weimere@aol.com – Page 7 – Snapping The Globe

What Goes Up…Must Come Down, Part Two

I love airplanes.

Well, obviously…I am a flight attendant, after all!

My job is performed on airplanes, I travel for pleasure on them, I enjoy seeing them in museum settings and especially love seeing them in action, no matter if they are modern or antique. They are all works of art and feats of engineering. The Wright Brothers imagined that they could take us up high into the atmosphere, show us the world from another viewpoint and bring us back down again safely. They did and continue to do so.

What is even cooler is that my husband loves airplanes too! Could you imagine if he was afraid to fly? No…definitely would never have worked out!

On a trip to Palm Springs, there was only one day that I would have to spend with my husband, since he was actually there for work. Although there were lots of things in the area to enjoy, I wanted to make sure that we participated in something that we could enjoy together. Visit a church? No, I have probably dragged him to enough churches to last him a lifetime! Go to the top of a mountain? Check out some airplanes? Yes to both!

The Palm Springs Air Museum fit the bill. Perfect for me. And. Perfect for him!

The idea for Palm Springs Air Museum was conceived in 1993 from the minds of three men, Charlie Mayer, Pete Madison and Dr. Mort Gubin during a break from an airport commission meeting. Since they knew various people with World War II airplane collections, they wondered why they just couldn’t have a museum to house a collection in Palm Springs.

After years of working with contacts and volunteers, construction was started in February 1996 and the Museum opened to the public on November 11, 1996. Two hangers were initially built to house the collection, a third, opened in 1999 and a fourth opened in May of 2017.

A simple idea during a meeting break has led to a Palm Springs venue which attracts over 100,000 visitors annually. The museum houses over 59 vintage flying and static aircraft, the Berger Foundation Youth Exploration Center, the Berger Foundation Classroom Annex, the General Ken Miles Science Center, an upstairs Library and Education Center with over 9,200 volumes (many primary source materials), a Community Room, Theater and tons of wall exhibits. Over the years, the museum has also hosted temporary exhibits and visiting aircraft such as the only flying B-29, the AVTT Vietnam Wall Memorial, the World Golf Hall of Fame and Museum Bob Hope Exhibit, Ansel Adams’ Photos of Manzanar and the Salute to WW2 Flying Tigers in China.

Spotting the museum’s amazing outdoor collection of aircraft while landing at the Palm Springs Airport on my arrival into the city, I made up my mind, then and there, that this was the one of the places that I would bring my husband. With our visit to the top of Mount Jacinto complete during the morning, we headed to Gene Autry Boulevard and parked in the parking lot amidst many aircraft on display in front of the museum. Saving these for later, we paid our admission, we were then greeted warmly by one of the volunteers and given a map of the premises. With so much to see, we decided to start with the first hanger and discover something new and exciting at each turn.

While it would be tedious and, to be honest, a bit boring, to try and describe everything we encountered, I will tell you about a few of the things I enjoyed most.

The short documentary describing the German prisoners which were kept in Texas during World War II.

The countless airplane models housed throughout the museum in glass cases along the walls and in the middle of the hangers.

The many military uniforms on display.

Staring up at the A-5 Release Bomb Rack while standing under the plane.

The automotive collections.

The outdoor collection.

The “named” aircraft.

Seeing the F-117 Nighthawk.

Sitting in the cockpit of US Air Force Roadrunner.

Seeing the “movie-famous” leer jet seen in The In-Laws, Airport 1975 (1974), Any Which Way You Can (1980) and Dragnet (1987) among others.

Playing with the in-flight simulators in the Library and Education Center. This by far was my favorite and in case we ever have an emergency on one of my flights where the flight attendants have to land because something has happened to our pilots…well, let’s just say that I can’t do it! My time on the simulator proved that we would be doomed if left up to me!

Learning about my husband’s extensive aircraft knowledge. The most educational part of our afternoon, however, was learning how much my husband knew about these planes. Spouting off facts and figures about so many of the aircraft on display, I finally had to ask him how he knew all of this. When he was a boy, his favorite things to do was build model airplanes and watch World War II movies and television shows (remember Hogan’s Heroes?)! Well, just when you think you know everything about your spouse!

*Aircraft and monuments in the front of the museum.*

We both spent a wonderful afternoon, sometimes losing each other in the vast hangers, each preoccupied with the things that interested us most. The idea that Charlie Mayer, Pete Madison and Dr. Mort Gubin dreamed of was one that probably evolved more than they ever imagined and I was proud to see many veterans walking through the premises.

A popular museum for not only visitor’s to the area, but it also hosts many functions throughout the year for various conventions and other private events.

That evening, while my husband was talking to a colleague about our outing that day, he discovered that his work function’s cocktail party, the next night, was going to be held…

At the Palm Spring Air Museum!

More fun for him!

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Palm Spring Air Museum

https://palmspringsairmuseum.org/
Address: 745 North Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, California 92262
Hours: 1000 to 1700, daily
Admission: Adults, $20, Seniors, Veterans, Retired Military, Teenagers (ages 13-17), $18, Active Duty & immediate family (significant other + children), free with ID, Children 12 and under with paying adult, Free.

What Goes Up…Must Come Down, Part One

Our plans for the day included two things…

Mount Jacinto and the Palm Springs Air Museum. Fitting to combine them since both involve going high up into the atmosphere and then returning back to terra firma…and in the case of some of these aircraft…permanently!

