Nashville and More

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This week was mostly spent in and around Nashville and if you want to have non-stop entertainment, this is the place to go.

Our first plan was to take the shuttle downtown to do some touring and to visit the infamous Broadway Avenue.  Well, it is absolutely amazing - it's right downtown and it's lined with small bars that all have live entertainment.  As you walk by you can listen to the music and when you come by one that is to your liking, just go on in and listen.  There is no pressure to buy a drink, you can just listen.   Since the entertainers are not paid for their performances,  you are encouraged to tip them - either by throwing something into the bucket that is onstage, or when they bring it around.  It is, without a doubt, a terrific place to go.

And of course you can't go to Nashville without going to the Grand Ole Opry.  During the

winter months, the Grand Ole Opry is held at the Ryman Theatre three times a week.  But as luck would have it, they were filming the CMA Christmas special at the Grand Ole Opry and we were able to get tickets.  The show lasted about three hours as they had to do some re-takes for the TV show which will be aired on ABC on November 28th.  Some of the line-up included Amy Grant, Brad Paisley, Trisha Yearwood, Rascal Flatts, Loretta Lynn, Kelly Clarkson,  and others.  What an amazing venue and show.  They had asked not to post pictures until after the show is on TV so I won't be able to post anything until after that time.

The Opry Hotel is a hotel like none other.  It is huge (about 2400 rooms) and many of these overlook one of three garden conservatories.  One of them has a river run through it with a boat that you can take.  They each have several levels of walkways, through lush tropical plants.  This time of year it is decorated for Christmas which adds an additional touch of wonder.  Throughout the gardens are restaurants, waterfalls, and orchids as well as poinsettias right now.

 

We then went to a dinner show which was very close to our campground.  The show was terrific with some great singing and story-telling.  Unfortunately, the meal was nothing to write home about, but the show did make up for it.  There was a young, good-looking fellow who was studying music - had a terrific voice and certainly knew how to work the audience.

Finally we went on a tour of the city and various sites around.  We toured past several star's homes but the only ones that you could see are their former homes.  Any of the homes of current stars are in gated communities hidden by trees.  The driver did provide some great entertainment.

One thing learned - you best come with your pockets full of cash.  First you pay for your purchases (sometimes dearly), and then everyone gets a tip - the waiter, the cook, the busboy, entertainer, the dishwasher, and so on.  A bottle of water was a mere 4.25 (and we thought that it was expensive at the airport).  We bought a bottle (725 mil) of rum for the same price as two drinks.  And at the Grand Ole Opry - beer was 9.00/e and wine was 11.00/glass.  Down here that could buy three bottles of wine!!!

We then went to a Recreation Area called The Land between the Lakes.  It is a strip of land between two lakes (created by dammed rivers).  We went on a drive through some very pretty scenery. 

 


In all of this, there also was the American election.  Some seem to be astonished with the result, and some expected it.  At the end of the day, there is a new American President and I wish him well.

We also got some work done on the motorhome putting on our final personal touch.  You know the ones like:  add a shelf, move the garbage container (only took us two tries to get it right), hang a picture, replace a drawer slide, etc.  I think we are almost done so now it's time to just hang out and enjoy the winter.

Many of you are still having great weather - may it continue.  Until next week, enjoy!