Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Day 115 - September 27, 2011 - Nashville, Tennessee

And now...the end is near...and so we face...the final leg of our "adventure"...  and we did it "our way" (with thanks to God, of course!)!  We leave Nashville tomorrow for Pigeon Forge for three nights and then home.  I guess you can tell we have been winding down this week because we know when we get home we have a LOT to do after being gone 4 months!

So...we slept late today and then went to the Opryland Hotel for lunch...one of our favorite places!  While we knew the Opryland had suffered extensive damage in the Flood of May, 2010, we had no idea how extensive it was until today.  The "Cascades" lobby, restaurants, and lounges, had the worst damage with  water 14 feet deep!  This is the area where we stayed during our last visit, and where we had lunch today...amazing how beautiful it is again after such devastation!  Of course, we took pictures!  Now we have stayed at a lot of nice hotels over the years, but this hotel is, we think, magical, and is the place to stay when visiting Nashville (unless you are in a motor home...then you stay down the street at KOA!)!  If you choose not to stay there, at least visit it...I think you will agree!

As many times as we have been to Nashville or by Nashville to go to Memphis, we have never visited The Hermitage, home and plantation of President Andrew Jackson.  We would always say we wanted to but never took the time before today.  It was great...and the beautiful weather did not hurt!  The plantation grounds and gardens are beautiful and the mansion was quite opulent!  Unfortunately, photography was not allowed inside the mansion.  The film and audio tours were great and very informative...a great afternoon!

We had talked about attending the Grand Ole Opry tonight but, having been there done that several times, decided to go home.  Then, luck have it, we had the news on while we were editing the pictures and the news anchor said "stay tuned for a big announcement that was made tonight at the Grand Ole Opry"!  Of course, that got our attention and we looked at each other and just grinned...you know that grin where you know you will wish you had decided to do something but changed your mind because you were tired?  OK...drum role please...Rascal Flatts performed tonight (love them!) and when they finished performing Vince Gill walked out (love him!!!) and inducted them into the Grand Ole Opry!  And, all the while we were relaxing in our motor home just a mile away and could have been there!  It seems our "day late and a dollar short" has come true again!  By the way, Dolly Parton performed at the Grand Ole Opry last Saturday night...the night before we got here!  I think next trip we will try to plan better and, maybe, not be as spontaneous (although there is a lot to be said for spontaneity)!

So that's our excitement for today!  Tomorrow...final stop...Pigeon Forge...stay tuned!

Click on the two links below for today's pictures.

https://picasaweb.google.com/104959812223133937279/September272011NashvilleTennessee?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOGX96frlonMxAE&feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/104959812223133937279/September272011NashvilleTennesseeGlenn?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPf9w_efxK_iqQE&feat=directlink

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