If you are ever interested in heading to Mount Jacinto, REMEMBER…it is at a much higher altitude! Even if people are wearing shorts in the downtown area, when you get to the aerial tram parking lot, you’ll see lots of people in heavy jackets and snow clothes during the winter months. We had planned semi-accordingly, and I will say that because although I had brought a warm jacket, I had worn tennis shoes with short socks! When I stepped out of the car and walked to the aerial tram station, my ankles were asking “why” and we weren’t even to the top yet!

The idea for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was conceived in 1935 by Francis Crocker, a young electrical engineer. During the heat of the day on a visit to Banning, California, he looked up at the snow-capped peak of Mount San Jacinto and wished that he were able to go there “where it was nice and cool.” With the assistance of O. Earl Coffman, Francis Crocker set out to make this desire a reality. Construction of the tramway, in the rugged Chino Canyon on the north edge of Palm Springs, was finally started (after countless roadblocks) in 1961.

Engineers were challenged to overcome the jagged terrain by the use of helicopters in the erection of four of the five supporting towers, with only the first able to be reached by road. Twenty-three thousand helicopter missions, twenty-six months of construction and hundreds of workers resulted in the the completion of the towers and the 35,000 square foot Mountain Station, after two years of strenuous labor.

On September 12, 1963, local and state dignitaries and countless celebrities took the tram’s inaugural ride to the Mount Jacinto’s peak with Francis Crocker occasionally riding along, giving a narration of the construction process and of course, so that he could go “where it was nice and cool.”

Since we had not purchased our tickets online, we easily purchased them at the Valley Station ticket counter and then waited for our timed boarding process to begin. Stepping out of the rear of the station, we gazed up at the miniscule Johnson Falls cascading down on the rocky face before spotting the signs warning of rattlesnakes in the area…back inside for us!

In the small Tramway History Museum (after searching fruitlessly for socks in the gift shop), we watched a film on the tram’s construction process and regarded the photographs which documented this feat of engineering until an announcement was made regarding our boarding.

After a few minutes wait in an anteroom, the doors were opened and we were allowed to board the tram car. As in any case such as this, passengers jockeyed for position to be sure to get the foremost and lowest windows, but as the tram began its ascent, we realized that during the 1998 modernization project, the cars had been updated. These new cars became the largest rotating cars in the world offering all passengers the most spectacular views, regardless of where they stood in the car, during its two complete revolutions on its ten minute, 2.5 mile ride.

As we ascended toward the peak on this clear, sunny day, we were fortunate to have outstanding views of the rocky Chino Canyon and the desert plains of the Coachella Valley. An exhilarating ride, we delighted in the grand perspective and even the swinging of the car as its arm passed atop each tower…something my husband who is terrified of heights was dreading.

Exiting into the Mountain Station, at an elevation of 8,516 feet, we took some time to take in the views from two of its observation decks, while we stepped around the newly fallen snowdrifts. Yes, my ankles were extremely cold at this point!

*Mountain Valley Station* *Observation Deck Views*

Finally, a walk down the paved trail behind the station, led us to the trails of the state park. Deciding to follow Desert View trail into the park proved to be a bit difficult at times due to the snow and icy conditions, but we persevered, despite me falling down hard at one point. No broken bones, but we got some great photos, built a small snowman, watched families have a great time sledding down the small hills and learned about some of the trees and wildlife of the area through the park’s signage. It is easy to imagine that it must be quite lovely here during the summer months!

Once back inside the (much warmer) Mountain Station, we browsed the wildlife exhibits and watched another movie about the tram’s construction until it was time to make our way down to the Valley Station. Here, we realized how smart it was to make the start of our day an early one. Whereas we had entered the station and walked directly to the counter to purchase our tickets, we now discovered a line stretching from the counter, outside, down the steps and onto the sidewalk. And…while we had parked directly in front of the station, cars were then being directed to one of many parking lots only accessible by trolley.

Whew! Hard to get up in the morning, but worth the effort!

Best part of getting up so early…we had time to have lunch downtown and then head to the Palm Springs Aviation Museum! Another trip to the clouds…well sort of!

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Mount Jacinto Aerial Tram

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sbnf/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=74226&actid=50
https://pstramway.com/
Address: 1 Tram Way Palm Springs, California 92262
Hours: Monday through Friday, First Tram up 10:00 am, Last Tram up 4:30 pm, Last Tram down 6:00 pm. Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, First Tram up 8:00 am, Last Tram up 4:30 pm, Last Tram down 6:00 pm
Admission: Adults, $28.95, Children (ages 3-10), $16.95, Seniors (65+), $26.95. Tickets can be purchased online, however, if online tickets are sold-out for any day, tickets are still available, but can only be purchased on the day of your visit at the Tram’s Valley Station.
Getting There: From Downtown Palm Springs, head east on E. Tahquitz Canyon Way toward E Tahquitz Canyon Way, turning left onto N. Calle Encilia. Turn left onto E. Alejo Road and then right onto N. Indian Canyon Drive. Turn left onto E. Stevens Road and then right at the first cross street onto N. Palm Canyon Drive. Pas by 7-Eleven and then take a left onto Tramway Road. Destination will be on the right.

The Palm Canyons

A text woke me early in the morning.

It was my friend Judy. She had seen my Facebook posts stating that I was in Palm Springs.

Her text:

You have to go to Indian Canyon. 38520 S. Palm Canyon Drive. Do NOT miss this!

Judy has a love for travel…just like me. When she says to do something, I do it! Her recommendations are always spot on!

In the morning, I had headed north to seek out Pioneertown and the Desert Christ Park. Finishing my explorations just after noon, I calculated how fast I could get back to town and then checked the level of the sun. Knowing how much faster daylight wans in the canyon areas, I needed to step it up!

