Desert Day 4 - Joshua Tree

A break from jewellery updates with my next desert post! This was one of the best days ever! With the upcoming One of a Kind Show, you will see how much this trip inspired me.

We have all heard of Joshua Tree... and call me an idiot, but I didn't know much about it. When I think desert, I think vast endless vision of hot sand and maybe a couple trees. I think children's books and shows had long planted these stereotypical ideas in my head. Being at Joshua Tree National Park was like being on Mars to me. So many Joshua trees, trees, trees like I had never seen before. Boulders and mounds that looked so unbelievable to me that I felt like they were made somewhere and brought there. I'm having trouble expressing what I am thinking, but the whole place was unreal in the most majestic and awe inspiring way.

Several months later, as I write this and revisit these photos, I still cant believe this scene.

We spent the day driving around and going on mini hikes. It was beautiful. (And only someone who is always cold like me would need a jacket in the desert. It was windy, ok!)

Once in a while you would spot a hit of insanely vibrant colour and find the most amazing blooms in the dry dry desert.

This colour was so incredible in real life. This photo doesn't do it justice!

This was an old dead tree with the most beautiful texture -- dried, weathered with human markings made over many years.

I know, I took a lot of photos! It couldn't seem to pare it down!

This is the view overlooking Coachella Valley. 

Skull Rock was definitely a cool sight!

Each spot we stopped at in this massive national park had its own special feature. This is the Cholla Cactus Garden. Located at the meeting of the upper Mohave Desert and the lower Colorado Desert, this garden is filled with a maze of hundreds of beautiful jumping cholla cacti. Clumps are known to blow or jump off the main plant and attach themselves to passersby, so we were extra careful.

I was glad K had cautioned us. As we wound our way through the stunning garden, I saw a woman turn to look for the rest of her group. As she spotted them, she flipped back forwards and turned directly into a tall cactus. I couldn't warn her fast enough and she was left with many of the spiny pricks embedded in her arm and bare legs. We checked to see if she was ok, but as her friends had now connected with her, we figured she was in good hands. She was plucking each spine out as we left her.

What a great experience. Cannot wait to go back and explore more!

The evening was spent in huge contrast to our natural wonder day. We enjoyed a lovely dinner in the town of Palm Springs to get off our feet and to discuss the incredible views we had seen that day.

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Desert Day 2 - Indian Canyon Hiking Trail

Whoops, time has escaped me again! Time for some major catch up on the blogging. Here are some snapshots from our second desert day way back in the spring. On this day, we headed to Indian Canyon Hiking Trail. Luckily I had scored a great deal on a pair of hiking shoes when we popped into an Adidas outlet the day before. You really needed those treads on this dry desert grit.

Loved these hair palm trees. They reminded me of Muppets and just needed a pair of eyes to come alive. Felt like we had company at all times! Maybe it wasn't the anthropomorphic trees and it was the rattlesnakes... My friend covered her vital organs as i tried not to see them and we skedaddled by as quickly as possible!

I loved this hike. The terrain was so different than what we are used to in Southern Ontario, but my friends told me this was nothing... there are much more scenic trails. As I had joined this trip having done no research whatsoever, I just took their word for it and looked forward to our next outing.

We rewarded ourselves post-hike with an amazing long leisurely brunch, delectable cocktails and bottomless mimosas! The best meal we had on this trip!

They were not joking when they said bottomless. Our mimosa glasses were refilled quicker than most restaurants refill water glasses. So good! Needless to say a big afternoon nap was in order!

Desert Day 1

Hi everyone! Oops I've been a little lax on the blogging! Summertime always seems to get in the way of any additional screen time! Today I am hobbled by a foot injury and basically bound to a reclined position so what better time to catch up on a little blogging! I have been meaning to post the photos from the Rome leg of my Italy trip from last year, but A) somehow those photos will not load each time I try and B) It seems so long ago! I'll figure it out one of these days.

In the meantime here are some pics from my trip to Palm Springs and Palm Desert this Spring. 

My friends K and A asked me to join them on their trip and I jumped on it immediately. It was late-Winter and I was in the middle of the semi-annual One of a Kind Show craze, so I went without knowing a thing about the area or what we would be doing on this trip. Sometimes I think knowing nothing is the best way to visit a place.

K and I have known each other since the 8th grade but we have never taken a trip together so this was a nice treat.

As soon as I arrived, I got a chance to check out the Parker Palm Springs. If you know me, you know I love a good vintage find, mid-century modern style and loads of colour, so this place was just my kind of scene.

I mean, look at this giant owl macramé hanging!

I felt right at home.

Coming from a lingering Toronto Winter, it was so invigorating to feel the warm California sun and catch the sight and scent of vibrant flowers.

 Got us some delicious cocktails and tacos at poolside immediately!

 Helps to have a grown up version of a lemonade stand! 

 I need one of these swinging wicker chairs at home.

Within moments of arriving in Palm Springs, I knew I would enjoy this trip! Every corner was picturesque and chilled out and it was just what I needed! More photos are to come from the rest of our trip. Off to bed to rest my foot for the night and catch some quality zzz's.