How did we get here?
We left Mesa Verde/Durango, CO May 26th and drove to Albuquerque, NM for two days to get cleaned up and caught up. From there we drove for four days, stopping for the nights at Amarillo TX, Oklahoma City OK, Russellville AR, and arriving in Nashville TN, Music City, on Thursday, June 1st.
We spent three days in Nashville sightseeing: first day - tour of the city, second day - was supposed to be a dinner cruise on the General Jackson Showboat, third day - touring Andrew Jacksons Hermitage. Here we go…
Friday, June 2nd: Nashville
I was surprised! Nashville isn't what I expected. Then again, I don't know what I expected. It was first settled in 1779 so it is an old city but it has a roaring downtown with a big skyline and riverfront and there are currently 28 high-rises in development. There are a lot of apartments and condos in the downtown area and it comes alive every night. Of course, everywhere you throw a stone you are going to hit a bar and bounce off of that and hit a restaurant. The city is along the Cumberland River. In the downtown area there is Nissan Stadium where the Tennessee Titans (football) play, Bridgestone Arena where the Nashville Predators (NHL - hockey) play, and the large Ascend Amphitheater at the Metro Riverfront Park.
The city is wild about the Nashville Predators being in the Stanley Cup playoffs where they are now (June 7th) tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins, 2 games apiece . GO PREDATORS!!! (They lost 2-4.)
We took a van tour of the city, and I am sure glad I wasn't driving!!!!! The downtown area is a mess with traffic right now. With 28 buildings in development, two large jumbotrons being erected at the Riverfront to watch the Predators, and preparation being made for the CMT Music awards coming this week, driving downtown was chaotic.
As part of the tour, we had a 45-minute stop at the Ryman Auditorium, where the Grand Ole Opry and The Johnny Casy Show used to play and record. We enjoyed the history of it.
Okay, what is this big deal with country music??? At the end of the tour, we had a final stop at the Country Music Hall of Fame. A hall of fame for country music, why? There was an enjoyable 5 minutes (not contiguous) of a one hour and fifteen-minute stop. I think what makes country music seem big is all of the awards they hand out, like the coveted annual top five songs about three legged dogs with one eye. Now I like music (a lot), except for opera, polka, and country music, they all sound the same. Alright, there is some country music I kind of like, like Johnny Cash (Charlie Daniels has some good stuff also, Alabama, the Eagles). Now, I went through the Johnny Cash exhibit but there was no mention of the new bicycle path in Folsom that runs by the prison that was dedicated to Johnny Cash. I want my tax dollars back. The Country Music Hall of Fame can pay for it.
 Ryman Auditorium - Historically home for many performers and shows |
 On our tour of the Ryman Auditorium |
 The Nashville Parthenon - full scale replica of the one in Greece |
 The Nissan Stadium, where the Tennessee Titans play |
 Affectionately known as "The Batman Building" |
 The Nashville Predators in the Stanley Club Finals |
 The last stop on the tour |
 Elvis' Gold Cadillac |
 One of many "awards" walls |
 "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison" started it all |
Saturday, June 3rd: General Jackson Showboat
We were looking forward to our dinner on the General Jackson Showboat. About 1:00 in the afternoon, I received a call that the General Jackson was having electrical problems and would not be able to leave the dock but we could still have dinner and the show. Bummer!!! We had been looking forward to the cruise. Oh well.
We were picked up from our RV park and headed to the dock. Upon arriving, we found out that after three days in repair, the ship was in ship shape and we would be going out as scheduled, great. The night was great. The Predators were playing and the jumbotrons were fired up and the crowds were roaring as the ship passed by the downtown riverfront. After being down 0-1, they won the game 5-1.
The band was playing on the top deck as we boarded and left the dock. Among other good tunes, they played a mean Charlie Daniels, "Devil Went Down to Georgia."
 General Jackson Showboat - ALL ABOARD!! |
 The band welcoming us onboard |
 Becky enjoying her ride |
 Row row row your boat gently down the stream |
 Dinner hall and theater |
 Arriving downtown |
 The Batman building at night from the water |
 Downtown Jumbotron for the Predator's game Hear them roar!!! |
 Pedestrian walkway across the river from Nissan Stadium to downtown district |
 Are we going to fit??? |
 Let the show begin! |
 Nashville Nights |
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Sunday, June 4th: Andrew Jackson Hermitage
Okay, Andrew Jackson named his home and cotton farm The Hermitage, not me. I learned a lot about Andrew Jackson, the Seventh President of the United States (1829-1837). There is no question that he was a very important president and was key to challenging the establishment (big politics, big business) and representing the people. He was involved in many controversial issues. However, his views were somewhat less tolerable in today's culture, including his position on American Indians and slave ownership.
Some interesting notes: In the 1824 Presidential election, Andrew Jackson was the popular candidate. He won the popular vote and the most electoral college votes, but not a majority of the electoral college votes, there were three or four major candidates running. While everyone thought that the House of Representatives would do the right thing, they didn't, they elected John Quincy Adams as the Sixth President.
Andrew Jackson is the only President to pay off the countries national debt.
 Andrew Jackson Hermitage |
 I said no pictures inside!!! |
 Running out the backdoor |
 Andrew and Rachel Jackson's tomb |