We spend a fair amount of time in Cambria, but I haven't visited the castle yet. Much prefer sitting by the water at Hearst Winery and drinking a delicious red. In any case, we still see the Zebras as we drive by. They run the fields between the castle and the highway.
Oh, and regarding the Madonna Inn. ---In college, I did swag for different bands. This time it was with Thomas Mapfumo...We were driving north and I asked the bus driver to stop at the Madonna Inn so I could show the Zimbabweans real American Kitsch. Turned out they were more interested in playing with the farm animals. C'est La Vie!
great read. I haven't been there in years. The excess was astounding. The colours of the tiles in the pool area were stunning. I just didn't get it. It just didn't feel like fun. The serenity of riding the hills down to the sea and exploring the land sure did!
Loved reading this, Gina. I last visited Hearst Castle in my twenties with a French architect boyfriend who annoyed our guides -- there were three or four different tours in those days -- by hanging back and taking pictures for far longer than they wanted. This made me long to return. ALWAYS fascinated with your diving history. You contain multitudes!
Well I don't think We The People are allowed to visit Neverland Ranch though it would be cool if we could...can you imagine if the Park Service took it over? They'd make billions! Also I think the real prince and princess, Harry and Meg, live near there probably in some equally dopey castle type thing. It's all very nutty. Hey do you remember going to Hearst when we were little? Or were you allowed to stay home?
Neverland is in private hands. The amusement park torn down. It's closer to Solvang than the castle. Harry and Meg live in Montecito, near Santa Barbara and I hate that I know that.
So funny, I don't remember you being there, probably because I was so self absorbed. I remember how mean you were to me when we went to the Grand Canyon though!
I may have misremembered, but I think that when I went to Hearst Castle the guide said that most of the guests couldn’t swim, and just bobbed around the edges of the pool. Something about Charlie Chaplin is nagging at the edges of my memory.
Oh our guide didn't say that but I bet it's true. However there were definitely some cannonballs done from the various platforms. Today the pool is unheated. You can have a swim there if you donate something like 10 grand to the foundation. When my ship comes in...
It’s a lovely pool. I really enjoyed Hearst Castle - my guide was pretty sniffy about the aesthetics of all the European relics jammed together, but I feel like it’s a retro kind of obscene wealth which seems almost romantic now.
We spend a fair amount of time in Cambria, but I haven't visited the castle yet. Much prefer sitting by the water at Hearst Winery and drinking a delicious red. In any case, we still see the Zebras as we drive by. They run the fields between the castle and the highway.
Oh, and regarding the Madonna Inn. ---In college, I did swag for different bands. This time it was with Thomas Mapfumo...We were driving north and I asked the bus driver to stop at the Madonna Inn so I could show the Zimbabweans real American Kitsch. Turned out they were more interested in playing with the farm animals. C'est La Vie!
I've never wanted to visit Hearst Castle...until now.
great read. I haven't been there in years. The excess was astounding. The colours of the tiles in the pool area were stunning. I just didn't get it. It just didn't feel like fun. The serenity of riding the hills down to the sea and exploring the land sure did!
Loved reading this, Gina. I last visited Hearst Castle in my twenties with a French architect boyfriend who annoyed our guides -- there were three or four different tours in those days -- by hanging back and taking pictures for far longer than they wanted. This made me long to return. ALWAYS fascinated with your diving history. You contain multitudes!
How far are the Castle and Madonna Inn from Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch? Sort of a California Trifecta
Well I don't think We The People are allowed to visit Neverland Ranch though it would be cool if we could...can you imagine if the Park Service took it over? They'd make billions! Also I think the real prince and princess, Harry and Meg, live near there probably in some equally dopey castle type thing. It's all very nutty. Hey do you remember going to Hearst when we were little? Or were you allowed to stay home?
Neverland is in private hands. The amusement park torn down. It's closer to Solvang than the castle. Harry and Meg live in Montecito, near Santa Barbara and I hate that I know that.
Oh I went, recall it very clearly
Harry & Meg—in 100 yrs they’ll be like Hearst and the owner of the Madonna inn
So funny, I don't remember you being there, probably because I was so self absorbed. I remember how mean you were to me when we went to the Grand Canyon though!
Grand Canyon was the last trip, I think I complained the whole time. It worked though, as I was left home thereafter
I may have misremembered, but I think that when I went to Hearst Castle the guide said that most of the guests couldn’t swim, and just bobbed around the edges of the pool. Something about Charlie Chaplin is nagging at the edges of my memory.
Oh our guide didn't say that but I bet it's true. However there were definitely some cannonballs done from the various platforms. Today the pool is unheated. You can have a swim there if you donate something like 10 grand to the foundation. When my ship comes in...
It’s a lovely pool. I really enjoyed Hearst Castle - my guide was pretty sniffy about the aesthetics of all the European relics jammed together, but I feel like it’s a retro kind of obscene wealth which seems almost romantic now.