We're currently at LAX waiting for our flight home to Brisvegas. So this is the Last Post. The last few days have been great, visiting Hearst Castle (which was awesome) and the coast north of LA up to (near) Big Sur. Here are some pics....
This is the Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle, the home of William Randolf Hearst who built it from 1919 to 1947. He used it often, but only lived there permanently for 2 years. The architect was a lady from San Francisco with her own practice, who was also a civil engineer so was capable of building earthquake resistant buildings (an important issue after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake!). This was the third iteration of the pool, as he often changed his mind. The columns are genuine Roman and the sculptures renaissance.
This was the first useable building whilst the rest were under construction. Brilliant little house with fab details....
There are a lot of unfinished elements - note the cladding on the left not yet finished - the whole shebang is concrete....
There are 116 rooms. He had 5 warehouses down at the docks full of 'stuff'. Most decorations, furniture and the ceilings are originals from Europe - mostly renaissance. Some were made on site to match (or where he didn't have anything handy)....
This is one end of the library....
A random corridor.....
His bedroom - surprisingly small - ceiling 1400's....
His study, where he spent most of his time. His 24 newspapers from around the US were flown in every day on DC3's to his local airstrip for review....
This is the ceiling and windows of the celestial suite, which were made by local craftsman - it sits under the bell tower....
Another local craftsman carved teak that surrounds the main building....
View of the main bell tower (the celestial suite is below)....
Another pool, this time under the tennis courts! Note diving platform half way down left hand side. It needs renovation so they've already taken the ceiling tiles away....
Dodgy tourist photo as we arrived (green screen background) - note 'photo' watermark because all I did was screen grab the online version!....
Here are various shots of the coastal scenery. It was great. Highlights were the ocean critters.....
Note Elephant Seals on beach.....
Californian Ground Squirrel - very cute.....
Coast heading toward Big Sur (but road cut about 10 miles up the road)....
Note drum set - surfer dudes in a combo just to right of picture had it set up - like wow man....
Sea Otters were a treat - here are some with pups.....
This is Morro Rock, next to where the Sea Otter pups were....
Final wetland we visited Near Morro Bay before heading down to LA....
Malibu area....
Added bonus - I meant to include this video in the previous post. It is from the Roller Skating Dance Association in Central Park, NYC. Classic.....
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That house is absolutely amazing🏰had no idea it was so huge🏨
ReplyDeleteWhat a great blog from one end to the other—thanks for sharing such wonderful memories. Cheers Petes
ReplyDeleteCan't believe you didn't join into the roller disco!🤣What an epic adventure, starting in the snow, Venice, London, New York and California. Great job you guys.
ReplyDeleteWe loved that BIG SUR drive which we did in a convertible Mustang as one does -haha! Ever turn revealed fabulous coastline and we had a cute but slightly scary encounter with seal on the beach. Hearst's Castle to me felt very sad and confusing, like a person who was trying to be liked and didn't really know how to go about it. He had such a hodge podge of ancient detritus that he then had cobbled together into an adults playground for the rich and famous that resembled a collection of Hollywood glamorous movie sets except he hardly participated in the parties or enjoyed the spaces. I think it's actually a museum to remind us that money can't buy you happiness beyond the superficial.
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