Open San Simeon, Hearst Castle Photo Gallery We intended to stop in San Simeon as a way to visit Hearst castle. Hearst castle was built by William Randolph Hearst, a newspaper tycoon and is proof that if you want to be remembered, build a fantastic castle. It was largely influenced by a 1.5yr tour of Europe trip his mother took him on as a child. He was fascinated by the history, the architecture and built “Casa Grande” with it’s Roman fountains, Turkish baths and Spanish Cathedral styled house to look like it could be anywhere in Europe.
The castle was built on family land he enjoyed as a child, and describes what no expense spared means. It is ornate with interiors from across Europe and the Middle East. Construction started in 1919 and continued until 1947 making it a testament to architect Julia Morgan. The construction was a feat considering the elevation.
Hearst Castle was famous for celebrity guests including Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, Marx Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, James Stewart, Bob Hope, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill. They would come in droves at the weekend and usually arrive by Hearst’s plane, landing on the airfield lower down the hill. The plane did the journey daily to ensure Hearst got to look through his newspapers!
Visiting the castle is only possible on a tour and there are several available. It starts with a 5 mile bus journey from base camp to the top and you may get to see some zebra! I felt a little cheated considering the price and not being allowed to explore in our own time. The tours are designed so if you want to see more you have to buy another tour. Nevertheless we felt our guide was good at giving us time and asked what interested us so she could expand. Very different to how we were treated at the Newport Mansions, Rhode Island where grumpy old people keenly shouted at us as if we were naughty school children.
If you are near here, Hearst castle is a must do and booking in advance is advisable. That night, we camped at San Simeon State Beach Campground. It was maintained by the same company as the previous night although there were no owners in attendance. We had already paid, so saving no pennies. There was something very eerie and creepy about this campground.
Remembering the cold from the previous night, weren’t looking forward to it. Again we borrowed a hook-up to inflate our air mattress. This time from a kind and gentle Canadian man with an RV. Feeling tired, I rested for half an hour. As everyday, we managed to squeeze a lot in; too much to absorb.
Michelle was asked for help from another camper in a similar air mattress position. The thought of that woman still fills me with anxiety and sends a shiver down my spine. She is a reminder of what can happen to you if you love your dog more than yourself. The long rough, white hairs of her chinny chin chin followed down her soft neck and were considerably longer than those on my head. She wore a heavy overcoat, carelessly pulled in all directions was covered in white hair in what I could only have assumed have come from her face. They were from the dog. Michelle had a glimpse inside her car noticing lumps of mouldy bread and clutter that you might associate with someone much older and resentful about throwing away last year’s newspaper.
The characterization of un-cleanliness continued in the tent with broken biscuits. I imagine they had been there since it was last used, the previous year. Attached with the stale dog smell, she was not a pretty picture. This lady is a writer and reviewing hotels with “dogitude”. Attitude towards dogs. That is a hotel that loves dogs. I love dogs, yet wouldn’t want to stay in a hotel that stank of dirty alsatians or had mongrels barking all night. She continued to tell us about how only people who are good to dogs are really good people. It kind of makes sense, but I felt resentful of her and would have objected if the necessity wasn’t to get away as soon as possible.
I really and truly do feel sorry for the un-nameable. She probably lives on her wits and on a day to day basis. She was a vagrant or a bum who scavenged from whoever she could and become accustomed to expect it. She would stay in hotels with a free stay, meal and in return would write about their “dogitude” on her blog. I have yet to find an article or review about a hotel on her blog. Today, she felt resentful that she wasn’t being looked after and when she informed us that she had been robbed, I somehow very much doubted it or it was perhaps a mis-alignment of the truth, Michelle gave her $30 from my wallet, some fruit and water. Despite being unemployed, it wouldn’t be missed, but I feel resentful about giving to people that don’t look after themselves.
We both discussed and wondered how she managed to be respected with her terrible appearance. As well as sorry, I also feel extremely pissed off with her. Michelle and myself had a date with a deserted Moonstone Beach, a blanket, a bottle of wine and a fantastic sunset. This lady made it impossible for us to politely get away from her. Talking down every intervention I tried to make as a get-a-way. This woman stole what would have been a memorable moment from us. So if you have a dog hotel and prefer me to some pikie looking woman, tell her you only have a spare kennel.
Just after dark, we went to Cambria. A town several miles to the south and of several thousand. Wikipedia says it used to be much more prominent as an active center of shipping, mining, dairy farming, logging, and ranching. It was also the second largest town in the county. When the railroad lines were extended into San Luis Obispo in 1894, Cambria was left isolated. But most people come here to enjoy the outdoors and enjoy the beach, mountain biking and walking.
We arrived after dark with the petrol tank indicating empty as were our stomachs, especially Michelle’s. We crept along as if curb crawling in hopes that we may find signs of life in this out of season town. We came across a restaurant called “Indigo Moon” and as we slowed down to peer through the window, it was reciprocated by our host for the evening. She had decided to stay open a little later (it was about 8pm) in hopes that we may come along.
She was congratulatory about all our choices which I could see Michelle very much appreciated. We shared a bottle of Californian Honig that went perfectly with crab cakes, sweet potato fries, goats cheese salad, and a free roasted tomato and basil soup; that with the tip came to $50. Feeling frosty, we moved the heater closer to us making things very cozy! Service was really good and we enjoyed the window seat looking out into the darkness along with the country community knick-knacks that proved the countryside in California isn’t for retards.
The waitress recommended we drop in a few doors down to “Lilly’s” for breakfast quiche. We drifted to sleep that evening with the fantastic sound of bull frogs merged with the gloriously refreshing sound of waves crashing on the beach. The air proved to be a little too cold for camping and the oversized air bed deflated with the chill; it suggested that we wouldn’t be camping again this trip!
So before our long drive the next morning, we went to “Lilly’s”. On entrance we passed the patio which was delicately buzzing with locals enjoying an extra cup. The splendid décor was mixed with country charm and cool modernist furnishings. Beyond the coffees, Lilly’s sold some other fun and boutique style souvenirs including mugs and cute dresses that I think were more akin with San Francisco.
We asked about the quiche and were asked if we had been told about it. Suggesting there is fame in every bite of those quiches. Unfortunately, the owners of Lilly’s café were away and with them the secret recipe. Instead we were offered cup-cakes by a server who looked like she spent far too long designing their delicate and varied crowns. I could imagine her refusing to sell them whilst antagonizing the length of time creating them. In walked one of the mentioned locals and explained with a level of conviction to the quality of quiches qualifying him as a strong politician.
Asking for a photo of the cupcakes with thy maker, she instinctively replied “I don’t do bosoms with cupcakes”. I am not sure if that was what was being asked for! With our teas, we drove several miles and walked down some steps to “Moonstone Beach”. We walked down some steps and watched as the high-tide waves crashed on the rocks. We saw huge clumps of sea weed which we later discovered grows in feet a day! We snacked on some Jalapeno bread purchased in Solvang. It was a mixture of cheese, tomato, bell peppers and of course Jalapenos in soft fresh dough. There was quite a bite to it; considering the calories, we later decided to trash it.
