There ain't no bad music in Nashville. That's the conclusion I came to as Maria and I explored this city for the first time. Before our visit, I had no idea where to begin in a city with a huge checklist of places to see and things to do: parks, museums, stores, and live music venues. Maria and I are big live music fans, so we investigated that option. Someone told us to just go to Broadway, park the car, and start walking. (Thanks, Brian.) We went to Broadway, we parked, and we walked. On our way to the main drag, we passed the historic Ryman Theater, home of the original Grand Ole Opry. Turning onto Broadway we walked to the first place where we heard music--a guy and a gal duo singing, surprise--country music! It was at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Sure, the restaurant theme was coastal surf and palm trees, but the entertainment was pure country. We were hungry, and while Maria took care of a taco salad, I devoured the "Cheeseburger in Paradise." (No margaritas.) Tommy the bartender was friendly. We wandered into several other establishments whose music spilled out onto the crowded sidewalk, mingling with a mostly young crowd of party people and some older tourists like us. We visited Layla's Bluegrass Inn and enjoyed the incredible voice of Tom Buller. Hearing music eminating from the Full Moon Saloon, we stopped in and enjoyed some more country sounds. (Did I mention that the music here was mainly country?) Our music pilgrimage included Legends Corner where we listened to Buck McCoy and marveled at the wall of albums. Our Nashville adventure included the kitschy-- a photo op with Elvis and some refrigerator magnet purchases. After stopping in a couple of other music venues, we realized we were tired and decided to head back to our home base. My next trip here will be a solo adventure as I pass through on my way back to North Carolina. That visit may include the Country Music Hall of Fame, Hatch Show Print, and the Antique Archeology store, made famous by the TV show, American Pickers. Should be fun. |
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AuthorI love learning about and interacting with people of different cultures. Words and their origins fascinate me too, and at times I enjoy twisting and turning them to create a laugh. |