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This is George the pot bellied pig. He comes to the Palm Springs street fair every Thursday and many people take pictures of this guy. Just before I took this picture, a group of people sat down beside him for a picture. He was very happy with all of the attention. He oinked happily with pleasure at all of the attention. The Palm Springs street fare takes place every Thursday and thousands of people attend every week. The street is blocked off for 8 to 10 blocks. Both sides are lined with booths of all types. As a result it is a very popular event and well attended.

George The Pot Bellied Pig

There were so many people on this particular night that we could hardly move with everyone browsing and chatting on the street. There are all kinds of food vendors, vegetable vendors, clothing, jewelry and many arts and crafts. As a result there is lots to enjoy in addition to seeing this pot bellied pig. Of course George is there every week enjoying the crowds and having his picture taken.

Subsequently updating this post a few years after it was first written, we sadly have to report that George is not at his usual spot any longer. Perhaps he has gone to hog heaven or perhaps his owner can no longer bring him to the street fair. If anyone knows what happened, please leave us a comment regarding George The Pot Bellied Pig. Hence he was one of the many attractions that come and go at the street fair.

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

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What an outstanding picture of the display of Marilyn Monroe! Marilyn in Palm Springs! This is in downtown Palm Springs and attracting a lot of visitors along with their cameras. Just across the street from Starbucks, you cannot miss Marilyn in that famous striking pose that she is known all over the world for. Everyday, hundreds of tourists pause to have their picture taken with Marilyn. Even tall men or women do not even come up to her knees.

She is apparently 26 feet high, although the writer feels that she is closer to 30 feet high. There have not been many women that have matched her beauty and her figure. She has never been matched either previously or since she came on the scene. There is no actress as beautiful and voluptuous as Marilyn was. She will be well known for many years.

Marilyn in Palm Springs

Unfortunately, Marilyn is no longer in Palm Springs. She was here for a year and they are trying to get her back, but nothing to report just yet.

Since Marilyn was in Palm Springs, they have torn down the old mall and they are in the process of building several new boutique hotels and stores. This is really a major upgrade for Palm Springs and the downtown core. Perhaps there will be Marilyn in Palm Springs once again.

The Palm Springs street fair takes place every Thursday bhttp://gccihome.com/travel/category/palm-springs-california/palm-springs-posts/eginning at 5 pm. We just got back and there are literally thousands of people who go to the street fair every Thursday evening. There are all kinds of cooked foods available, vegetables, dates tomatoes, peanuts and then there is every kind of art works, crafts, jewelry and so on. There seems to be something for everyone.

For more information about the Palm Springs area, click here.

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Ever wanted to see Marilyn Monroe ? Well now you can in Palm Springs! Her stay in Palm Springs apparently has been extended to the end of the year for 2013. The Palm Springs council is trying to have Marilyn become a permanent resident of the city. As a result they managed to hold on to her until April of 2014. She was dismantled and shipped to New jersey to be placed on display there. She really adds a great deal to the downtown area. As a result it is one of the most photographed locations in the city. Hence Palm Springs will miss her and we hope they can return her to Palm Springs some day soon.

Palm Springs Marilynn

This image or statue of Marilyn is 26 feet high and shows her in that famous pose holding her dress in place. Thousands of tourists have their pictures taken every day with Marilyn. They only come up to her knees! Day or night she still takes a great picture. As a result both kids and adults are enjoying her stay in Palm Springs.

This one was taken at night with my iPhone 5. Which I think did a great job considering it was so dark.  She was located downtown across the street from Starbucks and beside the old mall. Which is being renovated. There is a new hotel going in and there are more shops and restaurants being added as well. All of this should be completed by the end of 2014 or early 2015. Palm Springs is attempting to revitalize the down town are and create or compete with Palm Desert. In addition they also want to compete with some of the other desert valley towns. This is really considered the ist phase of the development and should greatly improve the city. Returning Palm Springs Marilynn will also add to the cities attractions and bring many people down town to shops and restaurants.

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The Deauville condo’s in Palm Springs is one of the premier locations to stay at while in Palm Springs if you are looking for a condo to rent with all of the amenities that you need for a great vacation. We have been going to this location for many years now and thoroughly enjoy it.

There are 3 pools at this complex and the picture on the left is the main pool. surrounded by lush grounds, palm trees , lime trees, grapefruit trees and even the odd orange tree, you really cannot ask for more. The pool is heated to 85 degrees year round and there are lots of chairs to relax on to catch the sun’s rays. Palm Springs is in a valley surrounded by mountains. The temperatures are always 10 to 15 degrees hotter than the coast and there is usually blue skies as much as 350 days of the year.

