Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary monument at Hearst Castle Visitor's Center. |
The tour begins.... that's Floppy Hat Dean from our group in foreground. |
Edge of the Neptune Pool structure. |
Front of Casa del Sol which is where the SLA bomb detonated back on February 13, 1976. |
Point Piedras Blancas and the California Coast and the Pacific Ocean as seen from Hearst Castle on this hazy day. |
Looks to be a serpentine tile on the pavement... there were many other such tiles in the vicinity. |
The Neptune Pool is also drained for repairs and rehabilitation. Two years ago Lady Gaga finagled the refilling of this pool to accommodate her music video. |
North-side view of guesthouse Case del Sol. |
William Randoph Hearst instructed project architect Julia Morgan to create a "profusion and confusion" in regards to the landscaping. As is evident here, she did just that and quite well. |
A quintessentially California scene. |
I like that sarcophagus most of all things in this image. |
The cat idols of Sekhmet, Egyptian Goddess of Healing (and warrior goddess). |
This statue is over 3000 years old and is composed of diorite with veins of pink feldspar profused throughout. |
The top-most statue is over 3000 years old as is the bust partially visible at right. The one below it and the bust at left are undated. All four feature Sekhmet. |
Casa Grande |
Casa Grande |
Casa Grande |
White marble mermaid |
The gold on this grill is 22 ct. gold as is most of the gold on the estate. |
The Assembly Room where Hearst where guests mingled and the evening began with cocktails. |
The Assembly Room has only the second largest fireplace in the building. |
This "casket" was for presenting gifts to nobility in France. The glass panes are actually rock crystal quartz. |
Ceiling of the Assembly Room. |
The Refectory which name was used for the dining hall of a monastery. |
Upper portion of the Refectory. |
Disturbing statue on left side of the fireplace in the Refectory. |
Right-side Refectory fireplace statue. Fireplace at left is the largest in the estate. |
Morning Room ceiling... note scaffolding at right as it is being restored. |
Billiard Room. |
Billiard Room fireplace view. |
Phi Alpha Theta photo-off! |
Casa del Mar guesthouse. |
View from Casa del Mar porch looking down. |
Casa Grande |
Renaissance wellhead |
Unfinished end of South Wing of Casa Grande. |
Backside of Casa Grande. |
Backside of Casa Grande looking into Morning Room. |
Lightning-sculpted palm tree. |
Early modern brass cannons. |
Early modern mortar. |
Another early modern brass mortar and brass cannon. |
That other early modern brass cannon. Note the exquisite artistic detail. |
Indoor Roman Pool. |
Detail of beautiful tile mosaic on floor adjacent to Roman Pool. |
The Grotto on the Playboy Mansion has nothing on the grotto here. |
All photos by Kim Patrick Noyes and permitted by California State Parks (all rights reserved). |
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