As vacations go, this one ranks pretty high up there. There is no question that I would rather be spending all my time here with my amazing husband, but I've discovered that the purely selfish existence of the lone traveler isn't so bad. I get up after AH has left in the morning (he has to be across the complex by 7:30 am. I think that early hour is a bit cruel.) shower and dress then head downstairs to a little coffee/pastry place in the hotel lobby and grab a croissant or bagel for breakfast. I stop at the Necessity store and get a Nashville paper before heading back to the room where I take my sweet time eating, reading email and blogs and posting here. Yesterday I had a manicure in the morning and today I may get a facial. Spoiled rotten, I am.
I've been spending some time each day exploring the resort and I must have reached a point where I look like I know where I'm going because people stop and ask me questions all the time. Yesterday a group of 70ish ladies wanted to adopt me as their group mother after I took their pictures and made sure they got on the right Gray Line bus. Nice ladies. I've met business men that can't find the fitness center, vacationers lost looking for an elevator and several folks looking for the pool. I made friends with one of the in-room service people who brought me a little vase with a daisy in it last night. I am either like-able or pathetic...either one works for me. :-)
So yesterday I took another tour, this one Homes of the Stars. Our very knowledgeable driver Steve drove us west of the city to a suburb called Brentwood where a copious amount of people with ungodly amounts of money live. Multi-million dollar houses were as far as the eye could see. There were music business executives, athletes, actors, and of course, country stars. We saw the homes of Dolly Parton, Martina McBride, Tim and Faith Mcgraw, the Dunn half of Brooks and Dun, Trace Atkins (who was leaving with his wife in a BIG ol pick up truck, but stopped by the bus and waved. The woman in the seat in front of me darn near swooned.) a few others I have no knowledge of and Alan Jackson. Mr. Jackson lives on a winding back road in a house so amazing I can't even tell you. There is also a barn converted to a guest house/recording studio, cabin on the river, and landing field for his plane. If there any fans out there, he lives on Monard rd, but I couldn't find it again if my life depended on it. I didn't take any pictures because it felt sort of invasive.
The reason I took the tour was to get a chance to see some of Tennessee that wasn't big city Nashville and I got exactly what I wanted. The land out there was truly beautiful, green, hilly, and thick with trees. I can see why so many folks choose to live here. Each time I travel to a new place I always ask myself if I think I could live there and the answer here is, probably not. It is hot and humid and makes me long for the cool wind off Lake Superior. I am, however, really glad to have had the chance to visit.
Interesting fact about the Nashville area: they call it the buckle of the bible belt (and let me tell you that if the Lord Jesus does in fact come again it's gonna be somewhere in this neck of the woods) because there are over 800 churches in the area. There are also 600+ bars and saloons. I guess there is a lot of sinning that needs repenting come Sunday morning. :-)
I am enjoying reading about your Nashville trip. Steve had forgotten that we were not eating with you last night, but I offered to find you in Nashville. You are so NOT pathetic, you are extremely loveable and helpful.
Posted by: Trina | June 03, 2009 at 11:04 AM