California dreaming...

The end of the trail... the end point of this magnificent journey.

We drove more than 4500 km through this wonderful country, through forests, cities, deserts, unreal landscapes, dirt roads, lonely highways, busy highways. It was such a good roadtrip, without any problems, with a happy kid, a happy couple, we met friendly people on the way, we ate lots of (good) food, we slept in 17 hotels/motels, drove through 10 states, ate at at least 50 restaurants. I said at least 60 times 'I want to live here', I said at least 120 times 'Look where we are driving, look at all the space', the kid said at least 200 times 'I wanna hear 'let it go' (he Frozen Song), I learned again that I am the happiest when I travel and that we as a family are SUCH a good travel team. California dreaming...

I cried when the plane taxied away, I was still crying when we were already high in the friendly skies.

It was like leaving a lover at the station while the train slowly leaves the station.  (I felt like I felt when I had to leave Lolo in Paris for the week at the beginning of our relationship)

I think it is love.

 

House Hunting in Palm Springs, California

 After Joshua Tree we passed by Palm Springs. Oh, how we love Palm Springs. Five years ago this was our first impression of the USA (not counting NYC of course) after arriving at LAX. We stayed at l'Horizon back then (Marilyn Monroe used to stay here too), an adult only hotel, where we cannot go back for the next 14 years if we take the kid along. It was splendid, the desert modernism, the elegant vibe, the palm trees, - oh we had such a good time there. I highly recommend passing by Palm Springs and of course at the hotel.

For nostalgia's sake, we went for lunch again at the ACE hotel. The hotel to be if you are young, trendy and in for some fun and dancing in bikini, but they do have a good diner and I love the style, so we have the right to go too! ha!

We drove down the streets, just looking at all the houses that I love so much - (Palm Springs has the largest concentration of mid-century modern architecture and since the 1920’s, visionary modernist architects have designed sleek, modern homes that have embraced the desert environment) considering crashing 'open house' real estate days and pretending we are in the market for a 1 000 000 dollar home.  One day, after winning the lottery, I will buy a house here, you know just to come for the weekend while we live in Williams, Arizona. 

Again, a girl can dream!

Our peaceful desert retreat at Joshua Tree

 Nearly at the end of our adventure we decided to take a break for 2 days and rest a little. This was the only time we stayed two nights at the same location so it needed to be somewhere special. After nights and nights of searching on the internet, I found this hidden gem in the desert near Joshua Tree Park. The house was so tastefully decorated and some comfortable and cozy - I easily could have stayed a lot longer (read: live there). It was also good after almost 3 weeks to cook ourselves in our fifties style kitchen and BBQ some nice meat on the deck. We hung out in the hot tub most of the day...and night. It was incredible to watch the stars from the hot tub with a glass of wine in our hand, in the middle of the desert. 

There was no teevee, so we took the time to read, play and nap.

I'm so happy with this trip, as you may have noticed :)

Almost at the end...

 

Viva Las Vegas

 We did another detour to Sin City on my birthday and we stayed at The Venetian Hotel, a hotel with over 4000 rooms and they are all over 60 m². The hotel itself is a world on its own, you never have to leave, you are in wanna-be Venice, there are hundreds of restaurants and shops. We spent the afternoon at the pool, it was just the right depth for Olivia and she had the best time. We had some drinks and just enjoyed the experience. After sunset we went for dinner in the hotel and after for a walk on the strip. Outside it is a different world, it is still unbelievable with al the lights and the giant casino's and hotels - very impressive - all striving to be the biggest & the best, but it also has a very sad side. The side of the drug addicts on the street, the homeless, the drunk people, the people who just lost money at the games, the disabled begging for money,...

I did not feel very at ease with Olivia, because the atmosphere is edgy and things can get out of control very easily taking all things into account. When we were here 5 years ago, I did not really notice all these things - but now it really got to me a bit. So we went back to our safe haven, our big suite with 3 television sets and view on the Strip from the 24th floor. They also have the best beds ever!