I've been so sorry to hear about the fires in southern California and the difficult time many of you had getting home after our wonderful Palm Desert GTG on Saturday.

I'm halfway home, killing time at the Dallas-Ft. Worth airport until my flight to Knoxville. Terry, Sandi and I had our alarms set for 4:30 am this morning, leaving for the Palm Springs airport at 5:15. Sandi was the first to leave, then Terry and I traveled to DFW together. It has been wonderful to share this weekend with both of them, and so much fun to finally meet Terry in person after almost two years of Slow Travel interaction.

Since Marcia asked... Terry and I did go up on the Palm Springs aerial tramway yesterday after the breakfast at Keedys. It was a great experience, and we needed a little exercise after all the eating of the weekend. The tram goes up almost 5000 feet, traveling some 2.5 miles to an altitude of 8500 feet. And the car (which holds up to 80 people) rotates! Everyone stands, looking out the windows of the oval-shaped cars. And actually the floor rotates, two complete times, so you have a view in every direction. The temperature at the top was 45 degrees!!! (There were some winds, but nothing like the Mistral I'm used to in Provence.) Fortunately, we had been warned by Palma, and she loaned us some jackets. We did a 1.5 mile hike in the evergreen forest at the top, where there were views off the top in several places. The tickets were kind of expensive ($21.95), but we decided it was well worth it-- and was probably cheaper than going shopping!

It was just wonderful to meet up with so many old friends and to meet others in person for the first time. I'm even more excited now about Savannah in April and the chance to spend several days with even more ST friends. I really do love getting together with Slow Travel people.

I'll post some photos later this week.

Thanks Palma and Brad for this special weekend and to everyone who made it such a great evening.

Kathy

Brad and Palma, you did it again!!! If the GTG gets better each year, sign me up through 2010. Sign me up anyway!!

It was such fun. This is the first time my husband has attended a GTG and I hardly saw him all evening. He had fun talking with everyone and he couldn't get over the wonderful food.

I feel so sorry for all the people being evacuated because of the fires. My daughter in San Diego called at 7:00 this morning because her company cancelled work for the day because they did not want their employees on the highways in the massive congestion. We have friends in Big Bear that are watching the smoke over the hills coming from near Lake Arrowhead, while they pray for it to stop. The whole southern part of the state is at attention. Glad to hear that the ones who traveled to the GTG got home safely.

Again, Palm and Brad, thank you, thank you, thank you....

Lou and Pete

Palma and Brad:
You've done it again! Words can't describe the attention to detail that you put into this get-together. Wonderful guests sharing some great stories!!! And the Fabulous food... those pear and gorgonzola raviolis were incredible! Martha Stewart would be exhausted!
If my uploading skills work, I have to post the dried apricot flowers in the center of the cheese plate. Your hands were flying when you described the "simple process" of halving, then flattening between waxed paper, then pulling out leaves??? You lost me after halving a dried apricot!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Good job posting that picture!
I am anxious to see everyone else's pictures. Have we gotten our picture thread yet? I will check (if I ever make it home to my own computer).
Kathy Terry and I had a great condo- Kathy has promised to be the report writer. But... the one problem was that we couldn't get on line. User error I am sure. Kathy finally managed to bootleg someone else's internet signal.
You would have thought we were needing a slow trav fix!
Palma and Brad are the ultimate hosts, we had such a fabulous time. I am thinking that they may need to just open a little B&B in the desert. We could just visit a few at a time rather than 48 49 for dinner. How Nice!
sandi

Dito,

I didn't even get to the cheese plate! I was glued to the warm Brie & Fig Jam with crackers antipasta! I almost passed up dinner to finish off the Brie dish, but I'm glad I moved on to the other stellar culinary treats!

It was nice to meet you and Walt!

Charity

Thanks, everyone!

I am slightly sleep deprived, and we got Gail and John off at 6 this morning. Brad got Jerry to Ontario, only to have his flight cancelled. He was bused to LAX, had a later flight to Atlanta, where he will miss the connection to Buffalo, overnight, but make it home by noon tomorrow. I worked 8 hrs., and just got home to Ego and an empty house. It's lonely here without all my friends or Brad, but I have a "few" dishes to put away. I will post MY photos tomorrow!

