We took a short drive up the coast to Hearst Castle. It cost $18 each to tour one of the houses of someone that I'd never heard of. The castle is set 1,000 foot up in the hills and it takes 15 minutes to get there by bus. In the time of Mr Hearst it used to take 5 hours up a winding dirt track. When you get to the top you can see why he built it up there. You get the most stunning view out across the pacific ocean and in the mornings you can see the mists rolling in.
For those of you who don't know, W R Hearst came from a rich family and went into the media industry. As the guide claimed he built the biggest Media group EVER. I think Rupert Murdoch would have a thing or 2 to say about that claim. Anyway he made a shed load of cash and had 20 different houses and built 7 estates similar to this in grandeur but each on a different theme. Strangely none on an American theme.
This place is totally extravagant. It's on a 90,000 acre estate and built to resemble a Spanish Town buying lots of european antiques to adorn the house. These people always seem to be trying to build things in somebody else's style. Why didn't they start their own style.
At home we built castles to defend ourselves, here they built them to show off. This isn't really a castle in the traditional sense of the word, but its typical of a bloke who's come into money. The Americans love him. I think he was the typical American dream. Make shed loads of cash and sod everyone else beneath you. I hate this man and 30 minute ago I'd never heard of him. The place is mighty impressive. I'd love to know how much he gave to charity.
He held the most lavish parties here, inviting all the Hollywood stars to stay in the guesthouses that he had built and play tennis on the floodlit tennis court, or swim in the indoor or outdoor pool. All this from a man who died in 1951 at the age of 88.
We left Hearst Castle and continued up the coast and around the hills. This is much nicer than yesterday as there are far less signs of civilisation and the natural beauty is made more stunning by the lack of human intervention. It's also the longest road in America without a take away restaurant or chain hotel and it's the only American road with a bend in it. We travelled about 50 miles without seeing a McDonalds or Holiday Inn but also no petrol stations. A minor crisis was averted when we rounded a corner and saw a shell garage. It was the most expensive petrol in America, but still cheaper than anywhere in the UK.
We continued on up through the Big Sur before finally reaching the civilisation of Carmel. We took the 17 mile drive for $8.25, by mistake, around Pebble Beach. The penny didn't drop until we were on the drive, that this is the home of some of the most famous golf courses in the world. I've already played Spyglass and Pebble Beach etc. (on Tiger Woods 2003). We had a late lunch at the lovely Spanish Bay golf course. I think we fitted right in and didn't stick out at all.
Further up the coast is Monterrey which is really nice also. We found a Holiday Inn Express and negotiated a knock down deal of $65 for the night with an ocean view because of my priority card. Regular price is $244. I was able to enjoy my first bath since Andy H's house, and yes that was a month ago.
In the evening I went into K MART (a massive superstore) to buy my Mum and Dad a fitting Xmas present for their arrival on Saturday. I simply wanted a bottle of gin and some tonic water. Those who know my parents will understand. They drink it for medicinal purposes, the quinine prevents malaria. Having wandered aimlessly round the store for some time, passing the gun counter, looking for the alcohol section I asked an assistant. The conversation went.
Bloo:- 'Excuse me. Could you tell me where you keep the alcohol?'
Front end associate:- ' Do you mean rubbing alcohol?'
Bloo:- 'No I mean drinking alcohol'
Front end associate:- 'We don't sell it here'
Bloo:- (a little confused) 'Okay rubbing alcohol with have to do.'
How can they sell guns and not alcohol?
