Music City

It is hard to describe our day in Nashville. It really is something you experience rather than just look at. It is to musicians what the Stawell Gift is to a professional runner, Vatican City to a devout Catholic, etc - the Holy Grail of Country Music. Our day started with a visit to the Ryman Auditorium which was home to the Grand Ole Opry for many, many years. It started life in 1892 as a tabernacle after its owner, who had made his money in saloons and riverboats, found God. It was the home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. More info on the Ryman Auditorium can be found here.

We next visited the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Our visit started with lunch in a private room where we meet James Dean Hicks (a singer/songwriter) who entertained us with stories and song. And yes that is his real name. In fact he thought he was better off than his older brother who was named John Wayne Hicks. James had written a long list of hits for a number of stars including Taylor Swift. He was fantastic and it was a great way to introduce us to country music, the museum and the hall of fame.

We then wandered the museum looking at costumes, musical instruments, memorabilia and even Elvis Presley's Cadillac which was quite amazing with its gold plated fixtures and crushed diamond duco.

As if that wasn't enough.....after a brief stop back at the hotel to get all gussied up we were off to the Grand Ole Opry. I am not sure how to describe the Opry. To many it is obviously a religious experience. It is actually a radio program broadcast live around the world. You sit in pews and check shirts, stetson hats and cowboy boots are everywhere. The show itself is 4 x 30 minute segments with live adds intermingled with performance after performance. There is a different host for each of the four segments. Hew haw..... it was an absolute toe tapping, knee slapping hoot!!! We arrived home quite late so it was off to bed before an early start. Tomorrow we are off to Gracelands and Memphis.....Elvis and the home of the Blues.