Thanks for the kudos, and gracious praise. We could NOT have pulled it off without out "TEAM" of helpers, so I would like to thank Jerry, Gail, John, Sandi, Kathy, Terry, David and Marcia, and my great neighbor, Diana! It's lovely to cook for such nice and appreciative guests!

I just got home a couple of hours ago, but wanted to say what a special time I enjoyed with all of you. It was my pleasure and honor to meet so many kind and friendly SlowTravelers. Aside from meeting Pauline and Steve at last year's NYC GTG, this was my first time meeting all of you.

Palma and Brad, your home feels like what I would imagine a Tuscany villa is like, and both of you are like old friends, although this was the first time we met. To me, that speaks volumes, and I have left Palm Desert with delicious memories of food, fun, & laughter that will sustain me for a long time. This was the first time I was ever at a 10 hour party! You two are the penultimate hosts, and for those of you who were not there, I'm just going to leave it at that. A very special time with very special people.

Rooming with Kathy and Sandi in our golf-course condo rental was another highlight, and I thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Thank you.

I'll be posting pics tomorrow. Palma, the silence must be deafening at your home right now, but please know that we are all still right there in spirit!

Poor Jerry - I guess you'll be missing work tomorrow. Does the airline put you up in Buffalo?

I'll post on the thread you started Shannon, about these fires - truly horrible to see on the news. I can't imagine being near there. Glad you are all back home safe.

Palmabella, many many many thanks again.

I also want to thank Palma and Brad for a great GTG! I agree with everyone here who voiced their admiration for the great host and hostess of all time.

My sister and I drove back home this morning and experienced the wind and that smoky atmospheric environment most of the trip up.

I talked to AnnieK (Kathy) as soon as I got home and found out that she has been evacuated due to the So. Cal. fire. She is now staying with her daughter. I hope the Sta. Ana winds calm down soon and this fire under control and containment.

I enjoyed meeting everyone and my son can't get over the fact that I was one of the Italian in a Bag Show and Telll winners...

I know I must be the very last GTG person to post.

Palma and Brad outdid themselves - they even surpassed their lovely party of a year ago! Congrats and many thanks for a super spectacular event!

Bill and I had to make an early Sunday trip to Los Angeles, so we had to leave before the end of the festivities. I really hated having to do it because I don't like missing the fun, but it was unavoidable.

Thank you again, Palma and Brad, for a wonderful evening!

Nancy

No, Nancy, I am the last person to post! We arrived home last night at 10:00 pm and slept till 10:30 this morning. We feel like we've been on a 4 day party binge. Oh wait! WE HAVE!

Even after being there last year, it still amazes me that Palma and Brad produce this incredible party with such ease and boundless hospitality. And since I've been behind the scenes, I can truthfully say, there is a lot of work involved. Palma and Brad are the perfect hosts who make everything seem effortless.

It was so much fun to meet members of the Slow Travel family who already felt like friends from posts, blogs and trip reports. And of course to see again the ones I've become close to through visits, phone calls, and many written words across the country and the world.

Like so many of you, Slow Travel brings a great deal of pleasure into my life. Grazie mille to Palma and Brad for adding to that with your fabulous party, and for inviting John and me to spend our weekend in your beautiful home.

It was all perfect.

Gail

I am so envious. Geoff and I have spent the weekend and the last 2 days in Phoenix setting up for & working a trade show for his company. Palma pointed out that it was but a few hours drive to their place but we could not fit that in. Having met the amazing Palma and perfect-husband Brad in Vancouver, there is no way this GTG at their place could have been anything other than stupendous. And I notice the term "food coma" was used in one of the postings ??? No surprise there either.
Thanks for sharing, and the photos of this GTG, one of these days we will definitely show up, if only to ogle the ceramics collection! I'm so happy you guys all had such a wonderful time !! And envious too of course.

