The afternoon we spent travelling 250kms to Asheville North Carolina. Asheville is located near-by Bitmore Mansion, the USA's largest home built between 1889 - 1895. The house was built by famous Vanderbilt family who were one of richest families in US history. We also spent some time in Asheville prior to the night tour. An interesting place as it is considered home to the more liberal elements of the state. We saw alot of alternative people living along side their traditional counterparts. The buildings are what you would expect in a North Carolina community. (A large community of want to be hippies element live in town!) A very pretty town in the mountains. Accents and cultural understandings was a bit of a problem ordering food at the local "Wendys" (like a Hungry Jack) but both sides got over it. Local craft is extensive, and we spent some time looking looking at local artists work. We intend to explore it more.
The Bitmore Candle-light tour was most enjoyable. The house is huge! It needed equally large team of servants during it's heyday to manage it's extensive French gardens and building. The girls are really starting to compare and contrast what they seen. Charlotte loved the house the most, while Jacq enjoyed putting questions to the guides. The grand nature of the house decked for Christmas as it was 100 years ago becomes apparent to any visitor. The house has 250 rooms (including 33 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, 3 kitchens, 1 indoor bowlling alley, indoor swimming pool and gym) and is modelled off a 16th century French mansion. The house enjoys a host of museum quality furnishings and artworks from Europe and Asia. Some are very rare (and probably should be in a national museum) like Napoleon's chess set or a set of 15th century Japanese Samuri swords! The only issue with the tour is it is below freezing in the grounds presently.
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