Palm Springs... Part 3.

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On the way to Salvation Mountain we passed by the Salten Sea. The Salton Sea is an inland saline lake in the Sonoran Desert of extreme southeastern California. It occupies the Salton Basin, a remnant of prehistoric Lake Cahuilla. It is bordered on the south by the rich agricultural areas of the Imperial Valley and on the west, by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Both the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge are located on its shores.

Read more: https://www.desertusa.com/salton/salton.html#ixzz58ndnhYvs

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Leaving Salvation Mountain we drove through Slab City. Very, very interesting. Slab City, or The Slabs, is a free campsite and alternative living community located near an active bombing range in the desert city of Niland, California. Previously an old WWII base, Marine Barracks Camp Dunlap, the campsite earns its name for the concrete slabs that remained long after the military base had been bulldozed and abandoned. More here https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/slab-city-california

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The other side of this building welcomes you and this is the message on your way out.

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Of course there was golf for John and some shopping for me. As far as I could tell the shopping was all DT. One end the nicer stores and as you continue you get the souvenir shops. If you like the artist Shag's work stop in his store. I always like to get a piece of art when we travel. This time I got this graphic on a pillow and similar coasters. Goes well in the living room with the green couch and loveseat which although new has mid-century lines.

I also shopped at Dazzle which has old 80s plastic or bake light earrings. I am collecting some for Summer.

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I can recommend the Eight 4 Nine restaurant for lunch near the Shag store. I am still thinking about the smoked salmon nicoise salad. Ask for the happy hour menu. Even if it is lunch time.

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We enjoyed our first visit to this area. I had some preconceived ideas about Palm Springs that were wrong. The house colors were almost always white and sandy earth tones. I was looking for the old Palm Springs. I expected an old area that was pastel stucco, especially soft pink. I hoped to take photos of old signage and didn't find any. I thought there would be an area that would have supper clubs and tiki bars where we would have old fashioned cocktails with Frank singing in the background. Not so.

And that is the end of a lovely week.

Palm Springs... Part 2

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Mid week we took a day trip to Salvation Mountain. It is a bit of a trip from Palm Springs. But it was a good way for us to get out in the desert. I love kitsch. Salvation Mountain is visually Grandma Moses gets religion.

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Salvation Mountain is Leonard' Knight's tribute to God and his gift to the world with its simple yet powerful message: "God Is Love." Leonard's passion has lovingly created this brilliant "outsider art " masterpiece resplendent with not only biblical and religious scripture such as the Lord's Prayer, John 3:16, and the Sinner's Prayer, but also including flowers, trees, waterfalls, suns, bluebirds, and many other fascinating and colorful objects. - Official Salvation Mountain Site

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For some reason I really love this composition.

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Thanks for traveling along... one last post next week.

Palm Springs or an Escape from Winter!

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This was my first trip to Palm Springs. Land of blue skies, sun and warmth. We stayed in a great house with a pool. Bliss.

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Our first day was spent looking at open houses, mid century modern, of course. And a visit to the stunning Palm Springs Art Museum.

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Heart Cone Chair was created by Verner Panton. and Produced by Vitra in 1959.

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I have one of those chairs but mine is matte black and is vintage. I would love to have that little TV.

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Bird. 1996 by Enrique Martinez Celya

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This was Modernism Week. Unfortunately we did not attend anything. Since this was our first trip there we kicked back and played tourist, lounged, napped, drinks by the pool.

We left Wisconsin which had typical Winter weather. We came home to find my Mini's tires frozen in a little pond of ice which is our driveway.

Next Palm Springs post will include Salvation Mountain, Salten Sea and Slab City.