One of the most unusual places I have visited is Palm Springs, CA. A city (actually a group of cities) that was literally manufactured in the high desert east of Los Angeles. The sharp contrast of the landscape amazes. Where the ground on the desert floor is watered and cared for it is lush green and beautiful. Where it is not, the land is blowing sand and scrubbrush. These two conditions coexist in the valley between stark, baren and beautiful mountains. The composite view shown here shows views of the nurtured green of a golf resort surrounded by the brown mountains. On the desert floor, temperatures in excess of 100 degrees are not unusual. On the top of the surrounding mountains, it can easily be 40 or more degrees cooler. In the higher elevations surrounding Palm Springs, it is not unusual to find snow on the ground. Palm Springs, "beautiful?" Yes. "Natural?" No. Worth a visit? Absolutely. (If you go, be sure to take the cable tram ride up the mountain to Mount San Jacinto State Park; you'll enjoy the beauty of the park, the view from the top and the break from the heat.) (added 14 July 2006)