Our day in Nashville was jammed packed of museums, seeing the sites and eating.

Beginning at Starbucks for breakfast, we then wandered down to the Visitor Centre to plan our day....so much to see but so little time so we wanted to make sure we allocated enough time for our main attractions. The plan for the day was; Ryman Theatre, Country Music Hall of flame and Museum, lunch, Johny Cash Museum, bridge walk, Wildhorse Saloon for dinner and line dancing, and then a walk up Broadway Street before retiring for the night (separate blogs for some of these activities).

First stop was the Ryman Auditorium (pictured). Originally built as The Union Gospel  Tabernacle in 1896 by Riverboat Captain Thomas Ryman, who had been so moved by the fiery preachings of Reverend Sam Jones, and then vowed to raise a tabernacle so that Jones could spread the gospel to others, it  was renamed the Ryman Auditorium when Ryman died in 1904.  This auditorium is reputed to be second only to the Carnegie in its acoustics, due to its magnificent oak pews, wooden stage and circular design.   Originally a place of worship and passionate preaching, it later became a place for entertainment,  and then later housed the Grand Ole Oprey, the Johny Cash Show, then it was vacant for awhile, and finally it was restored and is now used for concerts.  

We had paid for a back stage tour which was fascinating.  No photography permitted, but recollections of dressing rooms named after Johny Cash and the Carter family, Women of Country Music, Merle Haggard, and the woman who managed the auditorium for years, were all artistically inique and their walls covered with memorabilia ofvthe artist.  

Next stops were the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Johny Cash Museum (separate blogs).  

Lunch was at the Tin Roof, a bar restaurant which already had a live band. Bands and artists start singing from 10am! I had chosen a  signature dish "Tin Roof Salad with Peaches", but the waiter came back apologising with the news there was no peaches.  I was happy to choose the recommendation of the second option of apples, but it wasn't long before the waiter was back again saying we have no apples! I thought it was rather funny, he was embarrassed and offered my salad free, but without peaches or apples! It was obvious this dish was not a favorite,  rather, it was the burgers and fries, the chicken wings and nachos that people were ordering at the Tin Roof. In this land of upsize portions, fried food and high calories, I was craving for salad.  The salad I finally got for lunch was delicious,  cucumber had replaced the peaches and yes, it was "on the house"!  

The streets of downtown Nashville on Broadway St were so different Boubon and Beale streets. Here in Nashville shop windows were full of elaborate colorful cowboy and cowgirl boots, leather bags and clothing,  denim and checks, and all things to do with country music.  No mascarade masks of New Orleans anywhere. The other very noticeable difference was the cultural mix of the people, both in New Orleand and Memphis there were more Frican Americans,  but here in Nashville it was a very Caucasian community.  

At 5.30pm we were all country museumed out and it was time for fresh air.  We took a walk over the bridge and saw the lights of the city, the Tennessee Titans stadium and the river. Great views. We had barely made it back to downtown when the heavens opened, it poured. We were searching for the Wildhorse Saloon and got caught in a massive thunderstorm. The roads were flooded, pavements hazardous and slippery,  and people were cramming under any shelter they could find. It was chaotic in downtown Nashville!  

We finally found the Wildhorse Saloon,  waited awhile outside in the pouring rain under a rather small canopy as it was apparently a very popular place, paid our $6 cover charge, and found a table inside. It was a massive venue with 3 levels, a few bars, a stage, a large dance floor and rather large moulded horses upside down on the ceiling and scattered around the venue!  Not at all what we had imagined, we were here on the recommendation of the young guy in the Nashville Tourist Information Center.....he had siad "they do some line dancing down there".  And yes, they certainly do "do some line dancing down here" and they also had on stage  a hard rock country band called "Brothertrouble"!!    

It proved to be a fun night, excellent food, good music and I even tried line dancing with my broken toe!   We only stayed to 9pm, only for one set of "Brothertrouble's" three set gig, as we had to get back to the hotel for a 4am rise in the morning to catch a flight to San Francisco. Wet streets needed to be negotiated, bags needed to be repacked, and ringing ears from the Wildhorse Saloon needed a good night's rest.