Nashville, Tennessee
This Tuesday I was lucky enough to indulge in some serious frivolity, take the day off work and bugger off to Nashville for a day trip – all in the name of tragic fandom. One of the best things about the day was that I finally had a chance to stroll around and indulge in some serious photo-taking – something I’ve seriously neglected and missed, since I arrived in the States.
The main area I was in was The District, with the main street Broadway, at its centre. Walking along here at midday, you walk past one bar after another, with the sounds of live music wafting out. It’s a mixture of gawdy and quaint, and I bet that if you transplanted this same stretch of road anywhere else, it wouldn’t retain half the unusual charm that you find in Nashville.
And you're never far away from the many reminders that you really are in the true home of country music. One example is the famous Ernest Tubb's, named after one of America's earlier country troubadours - they have an enormous selection of souvenirs, LPs, CDs and collectors' editions of just about everything. Even if you're not a country music fan, this place is fascinating, with signed photos of country music personalities that have dropped in to visit.
There are also plenty of specialty stores - whether you're after musical instruments, or er, cowboy hats and boots...
And of course, just like anywhere else in America, there are some things you see that are just plain weird...
A few blocks down from the buzz of Broadway is Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. As someone who's previously been overseas and gotten bamboozled by art galleries and museums, I was initially wary of venturing in here, thinking that it would just be an onslaught of information and trivia that would be too much to take in. However, it's actually really good fun, and whoever has put together the permanent display has gone to a lot of trouble to make it as informative and interactive, as possible. The items on display range from elaborate (and not so elaborate) costumes worn by artists such as the legendary Hank Williams and Patsy Cline. Amongst the most interesting curios are those items of excess. In particular, there's a gold piano, and gold-plated (yes, you read that correctly) cadillac that belonged to Elvis Presley - but probably the most bizarre item is a refurbished car once owned by a country singer called Webb Pierce - look closely at the handles on the car doors...
The one good thing about spending a single day in a place is that you make sure you don't waste any time. As I'm discovering though, the experience can really take the wind out of your sails for the remainder of the week while you recover! I only saw a tiny fraction of what the city is all about, but it's been a while since I've been so taken with a place. Put it this way - if the opportunity to ever visit this city knocks, reach out and grab it by the collar!
The main area I was in was The District, with the main street Broadway, at its centre. Walking along here at midday, you walk past one bar after another, with the sounds of live music wafting out. It’s a mixture of gawdy and quaint, and I bet that if you transplanted this same stretch of road anywhere else, it wouldn’t retain half the unusual charm that you find in Nashville.
And you're never far away from the many reminders that you really are in the true home of country music. One example is the famous Ernest Tubb's, named after one of America's earlier country troubadours - they have an enormous selection of souvenirs, LPs, CDs and collectors' editions of just about everything. Even if you're not a country music fan, this place is fascinating, with signed photos of country music personalities that have dropped in to visit.
There are also plenty of specialty stores - whether you're after musical instruments, or er, cowboy hats and boots...
And of course, just like anywhere else in America, there are some things you see that are just plain weird...
A few blocks down from the buzz of Broadway is Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. As someone who's previously been overseas and gotten bamboozled by art galleries and museums, I was initially wary of venturing in here, thinking that it would just be an onslaught of information and trivia that would be too much to take in. However, it's actually really good fun, and whoever has put together the permanent display has gone to a lot of trouble to make it as informative and interactive, as possible. The items on display range from elaborate (and not so elaborate) costumes worn by artists such as the legendary Hank Williams and Patsy Cline. Amongst the most interesting curios are those items of excess. In particular, there's a gold piano, and gold-plated (yes, you read that correctly) cadillac that belonged to Elvis Presley - but probably the most bizarre item is a refurbished car once owned by a country singer called Webb Pierce - look closely at the handles on the car doors...
The one good thing about spending a single day in a place is that you make sure you don't waste any time. As I'm discovering though, the experience can really take the wind out of your sails for the remainder of the week while you recover! I only saw a tiny fraction of what the city is all about, but it's been a while since I've been so taken with a place. Put it this way - if the opportunity to ever visit this city knocks, reach out and grab it by the collar!
posted by yossarian | 12:43 PM
4 Comments:
i feel like buying me some boots.... your post made me laugh, did you try the cheese steak?
nah, didn't try the cheese steak - but definitely on my next trip ;-)
that particular pic was taken right after lunch ... managed to find some guinness!!!
geez would you look at those car door handles! Only in America!!!! Just as an aside have you found yourself uttering this phrase a lot in recent times? ;)
serenity - yes, i have indeed found myself uttering the "only in america" phrase several times...usually coupled with a shake of the head ;-)
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