After our delicious breakfast at Two Bunch Palms, we were back in the road, driving the back roads to Palm Springs.
We crossed over highway 10 and drove and drove, enjoying the landscape, the architecture and, eventually, the main drag of Palm Springs.
We vowed to return to the ice cream shop, but in the meantime, Marilyn had some possible shopping to do at a vintage store. We looked but nothing said “ Buy me!” except one very reasonably priced top for me.
Hunger overtook us, so we had a frozen yogurt treat to tide us over until dinner. Cute shop!
We were back on the road, driving through Rancho Mirage, with streets named after people like Frank Sinatra and Dinah Shore, and we finally arrived at our hotel, Hotel Paseo, a boutique hotel, part of the Marriott chain. It was right in the center of town, with an unusual item parked in the lobby.
Oddly enough, even through the word PASEO was shown in bright neon pink, it showed off as white in the photograph. Also notice that there are holes cut in the building so the two palm trees could continue to stand majestically on the property.
We had a lovely balcony, with a view of the setting sun. We decided to take a stroll, looking for dinner – and we found a wonderful place!
The Maitre d’ at Mama Ginas’s welcomed us. Even though it was a very busy, lively place, we were able to snag the little table with the banquette without a reservation if we promised to be gone before 8:00. It was 6:30 – no problem! Marilyn had soup and cannelloni, and I had shrimp scampi. Did we have dessert? You betcha!
Our evening after dinner was spent strolling the streets, peeking in windows and enjoying the ambiance of the small town chic setting. We vowed to return to see some of the shops – from the inside.
The next morning we walked down to a really cute French cafe we’d seen on our evening stroll. I chose beignets and a fruit salad. What a wonderful breakfast! The local customers were very friendly. It must be nice to live here, except in the summer! Our weather was perfect.
After breakfast, we wandered down to see the shops, then, after one purchase, we got our bags, checked out and left this unique part of the country. I was taken to the tiny but efficient Ontario airport, a drive of two hours, where I was deposited for my flight home. Marilyn had another hour of driving to do. We did see one unusual sight along the side of the road. No, it’s not real.
These windmills are real, however!
Our vacation was only three days but seemed much longer, because we had a variety of experiences within a small geographical area.
I just finished packing. Yes, tomorrow I’ll be flying to Honolulu on the first leg of my journey with my sister. I will stay with her and my brother-in-law for three nights, then she and I will fly to Sydney to take a two-week cruise of Australia and New Zealand, starting in Sydney and ending in Auckland. It will be nice for me to break up the long trip with one five-hour flight tomorrow, then three days later we’ll have a ten-hour flight.
Won’t you let me take you on a sea cruise?
The cost is free and hopefully you’ll enjoy the trip with us. We know how to have a good time..