When I arrived at the entrance, I spoke with the ranger, confirming that I was in the right place. When I had texted Judy to see what I needed to see and do at Indian Canyon, her response was “Oldest palms in America.” So…I asked the ranger where I should go to see the oldest palms.

What I did not understand was that Indian Canyon has three different areas, Palm Canyon, Andreas Canyon and Murray Canyon. The ranger recommended that if I wanted to see the ancient Washingtonia filiferas (California Fan Palm), I should head to Palm Canyon and then Andreas Canyon.

The drive to Palm Canyon wasn’t extremely long, but was very picturesque. Some abandoned buildings caught my eye and I quickly stopped to snap a few pictures. A short distance later, I caught sight of an amazing rock formation that apparently blocked the roadway before it was built. Some blasting was obviously involved and created a stunning piece of natural architecture to drive through!

Just past this area, I got my first sightings of the palms that this area was known for growing along a small stream. A few zig zags up the cliff and I pulled into the parking area. Spotting a couple of rangers, I quizzed them for some intel and was guided down the narrow path toward the canyon floor.

My first glimpse of the palm grove was breathtaking! Their appearance amid the stark rocky gorges and barren desert land was not quite what I expected and the first thought that came to mind was Egypt. I remember vividly the oases that we had driven past many years ago while visiting the pyramids and surrounding archeological areas.

The path to the canyon floor was a bit steep, but I had no problem making my way down. Following the rangers’ advice, I walked amidst the giant palms, stopping near the stream for some interesting photos and to inspect some of the Cahuilla Indian huts, while noting that it would be a nice spot to have lunch on one of the picnic tables under the shade of the palms. While the canyon is fifteen miles long, I decided to only hike for a short distance since I was alone and I also wanted to visit Andreas Canyon. After my trip back to the top, I stopped into the Trading Post to inspect the Indian art, artifact, books, jewelry, pottery, baskets and weaving…and let’s not forget…a bathroom break!

Driving back the way that I had come, I neared the entrance station, but at the traffic circle, I followed the signs to Andreas Canyon.

Finding a parking lot that spanned both sides of a small creek, I discovered that the Andreas Canyon Trail ventured out from both ends of the parking lot. I passed a couple more of the Cahuilla Indian huts before heading out on the mile-long loop. The sun was getting low in the sky but still highlighting many of the tall rock formations which was simply spectacular! The trail was fairly easy and I was alone for a good part of my hike. Eventually, I came to a small bridge spanning the Andreas Creek and then the hike became more rocky with the high rock wall stretching up to my left. The small, clear stream gurgled to my right and I imagined that during a hot summer day, it would be a great place to cool off your feet. Andreas Canyon had more than 150 species of plants in addition to its own palms within it lush oasis.

Since the daylight was growing dim (and I had dinner plans to dress for), I decided that Murray Canyon would have to wait for a future visit. This is the canyon where there are many equestrian trails and of course, more palms. Although this canyon is less frequented by hikers, it is the one where the endangered Big Horn Sheep, mule deer and other wild animals might be spotted on the higher ground.

When I had first decided to visit Palm Springs, I had vowed to do some hiking.

Thanks to Judy, I got to do that and enjoy some of Palm Springs natural beauty!

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Indian Canyons

https://www.indian-canyons.com/indian_canyons
Address: 38520 S. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, California
Hours: October 1-July 4, 0800-1700, daily. July 5 – September 30, 0800-1700, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Last vehicle in at 1600. No animals allowed.
Admission: Adults, $12.00, Seniors 62+, $7.00, Students, $7.00 (with student ID), Children (ages 6-12), $6.00, Military (with ID), free, Equestrian, $11.00, Annual Pass, $125.00. Equestrian Annual Pass, $150.00.

Wondrous Windmills

While driving along Interstate 10, through the San Gorgonio Mountain Pass in the San Bernadino Mountains, you can’t miss the white giants.

The windmills.

While I was not interested in doing a formal tour, of which many different ones are offered, I did want to see these colossal turbines from a little closer perspective.

First encountering the windmills while driving along Indian Canyon Drive and heading to Joshua Tree National Park, I marveled at their size and stark contrast to the barren desert landscape. Since I did not have the time to stop and photograph the rows of white windmills at the time, I vowed to find a place to pull-off of the road on my way back and again, the next morning, for varying looks and lighting.

The Palm Springs wind farm was opened in 1982 and was destined to harness the natural wind from the San Gorgonio Pass, the gap between Southern California’s two highest mountains, a natural wind tunnel. Winds here have reached 80 miles per hour and generate enough power for 300,000 homes in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.

The windmills were installed at a cost of $300,000 each and are two-bladed turbines that require wind speeds of at least 13 miles per hour. They stand 328 feet tall and their blades are as long as half of an American football field (150 feet)!

As I had vowed, upon my return to Palm Springs that afternoon, I pulled onto a side road and captured an amazing photo with the sun slinking down behind the mountains. It was a spectacular sight!

The next morning, with the bright early sun aiming from the opposite direction as the previous day, I realized the opportunity for contrastive photographs. While traveling on Indian Canyon Road, just before Interstate 10, I spotted a sandy road with a sign directing travelers to the Amtrak Station. An empty parking lot gave me ample opportunity to gaze out at these skyward reaching towers adjacent to the station.

A short distance past the interstate, there were numerous side roads upon which I was able to pull my car onto and take more photographs. Although I wasn’t able to get extremely close, learn about the area’s geology, the development, design and evolution of wind turbines or see some of the older models or some of the windmill tops on the ground in the equipment yard as you would during one of the formal tours, I think that the drive through many of the back roads gave me the photo opportunities that I was seeking. There’s always Google for everything else, right?

