nod off the entire way there!  Either Jenn has a lead foot or I miscalculated the distance Palm Springs was from LA because we got there at about 1030...and oooh the ride was smooth and fabulous...except when Jenn drove over these equidistantly spaced divots in the road!  

When we merged from I-10 onto CA-111, Jenn called Sal and Danny to see if they were interested in meeting us for brunch.  Even though we woke Sal up from his beauty sleep, he was down to grub.  Danny skipped out on brunch but he did give us suggestions on where to go.  He suggested Rick's Restaurant & Bakery and Rock Garden Cafe.

Anyways we made our way down the 111 to the Holiday Inn which didn't look like your typical Holiday Inn. ..it was dark green with ornate siding and stained glass accents.  Jenn and drove around the entire complex to see if Sal's door was outside...it wasn't so we parked and had to go up to the front desk to ring Sal's room.  The hotel lobby was an unexpected surprise as well...it looked so nice we decided to take pictures.  As Jenn was trying to set up the timer, Sal tried to sneak up behind her but she sensed his presence and turned around suddenly to give him a hug meanwhile knocking my camera to the floor...thank goodness my camera is shockproof!  

We all were starving so we hit the road to the Rock Garden Cafe (review to follow) so we can dine alfresco  while it was still overcast.   Besides, we passed by Rick's on the way to pick up Sal and the parking lot was packed. ..a good sign but it would mean service would take long and we wanted instant gratification.  Brunch was a delight...satisfying food (including more liquid sunshine), interesting conversation about work, life, and travel, belly-aching laughter, of course taking pictures, and being interrupted by the song of the local cicadas.  

After brunch we picked up Danny who suggested that we go hiking around Indian Canyons since it was close by.  From Danny's place near downtown Palm Springs we headed south on Palm Canyon Drive.  When we got to the tollgate, we thought it was 8 bucks per car but unfortunately to our dismay, the entrance fee was 8 bucks PER PERSON!  We fork over the cash...I sure hope it goes to the park upkeep and maintenance!  Anyways, the drive through on the paved roads  was a bit hairy as the road itself was really narrow and was for two way traffic.   Also there was on section of road that squeezed through a huge weird angled boulder and the face of a tall rock wall...suffice it to say Jenn had to inch the car through very carefully.

From the Palm Canyon parking lot, we could see a lush oasis in the canyon below...it was breathtaking to see such verdant life in contrast to the dry rocky cliffs of the canyon.  We snaked our way down a paved trail to the canyon floor and relished in the shade cast by the many California Fan palm trees (Washingtonia filifera).  Out of the ground spouted a dribbling spring...so narrow that you can jump across it...and we did!  We wandered a short while amongst the palm trees veering off the trail but the humidity was so high that we decided to call it quits and head back into town for the cool refreshments.

After dropping Danny off at home so he can nap, Sal, Jenn, and I drove into downtown Palm Springs.  We found a Ben & Jerry's off the main drag.  We decided to relax outdoors in an unoccupied courtyard and enjoy our ice cream and ice tea.  Being in such fabulous company, an hour so passed by before we knew it and we all wanted to rest before heading out again at night.  So we dropped off Sal at his hotel then headed to the nearest mall so Jenn can run an errand. 

Afterwards Jenn and I drove out to Indio...I swear it looked close to Palm Springs...to our hotel Fantasy Springs.  I tried to switch into a non-smoking room but they were fully booked...damn the Hef, the Playboy Bunnies and the pageant contestants!!!  The room was livable but we were sadly disappointed because it looked so much larger on the website's photo gallery. (Review to follow)  The room of course reeked but I was so tired I just wanted to nap.  I shut my eyes for a split second and BAM it was already 6 pm and we were suppose to meet up with the boys for dinner. 

After getting ready we headed back to Palm Springs, picked up the boys, and headed to Copley's on Palm Canyon.  On the way to the restaurant it started to rain...a warm sticky rain...eewwhh!  Plus the clouds were threatening our meteor shower watching plan...damn!   The courtyard of the restaurant was lovely and we spotted an empty covered dining area with an overhead fan.  Even without reservations, Copley's accommodated our fabulous party of four and thankfully the rain cleared up.  The cocktails were potent, the entrees were savory and delicious, and the dessert was adventurously scrumptious! (Review to follow)  Good food, good conversation, and good company made for an EXCELLENT dining experience. ..in fact we were at Copley's for over 3 hours!

We were feeling stuffed but wanted to get our grooves on and dance off all we ate so Danny directed us to Hunters Nightclub.  This place was packed to the gills with sweaty half naked men.  The four of us held each others hand as we snaked our way to the dance floor.  The club scene was CRAZY...an energetic mix of techno and electronica with a rainbow of lights swirling and music videos playing on flat screens all around the dance floor.  Several stages in the club were occupied by male go-go dancers wearing nothing but spanky pants and groping themselves way too much.  Sorry to all the fans of techno and electronica out there but there was only so much of the SAME beat that I could take so I ended up chillaxin by the wall people watching with Jenn. 

On our way back to Jenn's car, the skies had cleared and our meteor shower viewing excursion was back on.  Since we were all tired we all decided to take a power nap.  We dropped Danny back home while Sal, Jenn, and I power napped at Sal's hotel.  A couple hours later I hear a buzzing noise...Jenn's celly alarm no doubt.  We all get up...amazingly...and are out the door in about 15 minutes!  Jenn called Danny and he was awake too and ready to venture into the desert in complete darkeness.