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Winter can be shocking in Southern California, the land of tequila sunrises, and purple haze sunsets.  It’s mostly warm here, but occasionally the temperatures dip low enough for it to snow all the way from the Malibu beaches to the high desert. If you take a deep dive into historic photo archives, you can find many images of citrus groves, and other surrounds with a frosting of snow.  Chilly enough to see your breath, and make the tip of your nose turn red.  

This is a great time to head out to the desert, particularly Palm Desert.  Here you can find glorious blue skies, swaying palm trees, and fresh desert air warm enough to reset your body temperature and relax. So that’s where Tea Travels went.  A getaway to experience all that the desert has to give and to warm up a bit. 

The were several takeaways from this amazing mini-vaca.  Number one, the effect of the unparalleled beauty of the Southern Californian desert. The rainbow hues that light up the sky at sunrise and sunset.  The flora and fauna, both exotic and austere.  There are easy hikes up into the canyons to get a feel for the origins of Native American mysticism and a prehistoric ecosystem that has survived the ages and is thriving  today. The scenery of the desert, lights up the imagination, and carries away even the most unimaginative beings to dreams of other worlds.  

My next favorite thing about Palm Desert was the tributes to the  history of the Native American tribes that have lived in the region for ages that are revered and celebrated.  Several tributes and gathering areas are dedicated to local Native American tribes.  Visitors are enlightened and schooled on the ongoing presence and governance of the desert by these ancient tribes that have survived natural and man-made adversity. 

The city is filled with art galleries and museums.  There are parks filled with art and sculpture.  Palm desert has somewhat Phoenician esthetic that blends well with modernism. The effect exists in the architecture and city layout. A get away for esthetic pharaohs. Luxury shops line the main boulevard.  Pristine golf courses and world class resorts stream out from the main gathering areas.  Grocery stores filled with gourmet foods and delis can be found in several locations. Gorgeous mid-century homes, low of roof and expansive in living space, rest behind adobe walls, giving just a hint of what lies behind those walls. It’s all lovely to the eye and the city still maintains a sense of community.