Combine swimming, hot tubs,  tennis, workout room, surface and underground parking with close proximity to downtown and you have the perfect combination. There are also lots of things to do in the area. With 115 golf courses and loads of hiking trails there are lots to do in the area in addition to going to happy hour at the restaurants.

Restaurants and the Spa Casino

There are many restaurants in Palm Springs, several that we have covered on this web site within walking distance. Many offer happy hour from 5 to 6 or until 7 with half price on drinks and appetizers.  There is also the Spa Casino  in downtown Palm Springs within 1 block of the property and easy walking distance. We have spent many evenings at the Spa, playing the slots or just relaxing having a drink while watching sports in the sports bar. check out their Monday night football parties with cheap beer and unlimited buffet while the game is on.

Deauville Palm Springs

This second picture of the pool at the Palm Springs Deauville condos is taken facing west with the mountains in the back ground and the Palm Trees and club house in the foreground.  The depth of the pool is about 4 to 5 feet, perfect for swimming or wading for adults. Children need to be watched for obvious reasons. If you are concerned about too much time in the sun, there are lots of trees and areas you can get in the shade and still enjoy the ambiance of the pool. Last year there were lots of Canadians vacationing around the pool area as well as Americans. Most owners will use their condo at least once a year or more often.

Temperatures and Peak Season

Prime time or peak season for this property is from Jan to Mar. April to May and October to December is considered the shoulder months.  June through September are very warm with pretty much every day over 100 degrees. July and August it is usually 110 to 120 every day. Some people like it that hot while others have a difficult time with these hot temperatures.

The Palm Springs Area

There are 115 golf courses in the area. At least 10 casinos. There is shopping at high end stores as well as the outlets and everything in between. There is lots to do in the area. Palm Springs also has many hiking trails in the area . Some that are easy as well as those that are considered challenging. Take the Tram to the top of the mountain. Hike at 5000 feet elevation among the trees if you feel the need to get away from the heat and the desert.  The city of Palm springs is only at 400 feet elevation. It is sometimes nice to move to higher elevations in the summer time to cool off.

If you have been to Palm Springs or stayed at the Deauville in palm springs and want to leave a comment, please do so. For rental information, you can also rent a unit at the Deauville as well. Click here for more information. Our readers will appreciate it. If you leave a constructive well written comment, we will even approve the link back to your site!

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

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Driving around Palm Springs and the other desert cites that occupy the valley can be very easy as well as stressful depending on your point of view. The streets are wide with lots of signs and most parking is free and there seems to be no problem parking along the side streets.  In fact the side streets are so wide it is sometimes difficult to know whether you there are two lanes or four lanes, since only the dividing line is marked.

Parking

As far as parking is concern the basic rule is to never park along a curb that is painted in red or green. Almost anything else goes unless there is a specific sign saying other words.

Drivers – Old and Fast

There are many slow drivers in the desert. These drivers are a combination of older drivers who are nervous driving on these streets which are pretty flat and easy to navigate. Some will stop at stop signs and some will not. As you approach any intersection it is a good idea to always drive defensively and observe what the oncoming traffic is doing as well as people approaching from side streets. Sometimes these older drivers miss the stop sign. We are not picking on older drivers, we just noticed that many of them are not driving as well as they maybe should be.

There are also the usual fast drivers as you find in any city. Usually younger people they have faster cards and drive aggressively.  Nothing new here, it is just an unusual combination with the younger and older drivers being on the same roads.

Respect for Pedestrians

One thing that seems to be a common element here in Palm Springs is the respect for pedestrians. Crossing streets at stop lights or walk signs, people in cars are usually very patient. Everyone seems to take their turn and they seem to wait patiently while you cross.

Having said that there have been one or two instances that we have heard of were people have been hit by an impatient driver, or someone on drugs or has had too much to drink. So even if you find that drivers respect pedestrians more here, don’t let you guard down. Always make eye contact before you cross with drivers and only cross when you are sure they will stop.

Traffic Fines

We have read several news items lately where California has double their traffic fines. The state is short of money and they are making people who break the law pay for their bad driving. So if you get a parking ticket or are stopped for speeding, expect a big fine!

Highway 111 is the main road through the valley that takes you through all of the desert cities. This is the scenic view. If you have never been here before it can be a nice drive to pass through the valley. Take the exit off I10 and into Palm Springs from LA. 111 turns into Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs and continues on to the other desert cities.

I10 is the major route from Los Angeles to Phoenix. There are approximately 10 exits that you can take to the desert cities, 2 of which will take you into Palm Springs.

For many more posts about Palm Springs and things to do in the area, click here.