Friday, March 23, 2012

PALM SPRINGS, TEMECULA, LA JOLLA and RANCHO SANTA FE

Palm Springs 
In the last few weeks, we have stayed in Palm Springs, Temecula, La Jolla and Rancho Santa Fe.  Years ago, when we had our motorhome, we spent some time in Palm Springs.  It has changed.  Many of the upscale shops and restaurants have moved to Palm Desert.  We found Palm Springs to be kind of funky and fun, and we had a peasant two weeks there.  

Scott, Ann, Geri, Ron Temecula
Then we drove over to Temecula for a week long seminar at the Foundation for A Course In Miracles.  This has been our spiritual path for many, many years and we try to get out here at least once a year.  It is always nice to see familiar faces and friends we have made over the years.   
Debbie, Conrad and Ron

Estancia Hotel La Jolla
View from the Inn into town
The fabulous weather changed abruptly on March 17.  That is the day we left Temecula and drove to La Jolla. It was rainy, windy, foggy and cold.  For the next couple of days, we shivered in 50 degree weather while it was in the 80s in Chicago and the northeast.  But the sun finally came out, temperatures rose into the 70s and we enjoyed our last couple of days at the beautiful Estancia Hotel in La Jolla. While there, we were able to spend a little time with two different couples we befriended on past cruises and had not seen in a couple of years.  Conrad and Debbie invited us to lunch and a matinee performance of Room 
Our room at Rancho Santa Fe


With A View at the Old Globe Theater.  We did not realize until we approached the theater and saw a sign that it was named after Conrad.  He is such a dear and humble man that you would never realize he is one of San Diego’s greatest  philanthropists.   


Another delightful couple, Cheryl and Imre, came to the Estancia one night to have cocktails and dinner with us.  As I've said before, one of the great pleasures of traveling like this is seeing friends along the way.


We are spending a week in Rancho Santa Fe, a quaint and charming town about half an hour north of San Deigo.  Ron is looking forward to seeing a former patient whom he inspired to become a chiropractor.  On March 28, we begin our travels  north.  

GREAT READ: "Behind The Beautiful Forevers" is a true and heartwrenching story about the slums of Mumbai, India.