West Coast USA Day 19

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Another sleep in this morning as we make our way to San Simeon, we travel along the coast road, it looks a lot like the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia and as we travel along there is pampas grass growing all along the coast line, when the sun shines on them it looks wonderful. As we get closer to San Simeon, you can see Sea Otters playing in the ocean, only just, but you know its them as thier heads bob up and down out of the water, we stop along the way just before San Simeon where you can see about a hundred Elephant Seals sunning themselves on the beach, they look amazing, you look at their sweet little faces and wonder how anyone could harm such an amazing creature, thank goodness for the volunteers looking after this piece of beach so they can live the life they should!


We arrive at our hotel, have a little down time and then head off to Hearst Castle for a night tour, you can see the castle from the bottom of the hill, it is huge!, we travel by bus up the winding mountain road and arrive at the most stunning sight, this Castle is amazing, the architecture is amazing, there are people dressed in 1940's costumes to add to the atmosphere, the grounds are green, the outdoor pool looks like It belongs on a Greek Island with its pillars and cane furniture. We enter the main building through a door that has 24crt gold leaf on the iron work, there are ancient tapestries that adorn the walls, ancient urns sitting on shelves and a huge dining room, where the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and other famous actors would gather during the summer holidays, Hearst even had a Fur Cellar for those women who arrived and if the night was chilly he would take them to the Fur Cellar to pick out a Fur, he would have the household staff pack these furs in thier suitcases as a gift from him on occasions. He had a huge Cinema Room, which he would put a movie on every night, once the movie was over he would excuse himself to turn in, and his guest would go to the indoor pool which has tiles that are latticed with 24crt gold, it is stunning! If ever you visit San Simeon, you must go to Hearst Castle and do the Night Tour, but you must book way in advance otherwise you will miss the Night Tour.........Weather......... Autumn by the coast!

Accommodation:
The Morgan at San Simeon
9135 Hearst Drive
San Simeon,California

Thoughts: The Morgan was a nice place to stay although without a sea view. There was a Motel, Sands by the sea ( I think ) in the same strip that had rooms with a dynamite view. If visiting this area again, we would try and book a ocean view room at the Sands.
San Simeon is a sea side town and we were there in off season, nestled in the accommodation strip is shopping area with a hairdresser and other shops ,these were all closed .I would imagine if you were wishing to stay here during peak season and holidays they would be open and advance booking would be essential for accommodation.

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Photos

Hearst Castle
History of Hearst Castle
In 1865, George Hearst, a wealthy miner, purchased 40,000-acres of ranchland that included the Mexican Ranchos of Piedras Blancas, San Simeon and Santa Rosa. In 1919, his only son, William Randolph Hearst, inherited the land from his mother, Phoebe Apperson Hearst. By then the ranch had grown to encompass 250,000 acres.
Originally known as “Camp Hill,” its wilderness offered a place for family members and friends to “rough it” on camping trips. Despite elaborate arrangements with separate sleeping and dining tents, Hearst envisioned more comfortable accommodations. His simple instructions to famed San Francisco architect Julia Morgan in 1919: “Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something”
Hearst and Morgan’s collaboration was destined to become one of the world’s greatest showplaces. As they were planning and constructing his dream home, Hearst renamed the rocky perch from which it rose “La Cuesta Encantada” – The Enchanted Hill. By 1947, Hearst and Morgan had created an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways.
The estate’s magnificent main house, “Casa Grande,” and three guest houses are of Mediterranean Revival style, while the imposing towers of Casa Grande were inspired by a Spanish cathedral. The blending of the architectural style with the surrounding land, and Hearst’s superb European and Mediterranean art collection, was so seamless that world-renowned architectural historian, Lord John Julius Norwich, was moved to say that “Hearst Castle is a palace in every sense of the word.”

Elephant Seals
Elephant Seals
Mirounga angustirostris, are true seals, or earless seals, members of the pinniped suborder. What marvelous creatures they are: huge blubbery males with the pendulous noses that give these beasts their name; winsome females whose faces seem to be etched with a permanent smile; and endearing plump babies with big round....

The Coast
A view of the California coast at sunset from Hearst Castle

A swim anyone
The Greek inspired pool at Hearst Castle