| Cedric the St. Bernard was very good to me. Aside from being a very knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide as I journeyed through The Biltmore Estate, I feel like we bonded and we are now lifelong friends (despite the fact that he's been deceased for well over 100 years). In the Biltmore Village, they have a tavern named after him. I wanted to stop inside and have a pint, but after all of that free wine I didn't need anymore alcohol (I would be driving back to the hotel). In hindsight I kind of wish that I would have consumed a beverage bearing his good name and I now regret my decision to put my family's safety ahead of my own wants and desires. I might have only made an acquaintance with Cedric today, but we shared a moment that can never be taken away from us. |
| Jenny and I have a history of kissing statues, so it was in no way weird when we planed a big ol' wet one on Cedric. And if he was still alive today instead of being immortalized as an inanimate object, I'm sure that he would have given me a big ol' sloppy kiss too. After all, we were great friends after that time we spent together on the tour. We went into The Biltmore Legacy in Antler Hill Village and were treated to a history of the family, photos and artifacts and the Vanderbilt-Cecil Family Tree. I was very interested in that last one until I found out that I am not on it and thus not entitled to their fortune and could not stay in the mansion for free. So there was nothing for me to see here. But my mother sure loved the shit out of everything in this joint. |
| Mom started with normal, I made it weird and then Jenny Reck took it to the next level. That's usually how things go in our family. And you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. Where's the fun in that? We both noticed that Cornelia was holding an apple and decided to take a bite. Despite these pictures being side by side, we took these at different times. We have problems. |
| After the tour of the Biltmore estate, we were let towards the Winery. I was a little bit worried at first. After seeing the lavish style adorning the Biltmore Estate, I knew that there was no way that I could afford any of this wine. As we walked though these underground tunnels, I couldn't help but feel that I was walking right into a trap. There were some interesting artifacts along the way and everything was sucking me in for more. There is so much history here that it is hard to pay attention to anything else. |
| The Carolinas March 2015 - Biltmore Winery |
| When we got to the bar area, we were given a menu with all of the different wines that they offered. The bartender started pouring samples and I started drinking them. At no point was an explanation ever given nor was a price discussed. I had so many samples that I was hoping my last name was secretly Vanderbilt so that I could skip out on the check. I was looking for the back door so that I could make a quick getaway when Melissa mentioned that the wine tasting was included with our tour admission. Once I heard that, all bets were off and I maintained constant eye contact with the male bartender (who was a sweet old man that taught me how to sip, aerate and enjoy the full bodied taste of my wine) as Jenny and I wine-crawled through the entire menu. I can't even recall how many wines are on there or what each one tasted like. I only know that this must be what it feels like to be wealthy - you can have anything you want. |
| Outside of Cedric's Tavern are two statues, one of Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt (George and Edith's only child) and one of their faithful canine (the aforementioned) Cedric. I for one was very grateful to have a physical representation of this beast so that I could wrap my arms around him and never let go. And although Mom listened to the Adult version of the Tour, she also had an affinity for the Vanderbilt's loyal companion. And who could blame her? Cedric is/was an amazing companion to the rich and the poor. |
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