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Look at Those Planes

Sure. Let’s visit the Palm Springs Air Museum. We’ve been to other air museums and enjoy seeing the planes and reading about their history.

This one is different.

The Palm Springs Air Museum is home to one of the world’s largest collections of flyable WWII aircraft and from Korea and Vietnam. Flyable, being the key word. Also, unlike many other museums, the air-conditioned hangars have no ropes to keep people from interacting with the exhibits and the more than 60 planes.

We wandered in and out of hangers, asked questions of many volunteers who actually flew some of the planes, and toured the interior of a flyable B-17. This one has been used in several Hollywood films. Impressive.

Hangers are organized by theme. The Pacific (Navy) Hangar includes exhibits and aircraft used by the Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Highlights include the Pearl Harbor diorama narrated by NBC journalist and author Tom Brokaw, the Grumman “cats”; the Avenger, Corsair, Dauntless and Invader.

The European (Army) Hangar features exhibits and aircraft used by the Army in the European Theater during World War II, plus a T-33 training jet used in Korea and Vietnam.  Some planes in this hangar include the B-25 Mitchell Bomber, P-47 Thunderbolt, the renovated flying Red Tail P-51 Mustang, the P-63 King Cobra, the Spitfire and the C-47. There is also a Tuskegee Airmen mural and a wall showing the European battles of WWII.

The smallest hangar is where we found the B-17 Flying Fortress.

Since opening in 1996, they have maintained their status as a museum that flies its aircraft. Definitely worth a visit to be able to see and get near planes that shaped our history. It was even more impressive to hear the engines and see the planes as they readied for takeoff.

They are open every day from 10 to 5, except Thanksgiving and Christmas, with free parking. Check their website for more info, https://palmspringsairmuseum.org. Then, plan a trip. You’ll be glad you did.

If You Go: The Palm Springs Air Museum is located at 745 North Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA.

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La Quinta Arts Festival

You really do need to see it to believe it.

La Quinta Arts Festival has been ranked the #1 Fine Art and the #1 Fine Craft festival in the nation.

Strolling the grounds, the setting couldn’t be more beautiful. Green grass, a lake in the middle with its own Island Bar, and plenty of food and beverages…this is no ordinary festival. It’s truly an outdoor gallery.

Presenting 220 of the foremost cotemporary artists, this is a four-day event. Wander through a delightful mix of culture, whimsy, serious glass and paintings, diamonds, sculptures, and so much more. You’ll wonder how to fit that copper fountain into your patio design, which piece of glass would catch all the sunlight in your living room, and if the hummingbird piece or the woodpeckers on a tree would look better in family room.

With music and performing artists, there are a plenty of places to sit and appreciate both while also enjoying trendy food, beer, and wine. 

This year’s festival runs from March 7 to 10. Keep it in mind for next year.

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Indian Wells…Terrific Tennis

If you’re into top-level tennis, watching ranked tennis players, or just want to experience tennis in the desert…head to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California.

This state-of-the-art facility opened in March of 2000.

We had the opportunity to see players participating in the Tie Break Tens, a first ever Eisenhower Cup event. This one-night event featured Nadal and several other ranked men, playing a fast-paced round robin of the first to ten-point break matches.

Not only did we see fantastic tennis, we were able to wander the grounds and watch other players warming up for their upcoming matches.

Since this is the second largest tennis stadium in the world, and a full-service year-round tennis club, you might expect it to have the amenities. It does. Stadium 1 seats 16,100, including 44 stadium suites, broadcast and media facilities, and an 8,000 square foot food commissary.

Stadium 2 has 8,000 seats and three fine dining restaurants.

Keep in mind, it gets in the desert. Especially in the summer. There are two 19,000 square-foot shade structures to help with that.

Having said all that…it’s impressive.

Better than that…we saw major tennis matches. Nadal, ranked #2 in the world, ended up losing in the final match. But, what a match it was.

Next year…we’ll go for more.

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Identity Theft…Do You Pay Attention?

Identity Theft Prevention

Do you think about identity theft when traveling? Here are some simple tips you may or may not know about.

Some of these may bear more investigation, depending on how you travel.

Don’t use public computers for any sensitive actions. That means avoiding internet cafes to look up your bank balances or to pay for your next day trip.

Think about using a password manager. Those are dedicated services for storing and managing your passwords. You might want to look into these if you travel a bunch and access several different sites.

Do you have an anti-theft app on your phone? If so, do you use it?

Many sites have a two-step verification feature if you are logging in from a device different than where you normally log in. Many times a code is sent to your phone if you are using a computer other than your phone or laptop or tablet.

Did you know USB sticks are a great way for spreading viruses? As a security risk, it might be a good idea to avoid them unless you are positive yours is clean.

Which brings me to…do you have everything backed up? Do you keep a copy of your documents in the cloud? Is your phone backed up as well?

Did you know Gmail and Facebook allow you to see any recent activity on your account? If you think your account may be compromised, it would be a good idea to check.