I have just written this thank you email to Palma but I felt I should post part of it publicly here too because I think it contains some descriptions of what it was like to be a part of this truly remarkable GTG and to recognize Palma through this forum. May I say also to everyone that was on the "helping crew" a heartfelt thank you. I am new to the boards and learning how to do things like posting and all but each of you inspire me to do what I can to be an active participant. Thank you for all the help you gave to make this party the extravaganza that it was! Here is some of my email to Palma: Dear Palma, Worked Monday and today and will not teach again until friday so things are winding down. This is the first peaceful moment that i've had to sit and write a thank you note to you. I feel rather inept at finding a more meaningful way of conveying our heartfelt thank you's for the wonderful party you and Brad hosted on Saturday. May I say that whatever notion I had of a desert GTG was nothing like the party you gave. On every level you absolutely amazed and astounded us. What a wonderful EVENT! Palma you are truly a very special soul, so extremely generous and warm and kind. I kept thinking about all those relatives, the italians aunts and uncles and your parents...your whole family and your background that have helped to make you the person that you are. (They would be so proud of you!) The evening was MAGIC and everyone there felt it. We appreciated everyones company...so open and easy to talk with. For me to be with people that hold such similar interests and love of Italy, love of travel, food, etc. was joyous. Truly I was enthused and anxious to try all your fabulous cooking but for the first two hours I didn't even make my way to the appetizers because I wanted to get to know so many people. I never even saw the cheese platter that was posted on slowtrav because I was too busy talking. I'm glad to see photos of all that I missed. But oh the food, Palma! I know it is your joy to cook but what heart and soul you put into your food preparation. Everything that I looked at, tasted, smelled was divine. My favorites were the fig reduction sauce and the pear and pecorino ravioli and the desserts (well I'm a dessert fanatic) but everything, everything was heavenly. I want to cover alot so forgive me if I go on but I feel you should hear what has filled my thoughts and my heart since leaving Palm desert. The ambiance was not only romantic, beautiful decor but every space gives one an inviting, warm feeling. Maybe the way one feels watching a beautiful Tuscan sunset after having several glasses of wine. The feeling is delicious, that's how your home made me feel. Of course the overwhelming care and beauty and love of detail that you have placed into every corner of your home is so beautiful . For me it was like being a child in a candy shop...everywhere I looked a "feast for my eyes". That was just the inside then i went outside to see each table. I had read so much about how you love to collect but this was really a "symphony" the colors of the tables, all the work in details for each table. It was definitely a "visual feast"...so so beautiful Palma, every table, every napkin holder, every candle. I tried to take it in and memorize it all because it was just so breathtakingly lovely. Luckily the photos that everyone will post will help solidify these images. I will try to post some photos but my pictures in general do not capture or do justice to the beauty of that night. Some of Teaberry's photos do. The changing of the light from dusk to dark was magic too. At night it felt like being in a Fairyland...so pretty with all the lights of the candles and the lights in the trees. Please tell Brad every effort he made was so appreciated. I realize this was a huge endeavor, months of preparation and thought. It boggles my mind. I saw Jerry scurrying around alot and I know you had a whole crew of helpers. I will try to thank them independently. Thank you for providing the occasion for all of us newbies to meet the "stars" of the blog as well as supporting characters. I loved meeting every single person and tried to mingle and move around to meet most people but I also tried to really spend meaningful time with those I met and that took alot of time to really learn about each person so there were many I didn't really find the time to engage in deep conversation. It was a wonderful beginning and I thank you for that so much. It however may be a hard act to follow. You and Brad worked so hard during the evening as well. You are very gracious hosts. Brad and you, what a team you make! Such a wonderful relationship. I hold you in such high esteem for the kind of person that you are in your heart Palma. You have exceptional wealth of spirit, genuine and kind and giving from your heart. I appreciate all that you did for everyone to make this such a special night for all. Take care, rest up. I am inspired to try to keep up with all the slowtrav news and to do my part in helping fellow travelers. I hope to meet one and all again, esp. you and Brad at some future GTG. Grazie mille dear Palma. Ci vediamo Barb Cabot
PS Ego is such a sweet dog. I just loved him.

We are posting photos!
Let me remind ya'll to be nice
Sandi

Yes - Palma, Sandi, and I were all posting photos at the same time! There is a nice mix of preparation shots as well as party shots and even a few 'after the party' shots.

