Les and Marcia's Bohemian Life: Nashville TN

The next stop on US40 is Nashville. The clerk at our camp ground was pitching Nashville tours. Why not!? So the next morning Grey Line picks us and one other couple from our camp ground up. Turns out our driver was in the music business (we quickly find out most people we will encounter today “are” or “were” in the music industry. Anyway she easily shares her stories of success, rubbed elbows and politics of the “Billboard” . We join a bigger group for the City tour (new driver also a musician). Now tours may seems dorky but we saw so much in 8 hours. In the morning we saw Fort Nashborough ( a model of the original Nashville). Nashville has an amazing bicentennial park. Les and I came back here to take more time with it. The park is huge. Granite walls tell about Tennessees time line through history starting with the formation of the earth. When you stand in the middle you can look one way and see the State Capital high on the hill looking the other way you will see the WW11 Memorial and hear the chimes the sound every 30 minutes. The farm market is just next to the park. This would be a very easy place to spend Saturdays. The day we went back, the park was having a scavenger hunt 5k race. A very good natured event with very little sweat.

Still on the tour we saw Vanderbilt University (yep the same folks that built that big house in North Carolina), music row and the Parthenon. The Parthenon is a left over from the 1897 Centennial Expo. It is a perfect replica of the Athens Parthenon but it is in a whole lot better shape. Did you know that Nashville is the Athens of the South? Me either. On to the Mother Church of Country Music”, The Ryman Auditorium. This is the original Grand Ol Opry. This big beautiful church like building still hosts concerts and shows. The upper level is filled with cases of country memorabilia. While we were there a band was conducting sound checks and unwittingly creating a perfect tourist atmosphere. Our stop at the Country Music Hall of Fame was perfect. Through our tour we had about 2 ½ hours to read, look and listen. What I noticed most was how many of the same names we saw here and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Some inductees like, Patsy Cline and Elvis but many that laid the ground work for the growth of rock; Jimmie Rodgers, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Wanda Jackson for a few. Also what really surprised me is how much “I” knew about country music. I spent many evenings watching Hee Haw and the Buck Owens show (when they were first runs { now still available on RFD TV}) with mom and dad. So many of the tunes and visuals of giant guitars, slicked and poofy hair and sequined everythings bounced back. Just goes to show good music is good music.

(Fort Nashboro)

( Ye Ole after hours bar) Tootsies

The Parthanon

Ryman (Mother Church)

Aren't these stairs great?

The Ryman

Great old wall

Wall of gold at the Country Music Hall of Fame

Hall of fame Hall

Spring of 2010 the Grand Ole Opry was flooded like most of the Nashville area.The building was holding standing water of over 5 foot.You would never know it to see it now.Remodeled and perfect, Nashville shows what can happen if you don’t whine for government help and just fix it yourself.Our tour was a back stage pass (not during a show though).We were shown the star and VIP entrance, check in area and the stars mail boxes.Did you know that if you were to write a“fan” letter to a country star, send it to the Grand Ole Opry, the Opry would put it in their mail box?To me that was a “No Shit” moment.We got to see the dressing rooms, the green room (called the family room at the Opry).The sound stage where many TV shows and specials are recorded (to include HeeHaw). Then we got to go on stage.The circle of wood in the middle of the stage has been brought from the Ryman Auditorium.The spirit is to always have the roots of country music present (pretty cool).Just next door is the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.Les and I have been to Las Vegas many times and love the over the top explosion of design. Nothing in Vegas can compare with this hotel.It is a 9 acre, classical southern resort that holds an exotic tropical garden. The arboretum has several water falls, fountains, bridges, a 12,500 sq foot lake.We took a 20 minute river boat ride through caves and villages you wouldn’t see if you weren’t in the boat.Yes all this is inside.The ceiling is made up of 100s of glass panels each is 3 inches thick, strong enough to stand up against golf ball hail.Here’s a neat tidbit.The river water is a collection of water from 1700 spots around the world. The hotel also has 650 WSM a 50,000 Watt am Country radio station.There is just so much beauty and spirit here.The hotel was also flooded with 10 foot of Cumberland River water in 2010.The owner ( this is a family owned hotel) hired 90% of its construction labor and purchased materials from Nashville and local areas.It is easy to see that this is a great escape spot.There is just to much to soak up in one visit.This has been an amazing day.We are very happy to head back to the SeaHawk, take Brady for a walk.

Opry Star mail boxes

Stars here only

Dressing room with a pic of a fresh young Willie (lower left corner)

Stars a born? mmmm ?

inside the Gaylord hotel ( My pictures just didn't do this place a second of justice. Trust me it is amazing)

In house radio station

Day two is much more relaxed.We head downtown to go on our own walking tour.We revisiting music row, the Parthenon, BicentennialPark and had a nice stop at the Farmers Market.The 5K I mentioned earlier also went around the occupy Nashville crowd.I was happy to here that Nashville has been the first city that has been smart enough to enforce a curfew to manage these vagrants.Now it is time to truly experience the great culture of this amazing town.We hop in the truck and head down to Cooters place and the General Lee (how many General Lees are out there?).Right next door is the Willie Nelson Museum and gift shop.Cooters is the premiere spot to revisit all of your Dukes of Hazard fantasies and debate the great undercarriages of

America

.Willie and friends is better then you may think (as a disclosure I am a huge Willie fan {he can do no wrong}).The museum has childhood photos, teenage Willie in his football uniform, Guitars, costumes from Dolly Parton, Buck Owens, Pasty Cline etc.His gold and silver records are there, info in Farm Aid.Willie does not hide his tax problems or his affection for a glaucoma free world.There are sections you can sit in to watch various movies and concert footage.This is a fun and worthwhile and touristy stop. Oh my, am I parched.Right next door is a great country bar.The weather is perfect to sit on the patio and drink a local favorite and mine the classic PBR.Big ol Burgers complete this perfect lazy day. Side note Randy Travis was employed as a dish washer here.

Ahh - we meet again

Les is really excited to learn more about Willie

How do they grow like this?

Bicentenial park

Granite globe floating on a fountain

CCCs of TN

The day is sunny and 78 degrees.It is a perfect day to go to the home of President Andrew Jackson, The Hermitage. You start your tour with your faithful headphones, and a nice museum that covers the history as a working plantation, home, and restoration of the Hermitage.A short movie reminds us of Jacksons childhood as a 13 year old orphan, revolutionary war currier, becoming a lawyer, businessman, slave owner, war hero in 1814 when he took a little trip down the mighty Mississp.Marrying up on the social ladder, and of course his presidency.Even at the end of the blooming season the Hermitage offers all of the grace of gardens and expected elegance of Federal Revival style with Greek influences (no pictures inside).The herb and flower garden surround the family burial site, giving it a very light a hopeful feel.We took a wagon ride to the location of the cotton fields and slave community.The guide shared great stories of the grounds and the work of the people who lived there. The plantation worked because of the efforts of Jacksons slaves.One story is of Alfred born at the Hermitage, worked with the horses and became the first tour guide at the property.Alfred lived at the Hermitage longer then anyone else and purchased many items from the mansion at auction.His home is open on the tour, his funeral was held in the mansion and he is buried near the president.The stories were sad, happy, of survival, family and community.Congratulations to the Ladies of the Hermitage who are saving and preserving this history with honesty.Dinner time is at the “Dinner Bell” a sweet diner with great food and a wait staff with personality to share.A great southern cookin stop.

The Hermitage