While I enjoyed these spectacular views, they seemed quite familiar. I knew that I had seen countless older-styled windmills in the Netherlands and occasionally new ones such as these, but I had seen these particular ones and this landscape somewhere else.

Mission Impossible 3, with Tom Cruise was shot in this area. Remember the helicopter chase?

Go chase’em on your own or with a tour! Worth seeing!

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Palm Springs Wind Farms

https://www.palmsprings.com/attractions/windmills/
Address: Adjacent to Highway 111 and the I-10 Freeway just northwest of Palm Springs.
Hours: 24 hours, daily
Admission: free. Tours available with various operators for assorted prices.

Short End of the…Tree

When planning my trip to Palm Springs, I was rattling off a list of some of the places and attractions that I had hoped to visit.

While I am pretty adept at discovering everything there is to see and do in a city, I had missed one.

Joshua Tree National Park.

It was my middle son who mentioned that I should venture out into the desert to see this national treasure.

Elevated to National Park status in 1994, Joshua Tree is located one hour east of Palm Springs and approximately three hours from San Diego, Los Angeles and Phoenix…very easy to get to one of the park’s three entrances from any of these cities.

About a year ago, I had visited the Badlands National Park. It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had with each part of the park offering something totally different and I expected the same thing from Joshua Tree.

Dating back to 1936, when Minerva Hoyt, a Pasadena resident tirelessly worked to protect the cacti and other plants of the area, 825,000 acres were set aside as the Joshua Tree National Monument. With its large population of Joshua trees…the tree that mid-19th century Mormons believed to look like the biblical figure Joshua with his outstretched arms (tree’s limbs) guiding them westward…visitors are reminded through exhibits within its Visitor Centers of the role it played in helping homesteaders succeed in building and establishing their new lands. Well paved roads, scenic overlooks and well-maintained trails attract those near and far…Joshua Tree National Park brings in over two million visitors from all over the world each year.

*Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center*

While of course, I expected to see a LOT of Joshua Trees…I wasn’t sure what else I might see.

Probably desert.

Probably rocks.

Probably trails.

Yes, they were all there. But as beautiful as the scenery was, I expected a little more.

Okay, you can hate me for that. But…I kept remembering the Badlands with its spires, its rainbow colored hills, its bison herds, Prairie Dog town, thousands of valley overlooks.

There is no doubt that I thought it a stunning and diverse place and I enjoyed the few hours we spent there. And…maybe that was the problem. We only spent about four hours in total driving through the park, as my travel companions had to be back in Palm Springs for an event later in the day. We made the most of our time in the park, examining the exhibits at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center near the West Entrance, climbing the rocks at Hidden Valley, gazing out of the Coachella Valley from Keys View, a little hiking at the Hall of Horrors and a longer hike to Skull Rock from Jumbo Rocks campground before exiting at the North Entrance near Twenty Nine Palms…all while constantly keeping an eye on our progress through the park and on our watches.

*Our first views of Joshua Tree National Park after the West Entrance Station.*

Those four hours paled in comparison to my entire day in the Badlands. There, I was one of a handful in the park due to it being extremely cold that winter day and I was alone in my car. Don’t ever discount being alone in a National Park! While I chose to not do any lengthy hikes because I was solo, I did do some short ones and I stopped whenever and wherever I felt like it to take thousands of photos! There was nothing keeping me from returning to Rapid City except the darkness at the end of the day.

SO…would I go back to Joshua Tree? Yes, absolutely! But this time with much more time to explore! It is a great place to enjoy hiking, camping and the great outdoors. It’s perfect for solo adventurers, groups and even for families! Much like us, children will love spotting formations in the rocks that looks like other things.

*Yep…I won’t highlight this one. Definitely not for children!*

I feel a little like I got the short end of the stick…er…tree.

Next time, I want to have sufficient time to truly experience this natural wonder, see some of the historical places in the park like the Kellogg House and Keys Ranch, hike to the Wall Street Mill and Desert Queen Mine and go back to see the fascinating Skull Rock…but this time, do it the easy way…park along the road and walk the few feet to the rock! Next time, I want to stay in the Yucca Valley so that I would be near the entrances for an early start. Next time I want to visit the Cholla Cactus Garden!

Next time!

Next time…more time!!!

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Joshua Tree National Park

https://www.nps.gov/jotr
Address: 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, California 92277-3597
Hours: 24 hours, daily
Admission: Single, non-commercial vehicles, $30 (7-day permit). Motorcycles, $25 (7-day permit). Individual on foot or bike, $15 (7-day permit). Joshua Tree National Park Annual Pass, $55, valid for 12 months from the month of purchase and covers the entrance fee for the signee and accompanying passengers entering in a single, non-commercial vehicle. Can be purchased at park entrance stations and visitor centers.

The Unwanted Christ

Some of the best times are to be had at of the most prominent attractions in certain cities.

Would you ever visit Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower?

But sometimes, it’s the lesser-known attractions that beckon me. Yes, I would never miss the Eiffel Tower, but you’ll also find me at the Sewer Museum…did you even know there was one in Paris?

After a day of driving around Joshua Tree National Park, I was searching for something else to occupy my time. There were many attractions to experience in the Palm Springs area, but I had learned of a quirky attraction out in the desert.

The Desert Christ Park.

From Palm Springs, it is a short drive along Highway 62 to Yucca Valley, the town named after the yucca palm or as many know it, the Joshua Tree. Not far from the main road, I found the park’s entrance next to the Living Hope Church.

