Chapter 6 – Coachella Valley (Desert Palms/ Palm Springs/Joshua Tree)

Thousand Palms Oasis

After leaving Vegas we drove our way down to the Coachella Valley, home to Palm Springs, the Coachella music festival and a whole lot of desert. The valley is also home to a lot of golf resorts and movie star homes. Elvis lived here for a while as did Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra.

Trail in Joshua Tree

We spent the next week with Andre’s family – Ruben, Myriam and their gorgeous array of animals (3 parrots and two dogs). The Valley was uncharacteristically hot (temps reaching approx 40 C most days) so our days were spent relaxing in the house (with Chloe the African grey parrot chattering away in the 

background) trying to dodge the heat and venturing out after long lazy delicious lunches and dinners.

We visited the local natural oasis – beautiful palms and a clear pool of water in the middle of the desert. We also tramped around the beautiful Joshua Tree National Park where as well as the stunning landscape we saw a rattlesnake and loads of lizards and cacti.

Joshua trees and rock formations

With sadness we left our American home away from home. The next part of the trip was upon us and we traded in the dry heat of the Coachella Valley for the swampy heat and Cajun spice of the Deep South and New Orleans.