dreaming in Palm Springs

"The Moroccan Villa", 1920's

While in Palm Springs in mid-December we took advantage of the 'Walk of the Inns', a nighttime walk through the inns, lodges and resorts in the Baristo/Patencio neighborhood which is an historic architecture district between downtown and the mountains.  You can see why this place drew the rich, famous and celebrated!  It was fun and fascinating seeing the inns from the outside and then the insiders' view of rooms, patios, pools.  We saw characteristic Spanish influence architecture: intact adobe walls, stonework, Spanish detailing and beautiful tilework all lit by candles and twinkle lighting.  Or mid-century moderne sleek stucco all brightly lit.  Big crowds of people were strolling around that night - it was fun and not too cold.  We have stayed in some of the inns previously and it was good to revisit at night, with treats spread all over, like hot mochas or homebaked tasting sugar cookies.  I didn't indulge too much as dinner followed.

Very dreamy and romantic is the Korakia Pensione.   Sexy according to the NY Times review, I call it hedonistic . . .not an overt Vegas hedonistic, it's a sunny garden lounging-around by the pool hedonistic.  The complex was built in the 1920's by Scottish painter Gordon Coutts  to replicate Morocco and the painter's life in Morocco.  There is a blurb below, from the website.   We saw billowy beds in the courtyard, outdoor benches, woodburning fireplaces, exotic floral displays, fountains, gorgeous tilework all framed with the rocky backdrop of the San Jacintos . One of suites had a deep rock-lined soaking tub with shuttered windows which opened to a closeup view of the mountain - that was the suite I was intrigued with. A private patio too. . . .the epitome of integrated indoor/outdoor living!  Not quite 'Midnight at the Oasis' but almost, you get the idea. Lounging, soaking and painting . . . a very dreamy picture.

one of the suites: living room and bedroom

dining room of the Artist Suite

hedonist bathroom of the Bedouin Suite

Blurb from their website:
A visionary with a dream to re-live his art-filled Moroccan days .  . . . Coutts hung his paintings in the library, where he regaled his guests with tales of adventure. Dar Marroc quickly became a gathering place for musicians, visiting artists such as John Lavery, Agnes Pelton, Nicolai Fenshin (sp.) and Grant Wood and celebrities such as Rudolph Valentino and Errol Flynn. It is rumored that even Winston Churchill has painted in the villa's Artist Studio.

The Tennis Club Resort

The Tennis Club, poolside.  We didn't eat too many goodies
 . . . ok, not too many!

Another stop was the Tennis Club Resort.  It's a resort:  pool, tennis complex, condos, amazing new terrace outdoor restaurant which was all twinkle lit.  The mezzanine of the main lobby has some very good B&W photos of the Rat Pack, the film stars and others of that era - the 1940's thru the 1960's.

The last time that I was at this pool was in the summer I was ten years old.  I came here, swimming with friends at dusk in the summer when the resort was closed.  One of the parents had a key to the gate.  It was fun and very memorable ~ both times I've visited the Tennis Club!

Next post will be on plein air painting.  I was so pleased to paint three times while there in the desert.