While most people (like myself), imagine that the park is affiliated with the church next door, I learned very quickly that it is not.

After parking my car, I discovered a park volunteer sitting at a picnic table painting bricks with names. Friendly and welcoming, she directed me to the kiosk to learn a bit about the park’s history, however, quite the talkative individual, she gave me a brief overview.

Desert Christ Park was established in 1951 with the collaboration of Reverend Eddie Garver and sculptor, Antone Martin. Martin, an engineer from Inglewood, California, decided to create statues of Christ out of steel-reinforced concrete. After designing a 10-foot, five ton “resurrected Christ” he planned to install it on the rim of the Grand Canyon as a symbol of peace to all mankind…the government decided otherwise. Searching for an alternate location, he was offered a place on Reverend Garver’s five acres on the southern facing slope of the valley. Since the Reverend’s vision was to create a Christian-themed park, this was the first step in achieving that dream.

The “unwanted” Resurrected Christ was brought to its current location one week before Easter in 1951 and the Desert Christ Park was dedicated on Easter Sunday. More snow-white sculptures, portraying scenes of Christ’s life and teachings, followed during the next ten years, including a three-story, 125-ton facade depicting the Last Supper. While the first three statues (the “unwanted” Christ, the Tomb and the Last Supper) were placed in the area behind what is now the Living Hope Church, the remaining statues were relocated next door to the present day park.

After finishing my conversation with the nice volunteer, I made my way through the park, enjoying each of the setting’s statues. The pearl-colored effigies against the bright azure sky and yellow desert sand were a stark contrast, yet, as I stood amongst them, I realized how quiet and peaceful the entire environment was. Only the sound of birds in the trees, their branches brimming with small, hanging birdhouses, filled the air, until the crunch of sand beneath my feet sounded as I walked between the scenarios.

**The Last Supper**
Matthew 26:17-30
*When the evening came of Christ’s last supper, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”*

**Garden Of Gethsemane**
*In the “Garden of Gethsemane,” on the hillside, Jesus kneels in prayer before his crucifixion, while his disciples Peter, James, and John slept.*

**Samaritan Woman At The Well**
John 4:4-26
Jesus reveals himself to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.

**Sermon On The Mount**
Matthew 5:1-16
*This is the most famous sermon Jesus gave including his teachings.*

**Blessing Of The Children**
Mark 10:13-16
*Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hand upon them and blessed them.*

**Let The Children Come To Me**
Mark 10:13-16
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

**Jesus Visits With Mary And Martha**
Luke 10:38-42
Jesus visited; Mary listened to Jesus while Martha prepared food. Martha complained about doing so much while Mary was not and Jesus said to her that learning his teachings was more important and wouldn’t be forgotten.

**Christ’s Blessing Of Mankind**
*With upraised hands, Christ is blessing all the people.*

Finally, I made my way behind the church. As I gazed upward toward the acclaimed “unwanted Christ” sitting high on the hill, I decided that I was going to take a closer look. Noting the semblances of trails leading up to the statue, I resolved to find the best one amid the loose gravel and scrub. With a little perseverance, I finally stood at Christ’s base, contemplating his outstretched hands, while he admired the beauty of his creation in the valley below!

**Christ’s Ascension**
Luke 24: 50-53
*Jesus lifted up his hands and blessed the Disciples, then began rising into the sky, and went into heaven.*

At the base of the hill, I observed the “Tomb” which is a depiction of the resurrection of Christ. Three statues stand outside the Jesus’ vacated tomb and an armless Mary Magdalene stands in disbelief inside the vault.

**Tomb Of Christ**
Mark 16:1-7
*When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices so that they might go anoint Jesus’ body. An Angel Proclaimed “He is risen.”*

Nearby, the Rock Chapel, designed by Frank Garske in 1954, captured my attention. In the shape of a star, the chapel is constructed of large, native stones. A sign on the door refers visitors desiring to use the chapel, to contact officials at the Desert Christ Park or the Living Hope Church for admission. Because of unauthorized use and disrespect, the doors remain locked, even during the park’s opening hours, however, I was able to slide my phone through the crack between the doors and snap a photo of its modest interior.

The park is operated through donations, grants and the work of volunteers. As I walked through the garden, I discovered what the bricks being painted by the volunteer, that I had encountered at the beginning of my visit, were used for. Used to line some of the walkways, the bricks highlight the names of those who patronize the facility. Overall, the park’s grounds are kept up, but the statues are showing some signs of wear, due to being exposed to the elements and the earthquake of 1992. Regardless, Desert Christ Park attracts thousands each year for personal walks, weddings, picnics, photography or to simply experience its peace.

Peace…that was Antone Martin’s sole desire when he sculpted that first statue.

The Unwanted Christ.

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Desert Christ Park

https://www.desertchristpark.org/
Address: 56200 Sunnyslope Drive, Yucca Valley, California 92284
Hours: Sunrise to sunset, approximately 0700-1800, daily
Admission: free, donations accepted

The Wild, Wild West

Saturday afternoons were for westerns.

Bonanza (1959 to 1973), Gunsmoke (1955-1975) and Rawhide (1959-1966), were some of my favorites. They were preceded by countless of other popular movies and series, set during a time where cowboys, Indians, outlaws and sheriffs ruled the land.

When Hollywood began searching for a “living, breathing movie set”, 32,000 acres in the California desert near Palm Springs was deemed the perfect location. Investors, including Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Dick Curtis and Bud Abbott, incorporated the land which became known as Pioneertown.

