| Hearst Castle, San Simeon
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Interested in some more details about Hearst Castle? Check out my
Bookshelf for some travel books!
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Hearst Castle stands on top of a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, somewhere between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is an impressive achievement of a man who owned a Media empire.
Unfortunately, no one is allowed to roam around this grand structure. There are five different tours and every one of them starts at the Neptune pool.
The water was so inviting that I wanted to jump in regardless of the tour rules.
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Neptune Pool
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Neptune from the side
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I guess a little history of the Castle is in order. After watching the National Geographic documentary on WR Hearst, I have some idea of the history behind this castle.
WR Heart's father was a very determined smart man. He came to California looking for gold, but became rich from the silver...which he had to transport hundreds of treacherous mountain road to sell. With that money, he began to buy ranch land of California.
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| One of the Entry way into the Hearst Castle. Imagine getting out of the limousine, walking down the path into the grand house...past the Neptune pool, past the amazing vista of the San Simeon. It must have been a dream for those famous.
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Entry way behind Neptune Pool
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Main House (Casa de Grande)
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WR Hearst's father married a very smart, well educated woman. I would say another good move on his part. She gave her love of travel and art to WR Hearst. At least that is why his Castle looks something close to an "Antique warehouse". He has gotten the love, but I guess not completely a taste to display it in the way of a real European house.
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| There were three guest houses on top of the main house (Casa Grande). Casa del Monte, which faced the mountains, Casa del Mar, faced the ocean, and Casa del sol.
All the rooms in guest houses were lavishly decorated with the antique furniture and ceilings of many different Spanish and Italian areas.
From the Casa del Monte, you can see a great view of San Simeon. All the land you could see, and more were all owned by WR Hearst's father.
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One of the guest houses
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