EXCLUSIVE: Now it's Carribean sunshine on Richard Branson's island for Obama: Michelle quits washout California for private jet flight to billionaire's paradise getaway
- Ex-president flew with his wife Michelle to California after watching President Trump being sworn in
- The former first couple were staying with their friends, his former Spanish ambassador James Costos and his husband, interior designer Michael Smith
- Obama has now left the home in a Rancho Mirage gated community
- Michelle flew out of Palm Springs airport on plane registered to Richard Branson with a destination in the British Virgin Islands
- Brandson posted an instagram video on Monday suggesting he was on Necker, his private British Virgin island
- The Virgin billionaire's private jet is an ultra-luxury Falcon 900EX
- He and Obama have both spoken about climate change
- Unclear if 44th president was on the plane or left separately
Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have left Palm Springs after a weekend break in the desert - with the ex-first lady bound for the Carribean.
An
eight-vehicle motorcade left the home of Spanish Ambassador James
Costos and his partner Michael Smith, where the Obamas had been staying,
around 10am and headed to a private terminal next to Palm Springs
International Airport.
A Riverside
County Sheriff's Department vehicle blocked traffic in both directions
on Highway 111 as the motorcade sped to the airport.
Once there former First Lady Michelle was seen boarding a private jet owned by Sir Richard Branson.
The aircraft was waiting on the tarmac next to the Signature Flight Support as the motorcade pulled in just before 11am.
It
was later revealed to have filed a flight plan to the British Virgin
Islands' main airport. Branson's private island of Necker is part of the
Carribean archipelago.
And they're off: Michelle Obama was
seen boarding this private jet belonging to Richard Branson. Her husband
also left but there was no conformation if he was board this plane or a
different one
Fly in luxury: The plane owned by
billionaire Virgin boss Richard Branson was on the tarmac at the private
section of Palm Springs airport
Motorcade: Secret Service and police vehicles were parked after dropping off the former first family
Welcome to paradise: Richard Branson lives on the private island of Necker in the British Virgin Islands
Last seen: President Obama looked very
deep in thought as he left a workout at the Thunderbird Country Club in
Rancho Mirage, California, on Sunday. He has not been seen since but
left Palm Springs Monday
Not going commercial: The Obamas left from the private section of Palm Springs airport
On Necker:
Branson posed an Instagram video from his private Carribean island
welcoming his new grandson Bluey, an addition to his daughter Holly's
family. After dodging showers at the inauguration of her husband's
successor, Michelle Obama endured a rainy weekend in California - but
there is no rain forecast for Necker
Her
husband wasn't seen boarding the flight but Tom Nolan, the airport's
executive director, later confirmed that the former president also
departed Monday morning but it's not clear whether the couple left
together.
The private jet, a Falcon 900EX is a French made, long range, ultra luxury corporate jet, called Galactic Girl.
The tail sports a blown up decal of millionaire Branson's iris on the tail fin, and a Virgin logo on the front of the fuselage.
The
jet has a maximum cruising altitude of 36,000 feet, speed of mach 0.87
(662 mph). it is customized for each owner and can have office space or
beds installed.
It is unclear if
Branson was on board. The Virgin boss posted an Instagram video 10 hours
before the plane took off which appeared to have been filmed in Necker,
his private Carribean island.
The weather on Necker is significantly better than conditions in Palm Springs, which is affected by a winter storm warning.
Necker on the other hand had some rain on Monday but is predicted to be dry, sunny, and around 80f for the rest of the week.
Branson
posted an instagram picture on Saturday of him with the former
president during his time in office saying: 'Thank you Obama.'
Earlier Monday morning Obama visited
the Thunderbird Country Club gym, where the former president has
exercised every morning since arriving in Palm Springs.
The Obamas visited the area after attending the inauguration of Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. on Friday.
On
Saturday he spent about five hours at Porcupine Creek golf course, the
ultra-exclusive course owned by Oracle founder Larry Ellison.
Obama
looked relaxed as he and a handful of secret service agents, negotiated
the stunning 18-hole private course in several golf carts.
Obama
was seen chatting and laughing with his golfing companions on the first
day of his vacation and at one point fist bumped another golfer after
watching a decent shot.
The world class
private course in Rancho Mirage is one of the desert's best-kept
golfing secrets and rests against a mountain backdrop with a stunning
rugged landscape.
Thank you Obama: Branson posted this picture of him meeting the former president when he was still in office
He seemed to be in better spirits when
he was driving around a golf cart at the ultra-exclusive Porcupine
Creek Golf Club in Rancho Mirage, California, on Saturday
Former President
Barack Obama played 18 holes at the ultra-exclusive Porcupine Creek Golf
Club in Rancho Mirage, California on Saturday
Obama looked relaxed as he made his
way around the golf club wearing light blue Under Armor golf jersey,
Nike socks and shoes, grey trousers and a grey baseball cap
The former president was pictured in
his armored Secret Service SUV as he left a country club gym where he
had worked out before heading to the course
The stunning 18-hole private course is owned by billionaire Larry Ellison
Obama stopped for a break during the round on a sunny day in the Coachella Valley
Why are we waiting: James Costos and
his husband, interior designer Michael Smith posted a selfie from inside
Air Force One while it circled
Swank digs: Barack and Michelle were
staying at the mansion of his Spanish ambassador James Costos and his
husband, interior designer Michael Smith, in Rancho Mirage; The couple's
11,000-sq-ft home was featured in an issue of Architectural Digest back
in 2015 (pool above)
Getaway: The residence (above) was first purchased as a weekend retreat for the couple
Flower power: Bougainvillea flowers and vines cover the eight-car garage at the Palm Springs home (above)
The course is by-invitation-only and Golf Digest once ranked as one of the top 20 golf courses in California.
Obama
played at Porcupine Creek in February this year and back in 2014 he was
spotted there during another visit to the desert to meet with King
Abdullah II of Jordan.
The course is part of a huge $75million 249 acre estate owned by Ellison.
The
estate named Porcupine Creek Ranch boasts a huge 18,400 sq ft main
residence, eight guest houses, a pool, spa, gym and an amphitheater.
The property has played host to many benefits and charity events.
The perimeter of the estate has a privacy row of trees that blocks the prying eyes of the outside world.
It had been a dreary, wet and windswept weekend from the moment the Obamas arrived in Palm Springs.
On
Friday low clouds covered the valley, temperatures dropped to a chilly
50 degrees Fahrenheit and rain flooded the streets of the city - not an
ideal start to their vacation.
The weather was so bad the government plane carrying the family was diverted to March Air Force Base, some 44 miles away.
Fortunately,
there was a break in conditions on Saturday and the sun came out
allowing the former president to enjoy a round of golf.
On
Sunday, other than a visit to the gym at Thunderbird Country Club, the
Obamas avoided the rain and stayed at home, with sports fan Barack
likely watching the NFL playoff games between Atlanta Falcons and Green
Bay Packers followed by New England Patriots vs Pittsburgh Steelers.
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