I also wouldn’t suggest letting unknown people use your laptop. Just sayin…

Simple, common sense goes a long way. Travel smart.

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Acquiesce…

Acquiesce Winery…Definitely Worth the Visit

We travel to find interesting wines.

So, when asked if I wanted to taste a white wine blend, of course I said yes. Then I was told it was from Lodi. White wine from Lodi?

Don’t get me wrong. Lodi has some amazing wines. It’s just that Lodi has been known for their Zins. Not whites. It is hot in Lodi, after all. Not the climate you typically think of for whites. Or, is it?

Okay…let’s try it.

The first smell was not what I expected. The first sip was even more different than I assumed it would be. In fact, it took me back to France. Crisp and slightly fruity. Full mouth feel. Not in-your-face high alcohol. Is this wine really from Lodi?

It turns out…yes.

The owner of Acquiesce Winery, Susan Tipton, makes her wines in the southern Rhone style. What does that mean? It means her vine cuttings started out in the famous region of Chateauneuf du Pape in France. Lodi’s sandy soils, hot days, and cool, evening Delta breeze are a great place for these vines to flourish. It means she also has to pay attention to the wines. She picks her grapes early to avoid overripe fruit.

What did we taste? Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Clairette Blancke, Viognier, and Grenache. All stellar, well-made wines that just caress your palette. Not an oaky Chardonnay nor a grassy Sauvignon Blanc to be found.

It’s no wonder she sells out every year.

And, Lodi. Well…before Zins were popular here, Chenin Blanc was the leading varietal.

If you haven’t visited Lodi, you might be surprised to learn there are 110,000 acres of wine grapes in the Lodi Appellation. That’s more than Napa and Sonoma combined.

I’d visit if I were you.

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Le Chaudron

Le Chaudron in Cassis

Translated, Le Chaudron means The Cauldron. I didn’t see any large, metal pot with a lid, but no worries. The food is tasty, no matter how it was cooked. And, with its open kitchen, maybe you can see the chef use one of those large, metal pots.

This is home cooking in a small bistro. Located on a side street, away from the main harbor area and the port, we sat and relaxed with a glass of wine as we decided what to eat.

After watching plates of food make their way to other diners, we made our choices. And, we weren’t disappointed. My husband’s fish was fresh and cooked to perfection…meaning it fell off the bones with just a little help. My first course of the chef’s special onion tart, squash terrine, and lightly dressed frisee salad almost filled me up. Almost.

Savory, tender pieces of chicken in a spicy, whole grain mustard and peppercorn sauce followed. Again, almost filled up. Until I remembered dessert came with my three-course meal.

Mango mousse on top of a crispy, shortbread crust filled in all the spots I had left. Nicely…very nicely.

French Rose from a nearby wine area known for its Roses accompanied every bite. It didn’t overpower anything. Yet, it stood up to all the tastes we had. A wonderful combination that I’ll try to recreate at home.

Wish me luck.

If You Go: Le Chaudron is located at 4 Rue Aldophe Thiers, 13260 Cassis, France. Reservations are suggested.

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Saint Emilion…Worth a Trip

Saint Emilion

Travel 20 or so kilometers from the bustling city of Bordeaux and you’re surrounded by vineyards. Some of the world’s most famous vineyards, these were planted here in Roman times.

Spend a day in Saint-Emilion, exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its Eglise Monolithe. This church carved out of the rocky hillside in the 11th century is now one of the largest of its kind in Europe, with its underground caverns and catacombs.

For a true wine tasting experience, set up a wine tasting class where you will learn about the subtle differences in wines where the same type of grapes are grown only a few feet from each other.

Bottom of the slopes, gravel terraces, sandy soils, limestone, high, low…all produce a slightly different taste. Cru, Grand Cru, large estates, small estates, non-classified, Premier Cru…there’s so much to learn! But, it sure is fun.

We weren’t there long…we’ll be back.

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Flying 737 Max 8 and 9

This is what I have learned today about the 737 Max 8 and 9 planes. This was written in the Miami Herald about one hour ago.

Other travel suppliers such as hotels and cruise lines may be affected, but it’s too early to tell, said South Florida-based cruise lines Carnival and Royal Caribbean.

For those booked to travel this week, experts have these recommendations:

▪ Sign up for alerts from your airline. Even if you were originally booked on a 737 Max 8 or 9 plane that has been grounded, the airline may rebook you on another flight or substitute the type of plane. You can check to see if your flight is on a grounded plane using SeatGuru.com or FlightAware.com.

▪ If your flight on a 737 Max 8 or 9 has been canceled, contact your airline about rebooking. Southwest Airlines said it will rebook passengers on alternative flights with no charge within 14 days. American Airlines said it is providing refunds to passengers on canceled flights.

▪ If you purchased travel insurance through a third party insurer, contact the company to see if they can help you. You may be entitled to reimbursement for food and accommodations in the case of delay or cancellation.

▪ If you are continuing on to a cruise or a hotel stay, contact the cruise or hotel company to see if you have any flexibility in your reservation.