Gone with the wind
Trip Start
May 01, 2008
1
9
Trip End
Jun 03, 2008
Nashville, Tennessee
Friday, May 30, 2008
Got the van washed by professionals. But it took them forever, one member kept replacing the other and washing the place the other one had just done. It drove us crazy. Handed the van back, again lots of checks and waiting around before we were finally dropped off at the hotel.
In the evening we had a supper cruise on the General Jackson showboat. Styled in the tradition of a paddlewheel riverboat from the 1800's. Very warm evening. We were on the hurricane deck Hazel very worried by this name and hoped it didn't bode of things to come. The live band played good country music but were very loud. After dinner we managed to wangle a place on the bow of the boat on a lower quieter deck. Ala Kate Winslett. We sailed down the river to see Nashville city and waterfront all lit up. A good trip which we enjoyed. Still very hot when we got back to the hotel, so Brian had his 3rd shower of the day.
Saturday 31st May
Tour booked for the afternoon so after a breakfast, which included those good old Southern favourites of biscuits and gravy, no not Digestives with Oxo but an unsweetened scone with a white savoury sauce. Not bad!
We then wandered around the nearby buildings. There was a war memorial and military museum with statues, one of which commemorated the soldiers of Vietnam. We saw some people with flags by the statue of a local confederate hero, who were celebrating the Confederate memorial day - strange to have one separate from the national holiday. They were "The Sons of the Confederacy" direct descendants of those who fought - some wounds still not healed for some.
The bus tour took us around the city showing all the interesting sights. We made a stop at the Ryman theatre which had been the original home for the Grand ole Opry. Well over 100yrs old with wooden pew like a church, which is what it had sort of been. Amazing to think of the stars who have appeared on the stage here. We stopped of again at a Honky Tonk bar and were treated to live country music by a local guy trying to "make it" in Nashville, Looks like he had been there a while! Next onto the Country Music Hall of Fame. 3 floors dedicated to the history of this genre and its stars. It also held the largest archive materials of all country music.
The tour guide was hilarious; it was like being driven around by Ken Dodd. Too many to mention other than as we were passing a park lake he told us that a new state law now required every Canadian visitor to take home one goose. A fighter jet displayed on a small metal support had him observe, "you should have been here when it landed on that pole" etc etc.
In the evening we treated ourselves to fine dining in the Hermitage Hotel. A very old elegant building. Hazel's meal included as part of a side dish "hen of the Woods" turned out to be exotic mushrooms.
Another large thunderstorm overnight, right over our heads. The thunder was the loudest we had heard and rocked the building. Brian watched from the window and pronounced it " a doozy"
Sunday 1st June
We took a last walk around Downtown Nashville, by the waterfront and onto Broadway where all the bars and live music is. Even on Sunday morning there were bars open with guys playing live music, all waiting to be discovered.
Then off to the airport. When we had boarded, the captain came on and said it may be a bit bumpy in spots, we had some weather on the way in. Hazel was just about ready to disembark at this info.
HAZEL-This was the worst ascent I have ever had. Up through thick clouds which were bumping us around, dropping us and generally throwing us about, this went on for ages and I just about managed to stop myself from screaming out "We're all going to die". The rest of the flight continued in much the same vane better in parts than in others. It may have had something to do with the Lorazepam I took but I was in bed and asleep by 9.00p.m.
Monday 2nd June.
And so on to our last day, Had a a swim in the pool but just generally killing time until the flight tonight. We have enjoyed it tremendously and have seen some wonderful places, met with some great and interesting people, tasted some very strange food, endured some very strong weather! But most of all, we saw some bears!
HAZEL- Brian, you remember when I said at the beginning that I wasn't coming back to the USA ever again? Well I think I may have just one more trip in me, How about the New England states. Because after all, "Tomorrow is another day"
BRIAN- "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn".
Comments
excellent
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