Our friend Zara Martin went on the road with AllSaints to the Indio Valley last weekend. This is her story.
“The road trip, particularly an American one, is a highly romanticised concept. In reality, or in my reality at least, it involved a mild panic attack and a run in with a hay truck. This is my story of London to Palm Springs by way of L.A.
Getting on the road first involved getting on a plane. A Virgin plane to be exact, and thanks to the Upper Class situation I slept for the full 11 hour flight. Over the course of the next week I left my travelling companion, Sophie Ball (VIP services at AllSaints – who were taking me on this trip to attend Coachella) in disbelief at my sleeping capabilities. It’s a skill. If they gave out medals for that sort of thing… #JustSaying
Hiring a car at LAX is a massive downer. You land: “Yay I’m in Los Angeles!” And then it’s: “Oh look I’m on a shuttle to buttf**k nowhere to pick up a vehicle after a 1 hour line at immigration. FML. FSS. And every other abbreviation.”
Once we picked up the keys to the Jeep (BEEP BEEP), we found our way to The SLS Beverly Hills our luxurious home for the night.
With jetlag on our side, we hit the road (again) at 8am. I had visions of tucking in to pancakes en route at IHOP, no one was up for it so that didn’t happen. We were in a convoy with some friends/speed deamons… I couldn’t keep up so 4 hours and some change later, and after an altercation with the bastard sat nav, we arrived at The Viceroy. Hello Palm Springs! The land of gays and grays! So, I am told.
When 90,000 people don’t descend on the desert (which I am now fully acquainted with after having to walk 5 miles across it in CAT EARS. Long story.) on a given weekend Palm Springs provides a beautiful backdrop to chill out to.
BUT…
Coachella is all about the music, and the pool parties. The *ahem* NYLON pool party to be exact. MTV The Grind flashbacks.
The last night saw all the Hip Hop heroes; Dre, Snoop, Fiddy, Slim, Wiz and a massively awkward hologram Tupac (RIP), take to the main stage. My mind was blown but in the back of it was the thought that we had to wake up and drive back. No one talks about the return journey of a road trip, and now I know why.
Thank you to AllSaints and Virgin for the experience. It was emotional.
Love, Zara x”
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