Nashville

The weather clears; it's nice and sunny; time to enjoy Nashville. And what's not to like about Music City. First, there's the Frist Center for the Visual Arts where there are always interesting shows, including a great exhibition on animation with a lot of examples including early Walt Disney, Hanna Barbera, Looney Tunes, and even the classic NFB Neighbours animation by Norman McLaren to name but a few.  A pleasant few hours reliving some memories with friends like Yogi Bear, Daffy Duck, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, the Flintstones and others.

And then there's the Grand Ole Opry. No visit to Nashville would be complete without visiting the heart of country music and being in the audience of the longest running radio show. A visit to the Johnny Cash Museum proves to be a worthwhile adventure. The exhibits trace the legends life from humble beginnings in northeast Arkansas to the pinnacle of the country music world. There are many artifacts, a bunch of trivia, and examples of his songs from the 60s to the 2000s. 

Let's not forget the music scene in Nashville.  In what other city can you hear good live music in dozens of venues starting before lunch and extending well into the early hours of the morning - not that I managed to witness both ends. And you won't be alone. The bars are packed with visitors from all over the USA and other countries. Why there was a couple from Saskatchewan at one place I stopped for a break (and to sample a local beer).   While the food is generally nothing to write home about, you can't go wrong with a plate of pasta at Demos', or a half rack of ribs washed down with a nice cold Yazoo at Rippy's Ribs on Broadway.  And when you've had your fill of bar hopping you can cross the Cunberland River on the pedestrian bridge and walk by LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans. Here are a few pictures of Nashville:

In order, they are: the downtown skyline from the pedestrian bridge over the Cumberland River that burst its banks in May of 2010 and caused many hundreds of million dollars of damage, including to the Grand Ole Opry building: Printers Alley, one of the oldest streets in Nashville where clubs have been open for decades, even during prohibition; the Ryman Auditorium, the first home of the Opry; a three floor club on Broadway with live music on each floor; a band performing on the stage at The Stage on Broadway, one of the bars Jane and I went to when we were here in 2013; and Yazoo Pale Ale, a Nashville brewed beverage of choice.

Tomorrow it's time to get back on the road and to start the return trip home. I'll keep you posted.