Palm Springs Visit 2020

Me and Pat on the balcony of our VRBO rental condo at the Biarritz condo with the Mount Jacinto mountains behind us

Another Palm Springs visit has come and gone. Already I'm looking forward to our visit to Palm Springs next year.

What a wonderful time we had during our two week visit. As usual the time went by so fast.

Unlike last year when we encountered torrential rain, this year every day was sunny and mild. The highest the temperature reached was 80 degrees. At night the temperature never dropped below 50 degrees. What a nice respite from the cold temperatures of Canada and Delaware during February. 

We stayed at the Biarritz condos in downtown Palm Springs.  The Biarritz is within walking distance of all the attractions of downtown Palm Springs, which we took great advantage of. Both Pat and I got a lot of walking in, walking that we both miss now that we have returned to our cold homes in Canada and Delaware.

Pat coming down the steps at our rented condo at the Biarritz handing me my key

Our stay in Palm Springs this year like last year was during Modernism Week.  Pat arranged for several tours.  One was a two and a half hour walking tour of famous homes. Very interesting but I was winding down after two hours.  But we did get to see the Lou Costello and Joseph Cotton homes and the stories behind their stay in Palm Springs. We saw many other famous homes including Barry Manilow and Suzanne Sommers who have homes up in the mountains. 

Later in the week we attended a fund raiser at the historic Plaza Theater in downtown Palm Springs. Nancy "These Boots Are Made For Walking" was the featured guest along with two of her daughters and James Darren. We were packed in the theater and the sound was muffled where we were seated but it was fun and interesting to see Nancy who, of course, performed her "Boots" song. She's still got it folks even though she has turned into a little old Italian lady and is no longer the young leggy blonde with white boots. Bless her heart.

On another day we took the double decker bus tour of famous homes hosted by the comedian Charles Phoenix.  We were in luck again, another perfect day for sitting on the upper deck of the bus although leg room was tight. Reminded me of my airline flight out to Palm Springs.  Of all these events I will post videos in future blogs.

Pat and I also revisited out favorite vegan eateries.  We eat healthy when we're in Palm Springs. This year we tried a few new places including to Tiki bars, one of which had wonderful chicken and vegan egg rolls as well as delicious Tiki drinks. Those places were the Tonga Hut and The Reef. We never did make it to the local gay bars like Hunters or Streets. We had too much fun at the Tiki bars. Met so many nice people at this venues also. In fact, during our two week visit we made many new friends who I hope we see again next year.  

Palm Greens Cafe - one of our favorite vegan restaurants

We also attended two parties at the Shag Store.  We always visit the Shag Store when we're in Palm Springs. Pat is a big fan of Shag as I am now. Every year they have a party at the store with free drinks with the Martini Kings band playing outside. I took many videos of which I will post.  Pat is quite the dancer.

The only downside this year is that I fell again and injured my right arm which is still aching. I would like to just once, not fall down during our quarterly get togethers.  What happened this time was I was walking back to our condo by myself (the sun was getting to me) and I was looking at the directions on my iPhone.  I tripped over several sand bags which were on the sidewalk from the previous night's street fair.  This time I didn't fall on my face but braced myself with both of my hands, my iPhone being in my left hand. I ruined my iPhone, which I had replaced at the Apple Store (I had insurance).  My right arm, which I fractured five years ago when I fell going into the American Legion Post 28 to sign up for a van ride to the VA.  Yes, I hit that same arm again. Still hurts.  I may have to get it X-rayed.  

Folks, all my life I looked forward to making visits like this but I never had a friend to do it with. Pat is the perfect travel companion.  He's fun, stays with me and pays his share unlike travel companions I've had in the past who disappeared on the Hunt (for sex) as soon as we arrived at our destination including those "friends" whose way I paid (Brad Corrill, Bob  Murphy, Bob McCamley, Ed Cage - you know who you are).  Yes, I name names.  After those bad experiences I traveled alone but traveling alone is never as much fun as it is traveling with a friend. 

I have so much to tell about our two weeks in Palm Springs including the huge Dodge Ram 2500 truck that Hertz rental upgraded Pat too. Man oh man did we ever butch it up during this stay.  We even fooled a fellow renter at Biarritz who thought we were construction workers like him (he had a Dodge Ram 1500 parked in the Biarritz parking lot near ours).  He was looking for construction work and thought we were fellow construction workers.  Oh my, he must have been so disappointed after he talked to us.  It was fun driving around in that Dodge Ram but what a gas guzzler and parking was also a challenge.  But yet another fun experience driving around Palm Springs in that tank.

Me with our Dodge Ram 2500 with a running board

I took over 1,000 pictures and videos.  I won't subject you all to ALL of those photos and videos in future blogs but I do have some choice ones I will share. Taking photos and videos is perhaps my major joy in our trips. I love taking them and then looking at those videos and photos later and reliving those good times.