Palm Springs, California

My husband and I vacationed to Palm Springs last week with a fabulous couple. We met them when we purchased our current house. Our Realtor said that the Builder wanted to meet us and do a quality control type of walk through the house before closing. We liked that personal touch. The Builder and his family ended up moving in two doors down six months later when their house was complete. Another nice factor to know that the builder of your home, wants to move into his home, on your street!
And from there, the four of us became fast friends. Going on mini vacations together, sometimes with our children, sometimes without. But this was the first trip via plane that we took together and it was a nice get away for all of us.

We stayed in a mutual friends condo and had his car available to use. The slider of the condo went straight to the pool gate, it could not have been any easier. The men are into golfing, so they left first thing each morning for the courses, while my girlfriend and I had a lazy wake up time, breakfast in the condo, and date by the pool by 9am. We read books in our lounge chairs and chatted in the pool when we wanted to cool off. Late lunches and dinners were enjoyed in different restaurants, and not wearing a watch was brilliant. This was how our typical days were spent last week; waking up to 80 temps and going to bed with temps in the mid-90's.We did enjoy some tourist types of adventures too. The Living Desert Zoo afforded us the walk we were longing for outside midday at 105 F. You know you have been deprived sun and warmth when all four adults opt for a walk in the middle of the day in 105 F!!! With multiple bottles of water, we made it and it was fantastic! We soaked in every ray and enjoyed every once of dripping sweat. We were drying out, finally!!
While those that read my blog might think I have adventurous blood running through my veins with Hummer Rides through the mountain wilderness at Whistler, and taking part in the Skywalk of the Grand Canyon ... I really do not. The pictures just make me look good. For those that know me well, they know what a chicken I can be. So, what was the extreme adventure for Elle J this trip? Doing the Aerial Tramway which is a 10 minute ride, 2 1/2 mile trip, UP (and then, yes, DOWN) a mountain that starts at 2,643 feet elevation and ends at 8,516 feet in elevation. Gulp! Not only are you riding in this Tram (Gondola), it rotates 360 degrees as you travel on a cable that looks like a telephone pole! Our builder-friend tried to assure me by telling me all the specs about said cable being used, comparing it to my Skywalk adventure, but I must say, as much as I trust him and know he was being kind, I had my doubts.
But the view was incredible at the top with a wilderness hike; it was well worth the sweat from fear and the buckling knees (since you ride standing up) to get there. Having never been, nor knowing much about the adventure, we thought we were just going to the restaurant on top for lunch. Once we realized that it offered a great hiking trail system, we couldn't pass up. As you can see in the photos, the girls were not dressed for hiking, but we made it work.
Our friends are made just right for us. We have that something special that works for all of us to be together, just enough likeness and differences that make it work. The four of us always bring out the "Oh my goodness, he/she's not breathing" type of laughing with tears rolling down the cheeks when we are together. Jokes that others would not understand, that special something that just clicks for us.

A wonderful getaway!! Thanks, C&S!!!