And this one when we drove back:
When we got to San Simeon, we checked into our very nice and classy hotel, the Morgan, and then went in search of some good sea food. After enjoying our food and each other's company, Elijah and I held hands while exploring the beach. The welcomed monotonous sound of the waves, the salty smell of the sea, and the curious noises of the seagulls, all helped in creating a relaxing mood for us. The glorious sunset was a wonderful way to end the day.
Next day, after eating breakfast, we went for a walk to the beach enjoying the fresh breeze on our faces. I was really having a restful time with just my husband and me. We felt ready to go and explore the castle. The Hearst Castle is located on top of a mountain in San Simeon. It was built in the 1920's by the very wealthy Mr. Hearst, who after making a fortune through business, newspapers, movies, and politics, dedicated himself to bringing to life his childhood dream of building his own castle. His mother had taken him in a year and half European tour seeing the great works of art and architecture when he was around 10 years old. A seed had been planted and when the time was ripe, the older and wealthier William Rudolph Hearst decided to make his dream a reality. La Cuesta Encantada as it was called included 166 rooms, many gardens, hundreds of statues and art work inside and outside the house, two amazingly gorgeous swimming pools, and various architectural styles throughout the many buildings that made up the castle. The construction started in 1922 and continued for about 28 years. Mr. Hearst's architectural genius was Julia Morgan, the first woman architect in North America. We started our tour by taking the bus up to the castle. The views below and up were similarly astonishing.
As soon as you enter the gardens, you are greeted by numberless sweet smelling flowers and countless statues depicting mythological stories and characters.
Next stop was the outdoor swimming pool built to resemble roman temples right down to the statues of the ocean god, Neptune carved on the triangle base, and continued with white marble statues of other roman gods and creatures. I was mesmerized by this pool, its architecture and symmetry. That's a style I can actually enjoy and accept.
After visiting a few of the houses that served as bedrooms for Mr. Hearst, his family and guests, we entered La Casa Grande, the part of the buildings that actually looks like a castle. It truly felt enchanted outside and inside. Beautiful ponds and fountains surrounded the castle outside, and valuable collections of art beautified the inside. Everywhere you looked, whether it were the ceilings, the tapestries, the walls, or the art decorating the tables and walls, you couldn't help but observe the thousands of details involved in all of them.
The last stop was the indoor swimming pool, whose floors were covered with gold. So you can say that Elijah and I walked on gold during this trip, not only metaphorically, but literally.
When we got back to our car and after eating lunch, Elijah and I decided we would check out a few more sights before headed on home. My favorite thing we got to see afterwards was this group of elephant seals bathing under the sun. The female seals could weigh about 1500 lbs, and their mates, the male ones, could reach a weight of 5000 lbs. Now, that can crush your bones to dust with one blow. Other than that, they looked adorable.
This trip had been wonderful, full of sightseeing events, fresh smelling walks, and breathtaking views. Above all, Elijah and I had a good time talking, laughing, and sharing our dreams without interruption. We love our children, but once in a while we feel the need to be on our own, and this was the best get away.