The town, easily accessible from Los Angeles, served as a filming location, vacation destination and residence for those working in the entertainment industry. The structures built on Mane Street were fully functional and included a grocery store, saloon, restaurant, motel, beauty shop, bowling center and shooting gallery. More than fifty films and serials were filmed in Pioneertown during the 1940s and 1950s, including the popular Gene Autry Show, the Cisco Kid television series (1950-1956), Annie Oakley television series (1954-1957) and The Adventures of Judge Roy Bean (1955-1956) and it wasn’t uncommon for two separate movies to be shooting on opposite sides of the street.

Being such a short distance from Palm Springs, I decided to make the drive to see what Pioneertown was all about in a day and age when westerns are no longer all the rage. Though I anticipated some authentic-looking buildings, much like the few I had encountered while in the small towns of South Dakota, I was really surprised by the number of buildings which comprised the town and its credibility.

As I arrived a bit early in the morning, I discovered that I was one of only three people wandering the dusty main street, Mane Street. Beginning in the Film Museum and Trading Post, I marveled at the collection of memorabilia on display and watched the film which narrated the story of this historic town.

Walking west on the north side of the street, I photographed and inspected each of the buildings and businesses that occupied their spaces…the General Mercantile and its souvenirs, the Pottery and its artwork and the Chapel, which to my dismay, was locked. There were weathered wagons, rusty mine cars and remnants of old machinery littering the street as well as a few artful pieces.

To say that the residents of Pioneertown have a bit of humor is an understatement. Barrel cactuses wearing sunglasses and quirky signage was prominent, but they really fooled me near the Mercantile. My curiosity got the best of me as I saw a barrel, covered with mesh wire and topped with the sign, “Warning! Baby Rattlers”. I half-expected to see small snakes slithering around the bottom, but that seemed like such a hazard…instead, the bottom was lined with baby rattles…yes, the kind baby’s like to shake!!!

As I approached the Bath House and Hotel, I stepped onto the boardwalk, I and passed the Bank and the Livery. Many buildings were inaccessible as they were now private residences. At the end of Mane Street, I stopped to inspect the town’s Ok Corral, the Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Post Office, said to be the most photographed branch in the United States.

*Pioneertown Post Office and Sheriff’s Office*

I made my way back up the south side of the street, I noticed that more visitors were making their way amongst the buildings. Although still eerily quiet, it must have been quite the site during its prime to see horses hitched to their posts and gunslingers ready for duel…of course with cameras recording!

Approaching the Hay and Feed Store (53585 Mane Street), I learned that this was the location of the current sound stage. Today, though not in the capacity as it was started, the town still functions as a production set where movies, independent films, music videos and commercials are filmed quite regularly. Some of the more familiar titles you might recognize are Ice Cube’s I Rep That West Music video (2010), Kenny Roger’s The Gambler (2014), Cyndi Lauper’s Funnel of Love music video (2016) and Ingrid Goes West (2017), which I had actually seen!

Finally, I completed my walk and headed to the Pappy + Harriet’s Grill for a bite to eat. Sadly, I was visiting on a day in which it was closed, but there was still a few more things to see. The Wild West and Stunt Show arena was closed but I was able to peek through the fence to see its primitive hay bale seats and old west architectural set. A little further, I spotted the Pioneertown Motel…the perfect spot to spend to live out my cowgirl fantasy…horseback riding by day, marshmallows by the campfire and a short stumble home from the Red Dog Saloon!

Though the original intent of Pioneertown is much different than what it has evolved into, it is now a destination where regular folk can live out their cowboy fantasies in the Wild, Wild West…whether for the day, the night, or as the residents do…for a lifetime!

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Pioneertown

https://visitpioneertown.com/
Address: 53626 Mane St, Pioneertown, California, USA 92268
Hours: 24 hours, daily
Admission: free
Getting There: From downtown Palm Springs. Head north on Indian Canyon Drive past Interstate 10. Turn right onto CA-62 E and continue for 13 miles. Turn right onto Pioneertown Road and drive for 4.4 miles. Pioneertown will be on the right with parking behind Pappy + Harriet’s Grill.

In the Line of Fire

When in Rome…

That is a most popular saying, but truly, when in Rome, there are things you must experience.

The top of my list is gelato! Then there is the Trevi Fountain, The Vatican, countless museums and churches…the list is endless.

At some point on their trip, most visitors find themselves at St. Peter’s Basilica, usually in conjunction to a visit to the Vatican. Church lovers like me, not only find themselves in these famous sanctuaries but also in nearby parish churches.

Despite being just down the block from St. Peter’s Basilica, Santa Maria in Traspontina, a titular church, doesn’t fall too far behind in the beauty or interesting history department and is one sanctuary in the area that should be placed on any visitor’s must-do list.

When it was first constructed, Santa Maria in Traspontina, was located near the Castel San Angelo, traspontina…Italian for beyond the bridge. This church, sadly, was demolished by Pius IV to clear the line of fire for the cannons of the Castel. When plans for a new church were conceived, there was insistence by the papal artillery officers that the dome be low to avoid the previous problem, so instead, the decision was made to erect the church a short distance away, to the west of the Castel.

Construction began in 1566, by architect Sallustio Peruzzi, was continued by Ottavio Mascherino and completed by Francesco Peparelli, who also built the bell tower. Although the exterior is quite congruent to other churches in the area, it is interesting to note that the travertine used to build the façade came from demolition material from the Colosseum.

As I entered the church, I discovered it to be a wide open space, highlighted by a beautifully illustrated ceiling and dome, but devoid of the usual columns that define its spaces. The walls are richly decorated in ochre hues and painted panels depicting religious scenes, while the floors offset its golden decor with black and white patterned tiles.

