Would You Risk Arrest To Swim In Xanadu's Pool?
Last one in's a rotten egg! We're finding the best places in the world to stick our toes in this summer (or next winter) for our World's Coolest Pools map. Know of any pools we must check out? Let us know.
Sometimes rules are worth breaking. And if we didn't still want to be mayor one day, we would try and figure out how to sneak ourselves into today's featured pool, even though few have the explicit right to swim in this historical marvel.
As a tribute to the old days of conspicuous consumption and profitable media conglomerates, California's gem of Hearst Castle is now a state historic park. As the real-life inspiration behind Xanadu, the acres-long house in "Citizen Kane" where Kane spends his final hours, the Castle offers not one, but five tours of its splendors. Tourist trappy? Maybe, but its bizarre pastiche of historical styles make it an architectural curiosity at least.
Sadly the estate's Neptune Pool is closed to touring guests at the mansion, although the Hearst family is allowed to swim in it—and if you really want it to get dusty in the office, read about how one Make-a-Wish kid had a pool party there. But we're filing away its Neoclassical touches, including the facade of a real Roman temple brought over from Italy, for whenever we make our Internet zillions and can retire to a rambling mansion with our second husband, the Brazilian opera singer.
Related Stories:
· Visit the Real-Life Xanadu [Jaunted]
· Because You Can't Stay At The Castle: San Simeon Hotels [HC]
· A Real Hearst Once Popped Up on "Gossip Girl" [Jaunted]
· World's Coolest Pools coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: martinpro]
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