Absolutely amazing!! I know Palma is ST's very own Martha Stewart but I think she even has Martha beat if these pictures are any indication. How beautiful and delicious and wonderful and fun it all looks. Kudos to Palma and Brad for what sounds like a smashing success. I will just have to plan a trip to Italy around next year's date I guess!

Colleen, wouldn't a vacation to Palm Desert in October be a better idea?

I just posted HALF my photos (the first 50). Be patient...it takes me a while, and I'm glued to the coverage of the fires!

What good memories! Thanks for the pics.

The pictures are great! I especially love the one below. HEHE.

Well actually I think I am the last to post. We got home Sunday afternoon and between getting DH ready for his camping trip, recovering from a wheel chairless weekend and working 10 hours a day I finally got 10 minutes free to say Thank you, thank you, thank you Palma and Brad. Your are generosity and graciousness personified. However, I do have a slight bone to pick. You need to spend more time with us and less time in the kitchen. I personally could have done with about 1/2 the food I did eat. I actually went to the Hyatt and laid down and moaned. And I only had 2 chocolate covered caramels with sea salt!!

We too faced some very strong winds coming home and actually went through a desert sand storm. The rental has some sand damage - glad I took out extra coverage.

So Palma and Brad, I realize it is a learning curve but next year take it a little easier on yourselves and enjoy YOUR party.

Like Janie, I'm envious that I couldn't be at this wonderful GTG. Palma and Brad are so amazing! It looks like everyone had a more than FANTASTIC time and as always the food and beautiful surrondings looked buonissimo! I'm going to try to recreate a couple of things for Scott's B-Day. Palma, directions please on how to do the Brie and fig jam?

Janie, I think that next year the PNW contingent needs to make an appearance. It would be nice to escape our weather for some heat next Fall.

I also think that some of you should submit pictures to Martha Stewart magazine. I'm sure they would do one of their feature party articles like they do each month.

I'm also enjoying the photos. Love to see the food, tables/settings etc. Palma, you and Brad worked so hard both years to make this happen. Atleast when we go to the Savannah GTG it will be catered or meals in restaurants and you will get to enjoy yourself, without all the work. Looks like your helpers/houseguests helped you out, as well. Enjoyed reading Jerry's blog, as well.

quote:

I know Palma is ST's very own Martha Stewart but I think she even has Martha beat if these pictures are any indication

Palma SO has Martha Stewart beat. On top of the amazing food, decor and incredible attention to small details that made everything extra wonderful, she is so much nicer!!

beth

Oh, please, don't tell Martha Stewart or the rest of the world about our GTGs!!!

Palma and Brad, and our GTGs, are a family secret !

Charity

I think for the Savannah GTG our entertainment could be a 'throw down'... Paula Dean, Martha Stewart, and PalmaBella!
palmabella
Sandi

There are some great pictures in the album. I finally updated my blog with a little description of the GTG. I know Palma, Jerry and Sandi have blogged about it. Has anyone else?

-Krista

quote:

Originally posted by Ann M:
Janie, I think that next year the PNW contingent needs to make an appearance. It would be nice to escape our weather for some heat next Fall..

Yup, I think we need to return the favour since they showed up to ours. Here's hoping all the timing works out. Is it much of a road trip from Seattle to Palm Desert? Just wondering.

I'm still glued to the pictures and gaining weight just looking.

quote:

Originally posted by Janie&Geoff:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ann M:
Janie, I think that next year the PNW contingent needs to make an appearance. It would be nice to escape our weather for some heat next Fall..

Yup, I think we need to return the favour since they showed up to ours. Here's hoping all the timing works out. Is it much of a road trip from Seattle to Palm Desert? Just wondering.

I'm still glued to the pictures and gaining weight just looking at them. So beautifully presented too. Sigh.

Janie, it will take you two full days of driving to make it from Seattle to Palm Desert. That's if you drive straight through with stops only for food/gas/restroom breaks. I live about 2 hours from Palm Desert and I drove to Seattle and back a couple of years ago, and it was two very long days of driving.

beth