Brad and I took a mini break up to San Simeon for Labor Day weekend. It was going to be hotter than hell in the Valley so we decided to go up the central Californian coast. Hearst Castle is one of the few sites that Brad has not seen, so it was a treat that I got to take him there and show him what I loved about it. We got an early start on Friday morning and made it up there in about two and half hours. After checking into our hotel, we drove up to Hearst Castle. Our tour was the Experience Tour, recommended for first-time visitors. The tour covered Casa Grande, the Neptune and Roman pools, Casa del Sol, the Esplanade, and some of the gardens. Mr. Hearst was quite the dreamer and he made many of his dreams a reality. Opulence was the order of the day with richly draped walls, themed rooms with art to match, exquisitely crafted furniture, and views of the Pacific that were breathtaking. It was a little challenging keeping up with the group because it was hot (up on the hill) and I needed frequent restroom breaks. The guide was most accommodating. After the tour, we saw a National Geographic movie called Building a Dream. Brad was quite impressed with the house and the grounds and saw much of what he had seen in his travels to Europe, reflected in the decor. After resting up at our hotel we ventured into Cambria for dinner. Cambria is quite the quaint town. Main Street is about two blocks long and boasts novelty store, galleries, and realty offices. We walked around a bit and then drove past Main Street to Burton Street where there were many stores and restaurants. Robin's was our restaurant of choice. It was an old house converted into a restaurant, providing a really cozy atmosphere. Brad ordered Kobe flank steak and I ordered an Indian lamb dish. The food was well cooked and the service excellent.
On Saturday, we searched for a quaint breakfast spot, but there was a Labor Day parade in Cambria, so breakfast at the Motel 6 restaurant was our only alternative. It was horrible...terrible service, and mediocre food. We had a 10:40 a.m. Garden Tour up at Hearst Castle and when we got to the top it was about 90 degrees. The tour was wonderful and we got to see sections of the property that we had not seen in the earlier tour. On our way down, the temperature kept dropping and by the time we found a secluded beach, it was beautiful. We played in the water for a bit and made a video for Maya. After stopping by Cambria for a quick lunch, we headed home.
Sunday and Monday were horrible in the Valley - temperatures over 105. Brad did the back-breaking work of cleaning out the nursery and organizing our new office space. In instance like this, I provide refreshment and food. Maya's nursery is a blank slate, except for the beautiful chest of drawers. Now, all that's left is for us to furnish it.
