Biltmore

Its taken me three days to clean the house that grows dirt and get it back up to snuff. The car and suitcases have been unpacked. The mountain of laundry has been leveled and put away. The floors have been swept and mopped. The granite counters all have been washed an shined with a beef stew slow cooking in the crock pot. My animules Lila, Sammy and Ed have all forgiven me for being away for so long. Its great to be home!
I even made it to the gym today.
The vacation is officially over and only one more Thanksgiving Bird to cook.
Instead of jetting down oh so boring 95 we decided to take the more scenic route. 81. Down to Asheville North Carolina where we toured the Biltmore House. House my foot! This place was amazing! I was opened mouthed, wide eyed and 100% speechless at its enormity and splendor. At first I felt like I was back in England when Uncle Milty took me when I was seventeen. We toured so many unbelievable places there such as The Westminster Abbey, Longleat and Winchester Cathedral. And of course Buckingham Palace.
Being up in the Adirondacks and having toured Sagamore, Santanoni and a few others. I understood that these early pioneers were well off by with all their logging and railroad loot. The Adirondacks was their play ground and housed these " great camps" built in the funky Adirondack woodsy chalet type way.
Touring Biltmore helped me understand just how rich they were.
Amazing! They wouldn't allow camera's inside. Which I can understand. It makes you want to buy the book with all the shots of the Biltmore even more. It was quite an overcast day so the shots I got outside weren't great. It was also the end of fall there an all the incredible gardens are in winter rest. The staff at the Biltmore made up with for this by all the Christmas decorations adorning this magnificent queen of a mansion. There had to be over a hundred Christmas trees from 5 feet to 100 feet perfectly decorated by a crew of what I would expect to be totally type A gay men! Everything was perfect and beautiful.
So, if you are ever in Ashevile. Tour the Biltmore! Tickets were like 53 bucks or something but totally worth it.
Just the anticipation of driving up through the manicured woods of rhododendrons, Oaks, grasses and ferns of paradise. You get the feeling your about to witness something amazing. Bill and I followed directions of the parking guys. Parked the car. Still not really seeing anything. Then a short hike on a well worn trail through the woods. Then all off a sudden you come out and BAM! The Biltmore!
There it is in all its glory surrounded by these breathtaking mountains.
I'm going back!
I'm reading up on the history now. George Vanderbilt, the youngest of eight. Loved the arts and traveled all around the world collecting books, furniture, artwork, prints you name it he bought it to fill the walls, rooms and halls. He married himself up a rich, classy broad of social importance by the name of Edith Stuyesant and had one child. Cornelia.
Oh Cornelia! I'd love to pick your brain. I just can barely imagine being an only child and living and playing in this mansion of such size. I'll bet there are children still lost in this place from a romping game of hide and seek.
It took 6 years to build it! Oh an all the different plant materials and trees. Just AMAZING!
So here are some shots.