The Latin cross interior is edged on either side with chapels, the most significant being the chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, built in 1581 by the Marquise of the Guard Victory, Tolfa Orsini. The beautiful statue of the Madonna del Carmine, was placed in the church in 1922, blessed by Pope Pius XI and crowned by Bishop Luigi Pelizzi on the eve of the Feast of Mount Carmel in 1928. Other chapels are devoted to Saints Barbara, Canute, Albert of Trapani, Mary Magdalene De’ Pazzi, Andrew Corsini, Angelo of Sicily, Theresa of Jesus, Peter and Paul, Elijah, Our Lady of Carmel, the Pieta and the Holy Cross.

My eye was immediately drawn to the high altar. Erected as a monument to the beautiful image of the Italian-Byzantine Madonna, it was placed under a rich canopy, dating back to the 13th century (today’s canopy is a 19th century reproduction). The altar was created by local craftsmen and consecrated in 1694. What should not be missed, however is the altarpiece, Icon with the Virgin Mary and Child, which dates back to 1216, and brought from the Holy Land by the Carmelites.

While the church is known for its historical relocation and its dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is also more recently known for something else…Pachamama. Pachamama is known through the Amazon region as the pagan goddess of fertility. Worship of Pachamama gave way to the veneration of Mary after the Spanish conquest of South American and the eventual conversion of its people. Pagan statues of Pachamama were used in a ceremony during an assembly of Amazon officials in Rome and were then placed at the church’s altar to promote inclusivity…an act met with resistance by many of its faithful. Soon after, the idols were stolen and thrown into the Tiber River, an act recorded and uploaded to the internet. Pope Francis was highly criticized for his responsibility in placing the idols at the altar of the church, a place reserved for its own Icon with the Virgin Mary and Child. While the statues were recovered shortly thereafter, it is interesting to note that Santa Maria in Traspontina houses the office of Father Vincenzo Taraborelli, a Carmelite priest and one of the busiest exorcists in Rome. For those opposed to the Pachamama demon statues, maybe Santa Maria in Traspontina was the perfect place to house them…

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Santa Maria In Traspontina

https://www.parrocchiatraspontina.it/
Address: Via della Conciliazione 14, Rome, Italy
Hours: 0800-1300, 1600-2000, daily
Admission: free
Mass Times: Sunday and Feast Days, 0800, 0930, 1100, 1215, 1830. Daily, 0730, 0900, 1830. Rosary, daily, 1800.

Christmas Traditions

All over the world, there are traditions that are practiced during the Christmas season.

Foods, special pajamas, holiday shows, places to visit…the lists are endless.

My family has some special traditions that we have upheld over the years and our children have come to cherish these characteristic customs. On Christmas Eve morning, I start a chicken and sausage gumbo (a nod to our Cajun heritage) and let it cook throughout the day, filling the house with a delightful aroma. During the evening, we put on the Christmas Story for its 24 hours of continuous broadcasting and laugh at how many lines we can recite. Most people are familiar with our favorite, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” But, it is during the days leading up to Christmas Eve that we enjoy an entertaining outing each year.

While we decorate our home with white lights lining our porch, wreaths on the windows and deer grazing in the yard we can’t hold a candle to many of the acclaimed and festively decorated homes in the area. In years past, we filled our yard with a giant blow up Snowman, a waving Santa Claus, gift packages and many more thousands of lights, but over the years, the effort it took caused us to minimize our display.

While we love our small display, it is the many other homes and businesses in the area that we look forward to visiting each year. The Tacky Light Tour is a huge tradition during the Christmas holidays in many cities throughout the United States. Every year, people hire transportation companies to drive them around in small buses, vans and stretch limos, to see Christmas light displays…or they might do as we do. We load up the kids into our car, swing by Starbucks for hot chocolate, put some holiday music on the radio and do the driving on our own!

This has always been one of my favorite pastimes and of course, we always had our favorites homes to visit, with quite a few places having been featured on national television programs.

Of course, being a flight attendant, the privilege of getting to experience other country’s Christmas traditions is a great gift. While it is delightful to see these cities light up for the occasion, as is the case with the Amsterdam Light Festival (their version of the Tacky Light Tour, though definitely NOT tacky), the best part is the Christmas markets…great places to pick up unique gifts and foods to bring home to offer our holiday guests.

Over the years, I have visited the markets in Amsterdam, Paris, Belgium and Germany. This year, I was lucky enough to be in both Milan and Rome in December during the openings of the market season.

Milan was decorated beautifully, especially the area surrounding the Duomo. A market consisting of 65 wooden chalets offered ornaments, gifts, foods and drink to the masses of masked visitors while the Christmas tree in the square was still being strung with lights. Nearby, inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Swarovski tree stood tall, glittering with its vast collection of crystal ornaments.

As we made our way through the streets of the city, we encountered lighted walkways, festive window displays and storefronts lighted to attract Christmas shoppers. Such a fabulous time, we had in Milan, I couldn’t wait to visit Rome on the next weekend to see the market in my beloved Piazza Navona.

As the day grew dim, we headed out to cross the River Tiber and make our way through the back alleys towards the Piazza Navona. Alas, nothing was for sale except for the usual fare of the usual vendors. No chalets, no lights…no market!

Thankfully, we discovered some lights strung across the narrow pathways and streets throughout the city as well as the occasional Santa Claus keeping watch over the outdoor dining areas. While I was sad that Rome had chosen to forego the festive market, the Catholic church made up for it in another way. During the darkened hours of the evening, we made our way over to St. Peter’s, to gaze upon the annual nativity on display, while standing in the shadow of the great basilica. This is a tradition that I would like to keep each year.

