Day 10 - Tuesday, January 22, 2019: Biltmore Estate and Dinner with Rosemary and Ed Kostansek.1/22/2019 It was a sunny cool cloud free day. We spent the day at the Biltmore Estate, which was referred to in the book I read recently about the Vanderbilt’s as “America’s Last Castle”. It is the largest private home ever built in the country. A collaboration between George Washington Vanderbilt II, his architect Richard Morris Hunt, and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted it was completed in 1895. When Olmsted designed the landscape at Biltmore he knew that his vision would not be fully realized for 100 years. We are, thankfully, the recipients of his vision. The entrance road continually curves so that at each juncture you are always presented with an ever-changing scene. It was also designed so that you never catch a glimpse of the house until the last turn. And what a house it is – among the 250 rooms there are 35 bedrooms for family and guests, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, and three kitchens. Banquet Hall where 64 guests dined under its 70-foot high ceiling. There are, of course, tapestries, paintings, etchings, and sculptures galore. Among those my favorite was and engraving by Albrecht Durer called The Triumphal Arch that was originally commissioned by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian 1st. After touring the other rooms on the first floor we climbed up the cantilevered Grand Staircase to the second floor living hall that has portraits of the Architect (Richard Morris Hunt) and the Landscape Architect (Frederick Law Olmstead) by John Singer Sargent. There was also a lovely painting by Anders Zorn whose home we visited during a trip to Sweden several years ago. The family bedrooms were, of course, overly ornate. On the third floor the guests rooms are named for the architectural scheme or artist represented. In the bachelors wing there is a billiard room, smoking room, and gunroom complete with mounted trophies. The basement includes a swimming pool, bowling alley, gym, the kitchens, laundry rooms and even two rooms for arranging flowers. It is all quite overwhelming. After touring the house we sat down to lunch in the café that is housed in the former Stables. We had almost completed our food when the fire alarms went off and we were directed to the exits. Realizing that it would be some time before we were allowed back inside we instead walked through the formal garden areas. Even without anything blooming it was a pleasant walk. Our ultimate destination was the Conservatory. The bleakness of the gardens gave way to profusion of greenery and blossoms. After returning to the restaurant to pay our bill we slowly travelled along the several mile long exit road. When Harry was in graduate school at MIT and living in an apartment in Cambridge his neighbors and friends were Ed and Rosemary Kostansek. We had kept in touch over the years as they moved to New Jersey but had not seen them in some time. Ten years ago they retired to Asheville. We contacted them and arranged to meet at their home and go out to Dinner at the Smoky Park Supper Club in the River Arts District of Asheville along the French Broad River. The restaurant building itself is constructed from 19 shipping containers and is said to be the largest restaurant in the country built from shipping containers. The space is interesting and the food is delicious.
4 Comments
Sonya
2/5/2019 02:16:24 am
It is so nice to be able to follow your trip! Also, it looks like you are slowly getting to warmer climates. Sending love and best wishes for continued safe & fun travels your way from across the pond.
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Alexander McKenzie
2/6/2019 06:14:50 pm
The interior photos are wonderful!
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Harry Forsdick
2/6/2019 06:31:40 pm
Thanks. I must admit that I did not take the one with The Triumphal Arch. I got that from Google... But everything else was taken by me or Marsha. And this time, all with my iPhone. For presentation on the web, I find that iPhone X resolution is good enough.
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Wayne Willis
2/7/2019 10:06:51 am
I'm really loving these, Harry. Keep 'em coming!
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