Nashville TN 3-10-2019

Headed out in the Mini to Nashville TN today, its nice to see the sun and its only 50 miles to Nashville. I look forward to seeing downtown, it’s been over 35 years since I have been here and that was for a Carhartt meeting. We head downtown to find lots of people on this sunny Sunday, music is coming out of every establishment, tour buses and trucks, Redneck Riviera Tours, running up and down the street, it’s a little early for drinking but all the bars are full. Angela stops by Tootsies honky tonk bar famous for music and drinking. Our walk down Broadway takes us by many establishments to include this open window bar that was spotlighting Wes Tweed, so who is Wes Tweed? I did not know but with a name like Tweed which was my father’s nickname, I had to take notice. At the end of Broadway and up a side street was the Shelby Street Bridge, It’s not only a classic bridge, pedestrians only but a American Prisoner of War Path. The bridge is busy but, above the hustle of the tourists, I hear a violin and I’m drawn to this young girl with her father chaperoning her performance. We stop to listen and appreciate the courage to play in public at such a young age, she is earning money to better her music career and we made a contribution to an already full violin case. The Cumberland River below us was muddy and still rising above its banks. Back up Broadway to the Ryman Auditorium where so many Country stars got their start to include Little Jimmy Dickens. There are so many places to see and visit we are just skimming the surface but need to move on to the Grand Ole Opry. The Grand Ole Opry House stands as a monument to love of Country Music, tours and the gift shop are constantly busy, we loved the food bus out in the square, unfortunately they were closed. Everyone takes a picture in front of this oversized guitar and we are no different. Next door is the Gaylord Opryland Resort situated under their vast skylights and is truly impressive. Water ways flow through the resort with gardens and waterfalls to enjoy, they even have a boat ride with a guide to explain all the sites. The food choices abound as they have a convention center attached with no stop events, we choose pizza and cookies. This place is like the Disneyland of Country and Western Music. We leave Nashville and head towards a small town called Franklin TN, this small town is full of history and has become a heaven for country music stars. We walk through town admiring the historic homes and find the Carter House that has a very interesting history, Opdycke’s Brigade Battle took place right next door in an open field. Like so many stories like this where ever we go the tell the true story of our history. Its dinner time and as we walk downtown a couple can see we are tourists and ask us if they can be of assistance, we ask were they would suggest to eat, they give us a number of idea’s and get in to the conversation of where we are from and why, they are very friendly and made us feel at home. We end up at Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe and had a great meal.