There's always been a rush for me when visiting Hearst's 'Castle' - or as he coined it, 'La Cuesta Encantada', The Enchanted Hill. There's a wild mix of what is the core of California - the natural beauty of the area, the unspoiled vistas, the lunancy of business, the legacy of Hollywood. Hearst was a genius, there's no denying that. The care in each placement of a tree, or statue, or fountain is undeniable.
The Roman Pool is otherworldly. It's as if an ancient Roman bath was lifted back from time. It is grand and terrifying. Dark. It is a daunting pool compared to what we know in California otherwise - the safety of light and air. The ability to see the pool's floor...here a chorus of tile and shadow.
This happy statue used to sit directly outside the main door, but has been brought in to safe it from the weather.
One could only imagine the discussions that went on in this smoking room, whose ceiling needs to be meticulously cleaned from the ravages of cigarettes and cigars.
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