Today marks the first Sunday of Advent...a time of preparation and expectation. Advent is meant to prepare us for a transformational celebration of Christ's birth...not a huge gift exchange. As we approach this special season...may we truly experience the Christ of Christmas. 
We spent most of our time at a resort east of Palm Springs...where we lazed by the pools...floated down the lazy river...read books...played Rook...and ate well. And we were in good company (my sister and brother-in-law from Manitoba joined us there)...so we enjoyed more than a few laughs!
As you can tell..we had plenty of choice as to which part of the pool to claim as our own!
It lies about an hour’s drive north of Palm Springs and is one of California’s newer parks. It is here that the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert meet.
We entered the park from the southeast corner…paid our entrance fee and meandered through the park at a leisurely pace…stopping at many viewpoints along the way. At first glance, it may look like there’s not much to see…but look again!
One of the most unique features of the park are the rock piles…rocks in amazing shapes piled one on top of the other. How they ever got there is beyond me…but I do know that this never happened yesterday!
We wandered about on the rock piles that were easily accessible…and then watched the seasoned rock climbers tackling those that were not meant to be climbed.
We ate our lunch in the shadow of the boulders…as we watched the climbers attempt an ascent. We heard language that shouldn’t be repeated…and left before they reached the top. I can’t quite figure out why anyone would want to climb a sheer rock wall just for the fun of it!
A good indicator that we were in the Mojave Desert was the abundance Joshua trees. This 'tree' is actually a giant member of the lily family. The Joshua tree grows about one half inch per year...with the tallest one being about forty feet in height; it is estimated to be over nine-hundred years old.
There are campgrounds throughout the park…mostly used by those who are tenting and interested in back country hiking in the desert. But we spotted one most interesting RV parked under a Joshua tree...
...and when we passed by we we noticed it was a European unit (Mercedes truck and camper) with German license plates. I guess if Cruise America does not have the RV to which you are accustomed...you ship your own across the Atlantic!
On our return from Joshua Tree National Park...we just happened upon an oasis of Palm Trees in the desert. Known as Thousand Palms Oasis...we discovered it was situated on the San Andreas Fault. The movement of the earth along the fault line has allowed springs to bubble up...providing the moisture for the palm forests to flourish. There are about 1500 palm trees at this location.
We stopped and strolled for a bit. I'm thinking that walking about on the San Andreas fault in the cool shade of a beautiful palm oasis is rather special!
We had good intentions of trying one of their yummy looking desserts...but by the time we were done with our most hearty meals, there was no room for cheesecake. Next time!
This card is from an antique postcard book given to me by my grandfather when I was a child...all were postcards sent to Miss Lillian Arnold in the early 1900's. This Thanksgiving greeting came from a friend named Bea...and was mailed from Nelson, B.C. in 1913.May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!
The California Tower...
...and the covered walkways are examples of the typical buildings on site.
We strolled the wide pedestrian walkways...it seemed November was a good time to escape the crowds.
There are many museums in the heart of the park...
...and being short on time and not that big on museums, the only museum we toured was the Timkin Museum, which houses world-class old masters paintings. (Did I happen to mention that it was also the only museum with no admission fee?)
We also had the opportunity to take in an outdoor organ concert in the famous Spreckels Pavilion. John D. and Adolph Spreckels donated the Spreckels Organ, one of the world's largest outdoor pipe organs, to the City of San Diego in 1914 for the Panama-California Exposition. This unique organ contains 4,530 pipes ranging in length from the size of a pencil to 32 feet and is housed in an ornate vaulted structure with highly embellished gables. Since 1917, San Diego has had a civic organist, who performs free weekly concerts on Sundays. We were there on a Friday...but happened to chance upon a performance for a school group. An amazing instrument...but seemingly from a past era. I'm wondering how much longer San Diego will find people qualified to play.
There were photographers with tripods and professional equipment everywhere...for good reason.
In front of the Botanical Building is a large lily pond...the most photographed spot in San Diego. Hmmm...I took a picture of a lily pad, but it seems I missed out on the the '#1 photo op'. Next time!
Today there are over 16,000 trees growing in Balboa Park...including more than 400 varieties.
I have no idea what type of trees these are...I just thought they were most interesting, since they are unlike anything I would see in my back yard.
And I had to wonder about this tree...not a leaf in sight but blooming for all it was worth! I like that.
Hubby wanted to tour the USS Midway...a US carrier with quite the history. In active use for 47 years...the Midway was commissioned in 1945 and served as a flagship in Desert Storm.
This picture was taken on the top deck...looking more like an airfield than the deck of a ship. Retired naval pilots worked as volunteers...re-telling stories of missions they were involved in. It was all very interesting to my hubby!
The Star of India is another famous sailing vessel that now has a home in the Port of San Diego. It was built in 1863...and is the oldest ship in the world that still sails regularly. 
We made our way seven miles up the coast to Ocean Beach...'a California surfing town that marches to a 60's beat'. It felt rather like I was back in the sixties...and that felt quite OK. We spread our blanket out on the beach and watched the surfers. 
The Ocean Beach Pier is the longest concrete pier on the West Coast, measuring nearly 2000 feet. It includes includes a restaurant, bait shop, and surf board shop and is open to the public for walking and fishing. 
We had heard that the best spot to watch the setting sun was right here at Ocean Beach...and we heard right!
How special to see the sun setting over the water...something those on the east coast will never witness! We so enjoyed our little taste of San Diego...if you ever have a chance, check it out.
Not knowing where to begin...we decided to take a historic tour aboard the Old Town Trolley. The tour was fully narrated...two hours in length and covered a thirty-two mile loop through San Diego and Coronado. We had the option of disembarking at any bus-stop...and picking up the tour on a later trolley. It was a wonderful way to learn about the city!
We boarded our trolley at Balboa Park...the home of the world famous San Diego Zoo, and so much more.
Our first stop was the Old Town Market...where we toured the Old Town Historic State Park. This area was home to the first European settlers...and California's first Spanish mission was located here. The state park encompasses nine blocks and is home to many historic structures...each of them a museum in themselves. After spending some time here...I had a pretty good idea of what life in San Diego in the 1800's would have looked like.
...and we were entertained by birds in the planter next to the table as we dined!
And...in case you think it was only about museums...there were plenty of places to shop if one so desired. Why go to Tijuana...it was all right here!
We strolled the walkway at 'The Old Ferry Landing'...a spot which is famous for it's panoramic view of the San Diego sky-line.
The seagulls seemed to think we may have something for them, and circled overhead while we enjoyed our ice-cream...making me rather nervous!
Back on our trolley once more...we rode across the island to the Hotel del Coronado...
...probably the most famous landmark in the San Diego area, and situated right on the beach. It was built in 1886...and every American president since that time has been a guest at this hotel.
We walked the beach in front of the hotel...and could easily see landmarks in Mexico not many miles away.
Known as the best family beach in California...we saw many kids enjoying the surf and the sand on this November afternoon.
The day was drawing to a close...the lifeguard was leaving his post...and it was time to catch the last trolley back to Balboa Park, where we had left our car early that morning. Eventually we arrived back at our starting point...but not without a little excitement en route. As I mentioned earlier, our trolley was involved in a traffic accident on a freeway...and we were delayed for some time. We had the opportunity to assist a German tourist who was in quite a tizzy because of the delay. She was due to meet her children in her hotel lobby...and they had no idea that she had gone off on her own to tour San Diego. She had no way to contact them...and knew they would be frantic when she never showed up and the designated time and place. We offered to take her to her hotel...and had her reunited with her family before they had called out the search crew!
