So we left Santa Monica, managed to find our way out of LA, and drove into the desert, for our stay in Palm Springs. We stopped off at an outlet mall on the way, mainly to get a coffee and use the loo, but we ended up looking 'round the shops, Sal was frustrated at how cheap everything was, and how little space we have to spare in our bags!
We made it to Palm Springs, and checked in at our 50s-themed motel, we had the 'shake, rattle, and roll' room which was just fantastic! The next day we borrowed a couple of bikes from the hotel and cycled 'round the estate where stars from LA used to have their second homes. As we set out, we both realised that the bikes didn't actually have any brakes, you had to pedal backwards to slow down! Amazingly, we managed a two-hour ride without any incidents!
After an nice mooch around the town, we took a cable-car trip up the local mountain. The cable-car was huge, with a capacity of around forty people, and the floor rotated so everyone could enjoy all-round views. Everyone, that is, except the dozy woman next to me, who didn't realise the floor rotated, and thought I was barging into her on purpose, 'cos I was moving around, and she was holding onto the side, and staying in the same place!
Our final day in Palm Springs, and we went to the Art Gallery. It's not a big town, but due to it's many rich and famous inhabitants, it's benefitted from loads of generous bequests, it's a fabulous collection in a great building. We joined an official tour, and got chatting to the guide. We told her where we'd been, and that we were going to Needles, CA, next. She was shocked. 'WHY are you going there, it's a dump', she said! We got exactly the same response from the guys in the museum cafe, one of them offered to pray for us! We were starting to worry. It got worse when Betty, the motel owner, joined in later, she offered to do us a route that'd avoid Needles!
We went out to the weekly 'Village Fest' that evening. Sal really enjoyed it, 'cos there were loads of stalls selling soap! I just enjoyed the South California-ness of it! Little dogs in dresses, the 'Ask a Rabbi' stall, new-age musicians playing their latest 'choons', and the Democrat stall with cut-outs of the Obama's! I love California!