Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Vacation day 26 of 30. Trip vacation day 2 of 6. Breakfast: similar to yesterday, and during which we chatted with John from Philadelphia. We slept well except my pillow was too soft so I rolled a towel and placed it underneath. We got breakfast beverages from the cantina at Santiago Resort. The cantina is a self-service refreshment room open 22 hours a day. A large Starbucks machine enabled us to self-serve beverages via simple touchscreen. Patrick got a half-caf coffee; I got a chai tea latte. We relaxed in our room, watching the southern panorama of overcast sky brighten and change colors in the east as the sun rose. To the west, an expansive view of the massive San Jacinto mountains impresses. We love the lush privacy of the grounds, the soft-close toilet seat, the layout of the property, the many amenities, the room decor and cleanliness. Santiago Resort appears to have a well-run, well-maintained operation. The cantina is closed for breakfast for two hours each morning. A staff member within assembles your mostly continental breakfast in real time as you order at the window. The huge breakfast menu: warm croissant with butter and jam, overnight oats with fresh berries, plain or everything toasted bagel with cream cheese or butter, warm or chilled steamed egg with seasoned salt, various mini muffins, seasonal fruit skewers, vegan granola, various whole fruit, assorted flavors of Chobani greek yogurt, assorted flavors of Silk vegan yogurt, drip coffee, assorted juices, milk. You can order as much as you like, and you can return for more within the breakfast hours. We showered briefly in the room before hottubbing then sitting awhile by the outdoor fire pit. We returned to the room. Patrick did some writing work while I sat by the pool and read Palm Springs Life, a hardcover magazine provided in the room. The weather was overcast and cool, and I was bundled a bit, but at least it wasn't raining. Patrick had me review and edit what he wrote, then we lunched in the courtyard. At Santiago Resort, lunch is included. You order from a menu in the morning, and boxed lunches are ready around noon thirty or one. Patrick had the Tuscany (prosciutto, capacolla, honeyglazed ham, provolone, and more); I had the Hacienda (roasted chicken on nine-grain with pepper jack cheese and more). Each meal included a pickle slice and a cookie and a choice of side. Patrick's side was potato salad and his cookie was chocolate chip. My side was mandarin oranges (canned, I think), and my cookie was peanut oatmeal raisin. Afterwards we walked to a nearby health food store for a few health food items before walking South Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive to view the main shops and restaurants of the area. Along the way we encountered Aspen Mills Bakery & Bread Company, which is the vendor that provides the boxed lunches at Santiago Resort. We walked back to Santiago Resort. Patrick showered, and we rested a bit. Patrick continued his writing work. I caught up on journaling, and we rested. We rode UberX to El Patio (760-832-6332, 139 East Andreas Road) for dinner, meeting Mike D, Mike P, Stephen G, and Richard F. We sat outdoors on patio 2 next to a gas fire console. Patrick had chicken mole with flour tortillas and a pineapple mezcal margarita with spicy salt. Stephen and Richard shared a chile relleno burrito and enchiladas verdes. Mike D had enchiladas rojas no cilantro. Mike P had tacos gobernador. Each Mike drank a Cadillac. I had chicken enchiladas and a pineapple mezcal margarita with regular instead of spicy salt. All food and drink were delicious. Service by Betzy was excellent. Stephen and Richard gave us a ride back to Santiago Resort. It was great catching up with everyone, and I very much enjoyed their company.