Day 2 in Palm Springs

 Today was all about the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.

First stop was an attempt to view petroglyphs and "fish traps" archeological site. Neither the maps nor GPS were helpful. Made it to the alleged location, but there was what looked like a fancy ranch there and they had a fence that partly obscured the trail. Just spent some time looking at the satellite view and there is a ranch there but no buildings, just trees. And it looks like you just skirt the property without trespassing. I may try it again as it's not that far.

Lots of date palm farms along the way.

Then down to the Salton Sea. Didn't stop. Just viewed it from the highway. It's apparently not very inviting what with the toxic chemicals, dead fish, and flies. After a particularly strong rain or huge runoff hearty folks might swim in it.

Hung a right onto the interestingly named Borrego Salton Sea Way. Stopped at several places to view the signs (Badlands and Life in the Playa) and made it to Borrego Springs. For a desert town there are some things happening. At least two restaurants were active and there was 3 desert plant nurseries.

The highlight though are the metal sculptures by Ricardo Breceda scattered around town and in the playa around town. There are apparently over 100! I saw maybe 10 and thought that was pretty spectacular. My plan was to head to the Petroglyph trail but I had forgotten my hat and just wasn't feeling it.

Took a somewhat circuitous route back following 79 to Aquanga, 371 to 74 that drops down to the valley floor at Palm Desert.

Swam in the pool and lounged in the hot tub.

Day 1 in Palm Springs

 The flight was full and the airport was insanely busy. Per the gossip in the half hour line for a rental car there's a giant nurse's convention in town with a few thousand attendees. They're apparently leaving late Tuesday or sometime Wednesday.

I was upgraded to a Dodge Charger. It's electric blue and has a sun roof. I feel a bit sporty driving it. Tomorrow I'm taking a long loop trip to the Salton Sea and the Anza Borrego Desert. There will also be some metal sculptures somewhere along the way. And maybe petroglyphs.

The Art Museum is closed Monday and Tuesday so once I checked into the hotel, more on that later, I went to view the exhibit. Nothing blew my socks off. That's not to say that there wasn't some air stirring around them.

Picasso is a genius, no surprise to anyone. And he can draw a bull. They have a few minor pencil drawings and a few ceramics so it's not extensive. My favorites were the bulls and an owl ceramic.

Honorable mentions go to a piece that played with movement. Square blocks against finely striped background. As you walked by the blocks seemed to pulse. Love kinetic art. Interesting stuff in the Mythopoetica exhibit - graffiti type urban art, interesting colors in paintings including one that looked like it was painted on velvet or using that Vanta black. It was not painted on velvet.

I'm sorry to say that I intend to copy some of the art in my pottery, particularly the Picasso owl and cactus in the Mythopoetica exhibit. During dinner I started looking at paleolithic and other art owls for ideas. Owls are surprisingly popular and have varied meanings (wise, foolish, portent of death).