San Francisco, California - Farewell - 24th October 1970

 On the way to San Francisco to board the 'Himalaya' for home... but firstly a stop, somewhere in the San Martin area for some wine tasting.

 Moffett Field Naval Air Station.  near Palo Alto.  The worlds tallest hangar.

 Today from Google Maps.

 David still loves these trams.

 At Fisherman's Wharf with Sandy and Doug.  (His real name is Grover, I don't know where the Doug comes from?)

U.S.A. - Carmel, California - Keith and Virginia - October 1970

  Trying to get a Formal Photo of Keith and Virginia Evans, Liz and John Davis with Pennie and David.

I love it...  Liz pulled down the shoulder of her top, pulled up her skirts and posed!  Keith is totally bored, Virginia is adoring David, John isn't looking at the camera and David and I are only good ones with a full smiles to the camera.

Keith's boredom got the better of him  LOL  Liz is adoring David, Virginia is adoring me and John still isn't looking at the camera.

So much for a formal photo!  Worse than little kids I reckon!

U.S.A. - Carmel, California - October 1970

A last look and wander around Carmel.

The Parking Police Lady.

 Keith's owned this Motel, I can't find it on Google, it has changed it's name.

 Carmel Beach.

 Aileen Drury's home.

 The Walker House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

   From Google Maps today.

One Incident I want to add here.  

One day I was going to the Supermarket, Virginia who never went shopping (Keith did all that sort of thing)  asked me to buy some pickling jars for her which I duly did.  

I bought them back and she asked how much they had cost?  

I was mortified, Keith and Virginia had been over generous and it was their money I'd spent buying those pickling jars.  I tried to explain that I didn't want recompense but she insisted and I managed to tell the cost which was all of $10 or something like that.  

I looked pleadingly at Keith, trying to get across that I didn't need recompense, he went off to his room and came back and stuffed something in my pocket which I hoped was just some paper.

On further inspection back at our little cottage I discovered he'd put $60 in my pocket!!!  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry... I laughed!!

U.S.A. - Hearst Castle, California - October 1970.

 Postcard - Hearst San Simeon. State Historical Monument.
San Simeon, California, on the Coast Highway1, between Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur and San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay.

La Cuesta Encantada - The Enchanted Hill

Aerial view shows The Neptune Pool, The three guest houses - La Casa del Monte, La Casa del Sol and La Casa del Mar.   La Casa Grande (centre) and left, the tennis courts with the Roman pool beneath.

 Postcard -
Castle and Grounds from Chinese Hill -
Within the 123 acres at the crest of the Enchanted Hill nestles magnificent gardens, pools, statues, walks and fountains.  These surround La Casa Grande which has 38 bedrooms, 14 sitting rooms, 31 bathrooms - 100 rooms in all.  The three adjacent guest houses have an additional 46 rooms.

 We park the car in an enormous car park near the Coast Highway then catch a bus up the hill to the Castle.

 One of the pools.

 Postcard -
The beautiful Neptune Pool surrounded by marble colonnades is one of San Simeon's most famous points of interest.  The perfectly proportioned Grecian-Roman Temple is also prominent.

 Indoor Pool.

 Postcard -
The Roman Pool, (under the tennis courts)
This famous Lapiz-lazuli gold, (one million dollar) swimming pool was built by Italian artisans in three and a half years.  There are 144 pieces  of gold mosaic to each square foot of the floor, walls and ceiling.  The light standards are of carved alabaster.

 Postcard -
The Refectory - a Brilliantly colorful dining hall with priceless silver treasures, carved wooden ceilings, beautiful tapestries and banners, and a 24 foot fireplace.

 Postcard-
Assembly Room  - In La Casa Grande, is noted mainly for its massive 16th Century French mantle  with overmantel and 4 large Flemish tapestries - 1560, once pride of the Spanish royal family, they depict the history of Sciopio, the Roman General who defeated Hannibal.  Two (1 ton) 18th Century Danish Medallions on far wall.

Postcard -
The Billiard Room - in La Casa Grande - On the left hangs the finest tapestry in the castle (one hundred thousand dollars)  a 'Hunt Scene' of the French Gothic Period.  Through the French Gothic Doorway is the walnut console that plays the tower carillon bells.

Postcard -
The Theatre - In La Casa Grande the private projection room seated 100 people.  The latest movies were shown following dinner each night.  The room is paneled with antique red brocade and illuminated by torches held in the hands of caryatides, carved female figures.  The host habitually occupied the left hand seat in the front row, with a telephone close at hand, in constant touch with his newspaper empire.

Find out more here...  Hearst Castle.

U.S.A. - Disneyland, Anaheim. California - October 1970

The Macdonnell-Douglas Pavilion Moon Ride.

The Matterhorn from the Chair Lift.

Lombard Street, San Francisco in 360 degree cinema.

'America the Beautiful'  Waikiki.  This was fantastic, you stood in the middle of a room and the movie went all around you, there were railings to hold onto and you needed them, it felt as though you were in the car taking the movie.

Moving Dinosaurs.

Monorail from the Santa Fe & D.R.R. ride.

In the 1950's my Great Aunt Nancy - aka Cranky, travelled the world extensively, she sent us postcards of all the wonderful places she visited.  (they will be my next blog after I finish this one)  One of the things she bought home for us was a map similar to this one of Disneyland.  Dad pasted our map up on the wall in the family room and as kids we poured over it day after day, we watched the Mickey Mouse Show on television... we longed to visit Disneyland.

My great expectations were fulfilled to overflowing when we spent a whole day here in October 1970, first in the gate and last to leave we had a really wonderful day.

David and I took three of our children back in 1978, bought another map and glued it to the family room wall in our old house.  Wonderful stuff.

U.S.A. - San Clemente to Anaheim - October 1970

  Driving into Los Angeles.

Sunset Boulevarde and Roxbury Drive.
Same spot today from Google.

On our way to Disneyland.

Cooking by torchlight.

San Clemente to Anaheim from Google