PALM SPRINGS GETAWAY
On a Saturday in June of 2003, I looked out my
office window to another foggy day along the California Coast. After
seven weeks of relentless fog along, “This is depressing,” I mumbled.
I said to Greta, “What are you doing tonight?”
She looked puzzled and did not respond—it was a strange question
coming from the man she’d spent nearly every Saturday night with for
the past five years.
Next, I said, “What are you doing tomorrow?” By then, she thought I had lost my marbles. Again, she did not respond.
I said, “Good. Let’s go to Palm Springs tonight.”
“How romantic,” she said, ”I’d love to.”
We both had a few things to take care of so we agreed to leave at 4 p.m. At this time of year, we knew we could drive there and easily find a room. Yet, I
looked on the Internet for something quaint. Not one of those 400-room behemoths that offer mid-summer specials in bone-burning heat.
I saw “La Bella Villas.” Six rooms, downtown, reasonably-priced, no kids, pets or smoking on the premises. I called and talked to the owner Emil. He said
he had a villa available and would give it to us at the low-season, summer rate.
When we arrived—after an hour and 40 minute drive--the temperature was 102, 38 degrees warmer than it had been in San Clemente when we left.
We still had time to catch a little sun around the pool and sip on some “Two-buck Chuck,” a bottle of which we had brought with us. “Two-buck Chuck” is our
affectionate term for Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon, available at Trader Joe’s for $1.99 a bottle. Don’t laugh, it’s good.)
Each villa has double-French doors that open to a central pool area. To the west, two palm trees look like a giant goal post at the end of the pool. A monstrous
piece of granite, over 8,000 high is the backdrop for the view in that direction. Spectacular and romantic.
The villa had a list of recommended restaurants.
We picked the St. James because it specializes in curry dishes, which
we love. We ate at a table in the bar area that Greta said could have
been in Fiji, Hawaii or the Caribbean. Ana, a friendly, gracious
woman from Poland was our server.
How do you escape a stop at the old ice cream parlor when the temperature is so high? You don’t—a double chocolate chip Italian ice plus a little hand
holding made our night out special.
The La Bella Villas is only two blocks from the Palm Canyon Drive older downtown area. You don’t need your car unless you’re going golfing or sightseeing.
In the morning, we wanted to have breakfast at Molly’s Kitchen, where we had dined five years before. Couldn’t find it, sadly, it’s gone. But, the shops and
stores have been renovated and there are lots of other choices.
A spur of the moment, spontaneous decision by a couple to get away together can refresh a relationship. With Palm Springs so close to Orange County, we
vowed to visit more often. And the Bella Villas will be our choice (1-866-416-5958). Tell Emil you want the “Palm Springs.com Special Rates.”
Website:
http://www.palmspringslabellavillas.com/
La Bella Villas is impeccably clean and quiet. Don’t tell too many people, we want to keep it a secret.
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