A Tourist in My Own Town

This past weekend, Meredith was in Nashville.  I was so looking forward to this weekend, and it turned out to be just as fun as I had hoped it would be.  Also, most of my posts up to this point have been very wordy and un picture-y, but this one will definitely make up for it.

We ended up getting this great deal where you can pick 4 activities for just $50.  We ended up doing only 3 activities and still got our money's worth.  I love deals!

First, we ate at Pancake Pantry.  (Well, first, I picked Meredith up at the airport really early.)  It's literally a four minute walk from my apartment, but I've never been.  The line is always long and wraps around the building, but we managed to get in just in time before the big rush.

mmm, sweet potato pancakes

Pancake Pantry? check!

That afternoon, we went to the Hermitage, which is the home of Andrew Jackson, our nation's 7th president.  It was very plantation-y and pretty much exactly like the Bellemeade Plantation.  Good to know they're consistent with the whole antebellum house design thing.  But I didn't get a single picture of the Hermitage!  Oh well, it's there.

Then, we went to the Grand Ole Opry!  It was seriously cool.  It's just so neat to be somewhere where there is so much history and just such a neat variety of music.  Country music isn't currently my favorite genre, but there have been times when it was.  Hillbilly ensembles with banjos and fiddles aren't my favorite, but it's interesting to listen to in this setting.  And then, there was some really great stuff, like Darius Rucker, Charlie Pride, and people like that.  I would totally go to the Opry again.  It's always changing and it was so much fun.  Anytime anyone comes into town, let's go!!

Minnie Pearl

Little Jimmy Dickens, who is nearly 92 years old and been a member of the Opry since 1948

Charlie Pride

Darius Rucker

There was also a guy from Fort Worth, JT Hodges, who apparently has a song on the radio.  I liked him and his song :)

The next morning, we toured the Opry, since it didn't really work in the schedule the day before.

the Opry is a really unique-looking  building

these are my guys, right here!

Then, we got to see the dressing rooms, which were all unique and really interesting to see.

True.  And this was the name of the duet-themed room.

Then, we got to go on the stage!!!!

this is the circle from the Ryman Auditorium stage floor where the singers perform

the seats are modeled after the pews at the Ryman

on stage!

the announcer's book - he had  a terrific voice for radio. ..good thing!

After eating at Burger Up (trendy and delicious) and Las Paletas (trendy and delicious), the next thing was the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum!!  I've been wanting to go for a long time.

see how the windows look like piano keys? clever...

these are samples of posters from Hatch Show Prints right here in Nashville
and it's sideways. sorry about that.

Elvis' 24k gold Cadillac :)

oh, just some gold and platinum records being used as wallpaper, that's all

The end of the day included the Parthenon, which pretty much awed Meredith :) and it was too bad, because the inside was closed despite our free tickets, but we'll get theeeeee next one!

this is one of my favorite Nashville-y things

And of course, no trip to Nashville is complete without going to the Loveless Cafe!  The 1.5 hour wait was totally worth it - this is some of the absolute best food I've eaten in a LONG time.

yumyumyumyumyum

We then drove around the pretty green mountains so Meredith could get her fill before heading back to the flat, dry desert.  Driving around in Tennessee is totally the best.

So it was a great weekend and I was so sad to see her go! (at super early in the morning...) I love having people visit, so if you're looking for fun, Nashville is a great place!  Just let me know ahead of time so I can live on carrots and celery the week before to prepare - there is too much good food here to pass up!