Leaving Italy and heading home to prepare for my family’s own celebrations, I was looking forward to experiencing our traditions once again. While my own home had been lighted immediately after Thanksgiving, I perused the list of the homes on this year’s Tacky Light Tour. Knowing that I could have driven by many of these homes many times in the weeks preceding Christmas, I preferred to wait patiently for my children to return home for the holidays.

As tradition would have it, we started with a house on Wendhurst Drive, less than a mile from our own home. This house has been featured on numerous news and television programs and has been adding lights and decorations since 2000. Starting with a few lights in the bushes and a single sleigh, the home now boasts a total of 2,207 homemade decorations, 180,388 lights and takes approximately seven months to set up. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, the owners of the home, hand out candy canes in front of their nightly display, offer a photo station, a Santa mailbox, a guest book, a Mistletoe Kissing Station.

*9716 Wendhurst Drive, Glen Allen, Virginia*

We continued our journey throughout the west end of Richmond, following my map from house to house, gazing in wonder at the mazes of lights gracing each of the homes on the list. At the end of our journey, I noticed one house that we had forgotten near the beginning of our tour. Retracing our steps, we made our way to a new listing on the Richmond Tacky Lights List on Croft Circle. As we approached, we noticed motion on the roof…Santa dancing and waving to passersby…and on the ground, the Grinch holding court!

“Merry Christmas!” they called out to our passing car!

As we sipped our hot chocolate and sang along to Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas, we made our way back to our home stopping briefly to admire our own lights and look forward to our upcoming gumbo feast.

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Richmond Tacky Lights Tour

Milan Christmas Market

https://www.italybyevents.com/en/events/lombardia/christmas-markets-in-milan/

The Gift

The mission of the day was to see a fountain.

I saw the fountain, but I also found a church.

Imagine that? Another church in Rome!

After a bit of research, I had learned about the history of the Fontana Delle Cariatidi and the controversy that it had stirred due to its explicit statues and its proximity to a nearby church. Deciding that the fountain was the first thing that I wanted to visit during the beautiful, Roman summer afternoon, I accomplished this feat and the church, San Gioacchino in Prati, less than a block away, became my next calling. It soon became a place that I learned a great deal about the generosity of Catholics throughout the world.

The construction of the church of San Gioacchino began in 1891, to address the problem of the expanding population and movement to the outer perimeters of the city. Pope Leo XIII (whose birth name was Gioacchino Pecci), then the head of the Catholic church, had always desired that a church be built in Rome to honor his patron saint. Because of the need and of his long-standing wish, this church became a gift to him for the celebration of his 50th anniversary of priesthood. The church took a long seven years to be completed due to the mismanagement of the project by Abbe Antonio Brugidou and delays due to natural disasters. The pope, however, persevered and realized his dream and his gift.

Finally opening to its parishioners in 1898, San Gioacchino’s interior was not quite in its finished stages, more specifically, the side chapels. Regardless, it was dedicated to St. Joachim, the father of Mary, the Blessed Mother, consecrated on June 6, 1911 and made a titular church in 1960 (assigned to a member of the clergy who is created a cardinal).

What struck me the most, in a city abound with churches, was its interesting façade, designed and built by architect, Raffael Ingami. While churches are usually known for their amazing art collection and painting on their interiors, this one is graced with beautiful paintings on the exterior, atop the portico, and depict the Blessed Mother, its namesake, St. Joachim, other saints and angels. The gold dome is decorated with perforated burgundy stars.

My walk down the main nave kept my eyes trained on the ceiling, observing its high decorated vault, edged by small, circular stained glass windows and below, a darkened balcony and large columns.

The altar and pulpit were highlighted by a small dark blue dome, awash with ambient light from the perforations in the outer stars and from the stained glass. The beautifully crafted maple pulpit, divided into chiseled panels, depicted scenes from the lives of Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Joachim, Saint Anna, Saint Alfonso de Liguori, Pope Gregory the Great, Saint Agostino, Saint Girolamo and Saint Ambrogio. It was quite hard to appreciate the altar’s stark beauty, but I was willing to excuse the lack of illumination to be able to visit on a weekday and have the place all to myself.

The side altars were what I was most enchanted with, however. While most of the church was in a darkened state, many of the chapels were somewhat illuminated. What I learned about each of these elaborately decorated chapels was that while they were not completed initially, a unique plan was set in place to do so.

Abbe Brugidou, returned to Lyon by Pope Leo XIII for his inadequacy in fulfilling obligations to bring the church’s construction to completion, did have an idea that proved to be astute. Catholics from specific countries around the world were invited to contribute to the project in honor of the pope. Each country that actualized the monetary benefaction, were to have its own chapel. Many countries took part in this process and the construction debts were exculpated quickly.

Moving along each side of the church, I admired these chapels dedicated to the countries of Brazil, Portugal, Bavaria, Poland, Canada, England, United States, Spain, France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Ireland and Argentina. Each unique and resplendent in the own right, it was quite moving to know that each country cared about a small church in another country, and their pope, to assist it in its realization.

While San Gioacchino may not be the oldest or the most visited church in Rome, it may hold the title of one that achieved a most impossible dream. A true gift.

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San Gioacchino in Prati

http://www.sangioacchino.org
Address: Pompeo Magno, 25, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Hours: 0800-2000 (unverified)
Admission: free
Getting There: Metro, Lepanto (Line A)