Nostalgic Palm Springs

Downtown Palm Springs

Dec 15/2018  After soaking in the Sunnylands Estate we popped over to old downtown Palm Springs.   Palm Canyon Drive is perfect for strolling and when your not strolling it is perfect for people watching too.  We walked.  Snooped.  Watched.  Ate.  Walked again.  Palm Trees hang over the sidewalks and Mount San Jacinto shadows the drive.   There is so much show biz nostalgia in Palm Springs. 

The Riviera Hotel where Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack hung out

You can take any number of tours to see the famous players that had homes here away from their hectic life.  We took a modern architect home tour a few years ago while here and it was excellent.  But today we are just spooking around and having a bite to eat where the Rat Pack liked to hangout .  And don't forget to look down at your feet.  The sidewalk is full of stars!

Walk of Fame Stars

The Beat Goes On

Feb 11/17  Weather suppose to be 74 and cloudy, but it cleared and was quite warm 79, night 58.
Palm Springs is known for being a playground for the rich and famous.  It's been decades since Frank Sinatra and other celebrities turned Palm Springs, California into their playground, to escape the hustle and bustle of Hollywood.

Desert Memorial Park - every Wednesday they remove all flowers and memorabilia left

In Cathedral City which is near Palm Springs you will find a couple of notable interments in the Desert Memorial Park.  What is remarkable is how simple and  plain the grounds are.  We did find "ol blue eyes" and half of the duet of Sonny and Cher.  Sonny Bono was more than a singer/songwriter he was also a politician being the 14th mayor of Palm Springs and a Congressman for California.  

Frank Sinatra - The Best is Yet to Come

While we were at Frank's grave site there were three teenagers also paying their respects.  We asked them if they knew where Sonny Bono was buried they had no clue who he was.....  we said  "you know Sonny and Cher".  "Oh right, is that his name?".  

Sonny Bono - and the beat goes on

 

Every Wednesday at 6 AM, all flowers in the cemetery are removed, - See more at: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2032#sthash.QxdKM08D.dpuf

Every Wednesday at 6 AM, all flowers in the cemetery are removed, - See more at: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2032#sthash.QxdKM08D.dpuf

Hotel California ??? - But not the one that keeps playing in your head

 

on Palm Canyon Drive in the old historic part of Palm Springs

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night

There she stood in the doorway, I heard the mission bell
Then I was thinking to myself this could be Heaven or this could be Hell
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor I thought I heard them say

"Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
(Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year
(Any time of year)
You can find it here"

Her mind is Tiffany twisted, she got the Mercedes Bends
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget

So I called up the captain, "Please bring me my wine"
He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969"
And still those voices are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night just to hear them say

"Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
(Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
They're living it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise
(What a nice surprise)
Bring your alibis"

Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on ice
And she said, "We are all just prisoners here of our own device"
And in the master's chambers they gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast

Last thing I remember I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
"Relax," said the night man, "We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like but you can never leave"

Weather or Not you could stand this?

Everyday.  Sunny.    Ok !!!  We can do it:)

Palm Springs & Desert Cities

Jan 17/2015 Weather - Perfect.  Really just perfect.  Sunny, dry (20% humidity), about 78 degrees.  Cool at night 50's.  So you don't need the AC running.  It's just perfect!  Everyday.  And you know if it's good enough for Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope and Dinah Shore and Gene Autry and Gerald Ford then we think there must be something to it :)  They all have a street named after themselves too.   Land of the movie stars..... ?

Our park - Shadow Hills RV Resort

So we are checked in to Shadow Hills RV Resort for the month.   Palm Springs and the area which is known as the Desert Cities is about 40 miles long, and has several small suburbs - Cathedral City, Thousand Palms, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella.  It is a valley and a desert.  Every direction you look you see mountain ranges.  It's quite a view.

driving downtown Palm Springs on Palm Canyon Drive

Last Fall we met the nicest couple in Napa Valley and they are regular winter snowbirds returning year after year to Palm Springs and it happens their nephew owns the RV park.    How lucky for us to meet them and we were able to get a spot in the park.  There are several places to camp in this area; some of the RV resorts are very large and luxurious on golf courses.  They offer sites up to $120 a night.   Your thinking that's crazy for a spot to park your RV!!!   We agree!  Well this place is lovely and small and very friendly with enough amenities for us and very affordable.  Once again meeting people and listening to their advice has helped us find a great campsite.  We plan on doing some riding and a little R & R.

Huge Wind Farm just before Palm Springs