The party is over.

We're killing a little time while we wait for check out.  I love to fly, but not terribly fond of air travel in general. There is a great deal of hurry up and wait involved that gets old quick.  And rules....let's all say a big thank you to all you terrorists out there for making air travel a pain in the a#@.  If we come next year, and there is a good chance that we will, there will be some consideration given to driving.  As we wait, a few thoughts on Nashville:

*The Gaylord entertainment group may very well be planning to take over the world.  No need to panic cause they seem all friendly, but if Nashville is any example we might just want to be vigilant.  There is a Gaylord this or that all over this city.

*Nashville is one of the most beautiful, pastoral, green places I've every visited.  The east side, of town , or Music Valley, is all about Opryland and down home cooking and country music.  Lots of drive that big ol camper on up here we'll show you a darn good time.  The west side, Belle Meade and Brentwood area, the state of living goes up a few notches with multi million dollar houses and trendier shops.  Did you know that Whole Foods has a sister store called Whole Body? I did not and am glad we checked it out. Down town is a really interesting mix of honky tonks, history, and beautiful new architecture. 

*I did not see one gym or fitness center.  I asked the girl that did my nails about it and she said that her granny had lived to 97 eating grits and smoking cigars (that's ceegers)and that she didn't need 200 sit ups a day to feel good about herself.  Smoking is alive and well and living in the South.  I think I can that I did not leave a single building without passing at least  1 smoker.  I would be interested in the health stats here.

*Those native to the South have the ability to say anything and make it sound nice.  "You are fat, ugly, and your mother wears combat boots, bless your heart" can come out sounding like a compliment.  I heard a docent put someone from Kentucky in their place regarding the origins of American horse racing and it sounded like butter.  Craziness.

*I am now fascinated by the civil war and must read many books about it.  This was my first visit to anywhere in the US that had kept slaves and it was a little surreal.  I was reminded frequently what a Yankee I really am. That picture on the left is what one of my tour bus drivers called a "slave wall".  They are all over the west side of Nashville and indicate areas that were once plantations.  The slaves cleared the stones out of the fields and then made walls out of them.  There are literally miles of these walls in this area.  Interesting and sad.

Almost time to head for home.  I'm going to miss living here in this city that is the Gaylord Opryland Resort, but I'll be happy for my own bed and the cool Illinois (that is illinnoise here) air.  I leave you with one more picture that I must confess to taking.  The picture at the very top of this post is Alan Jackson's barn.  It was remodeled and converted to a guest house and recording studio.  The one below is his house.  See y'all at home.

Comments

[Joy]

Y'all goin' home with an accent? ;)

[PainterWoman]

I think I'd be willing to trade exercise for ceegars. A sit up is never JUST a sit up... but sometimes, you know, a cigar is just...