On Saturday we made it to the Hearst Castle again and this time they were conducting tours in spite of the 48 degree 15 MPH misty stuff. Not real conducive to lots of pics, but facinating in spite of it. Hearst had a massive ranch in San Simeon of over 250,000 acres ... and the 165 room house and grounds are the center piece of the place.

The first thing you are escorted by is the massive outdoor pool which was heated in Hearst's day.

There are several tours and on this one we were able to see a large living room, the dining room, one of three guest houses, and the indoor pool. Here's our tour guide explaing Hearst's seat at the dining table and his preference for paper napkins and the catchup and mustard containers on the table ... remember this is the ranch!

The heated indoor pool was spectacular and that is a diving platfrom in the center on the right ... again all heated.

And the ever present Borichina dogged our every move, constantly repeating the warning to ensure that we, "don't touch anything, don't take flash pictures, and stay exactly on the walk areas!"