Mystical Joshua Tree

In recent years his reputation has taken off thanks to the cover of a U2 album entitled “The Joshua Tree” (great album), and contained a glimpse of this magnificent national park sang and celebrated by our Irish friends. Probably without this publicity, many people do not would know even the existence, because, who, for the first time go to the US, has in mind the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Canyon De Chelly, Yosemite, Yellowstone and other famous national parks. Let me be clear, the parks that I have listed are all breathtakingly beautiful, especially the Grand Canyon, but the Joshua Tree, believe me, has a very special charm. Certainly less wild then Mojave National Preserve (but still to be approached with the right precautions in summer, for the extremely high temperatures and the many unmarked mines where you can fall ), the Joshua, offers picture-postcard views, a beauty I’d say “than can scary”. The park is located 140 miles from Los Angeles and one of its access points, probably the most well known Twentynine Palms entrance along the Twentynine Palms Highway. The park road is excellently paved, just as they do in the US, then, you can even make you whole exploration in the car, get off in the scenic spaces and feast your eyes and soul with his views, but I strongly recommend you to “live the park” it and do the exploration not rush. The park’s name is derived from the plant named Yucca Brevifolia, which is the Joshua Tree desert plant found throughout the Mojave area, whose name was given by mormon settlers who crossed this desert in the 19th century. The shape reminded the settlers a biblical story in which Joshua raised his arms to the sky to pray, and if you look at the tree, its ramifications, have precisely that form of arms. The places to see are many in the park, Indian Cove, Black Rock Canyon, Skull Rock, Keys View and others. You will see the rock formations that date back some 100 million years ago, a result of the solidification of the magma under the earth’s surface. But I would like to emphasize another aspect of this beautiful park is that the purely mystical aspect that surrounds it. U2 are not have come here by accident or for advertising purposes, but for the simple reason that many musicians have had the experience to spend some time in Joshua Tree looking for something, perhaps in search of themselves or just looking to absorb the energy that this place have. Keith Richards and especially Gram Parsons have a story linked to this park. Gram spent lots of time in the Joshua Tree which he considered a source of inspiration, and his body was cremated ( better say they tried to cremate him, but were interrupted by the arrival of the police), near Cap Rock by one of his own friends inside the park itself, to respect the last wishes of Gram. You can also stay in the motel where Parsons died of a drug overdose, this motel is close to the park and it’s called The Joshua Tree Inn & Motel. The room is number 8 and I strongly suggest you go there, because you will not find a dark atmosphere but a peaceful sanctuary, a place hidden from the world, with a unmatchable beauty, believe me. And if you are here on Saturdays and Sundays you can go to the craft market, or spend an evening at the Joshua Tree Saloon, I assure you that in these places you will feel really good and if you will let them enter into the heart, as has happened to me, you will never forget them. Mother Nature has truly overcome herself when it created the Joshua Tree National Park.

Copyright 2016 by Francesco Nicotera                                                               All right reserved