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Published: September 11th 2012
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Hi all,
It's been a while since I've had a chance to update this, so right now I am in New Orleans and trying to cast my mind back and remember exactly what we did in the awesome city of Nashville. The flight from Vegas went smoothly but unfortunately I arrived late in Nashville after my flight from Houston was delayed. Luckily I managed to find Louise in the airport after the very helpful staff there put out a message for her over the tannoy system. By the time we got to the hostel it was about 1am so we crashed out pretty quickly. The next day (and we're onto Friday 24th August now) we explored the area surrounding the hostel before heading downtown. The main place to head in Nashville (for tourists at least) is Broadway, which contains tonnes of live music venues, bars and barbeque restaurants. That night the hostel we were staying at was throwing a big BBQ so we spent a lot of the evening at the hostel and met some of the other people staying there. One of the guys who works at the hostel is in a band who were playing a gig the
following night, so they set up their instruments in the garden and played a set as practice which was really cool. After that we went to a nearby bar with a couple of guys that work there and some other travellers and bought these Bushwacker drinks which I think have Kahlua and rum but taste like a yummy milkshake.
I don't remember many details about Saturday (due to a poor memory rather than drunkeness!) but I do remember that we went to the Hard Rock Cafe. It's become something of a tradition for us to get a cocktail at the Hard Rock whenever we are on holiday as the cocktails there are the BEST. Fact. I think we also went to get BBQ on the Saturday as well so in terms of food and drink it was a pretty damn good day. On either Monday or Tuesday we went to J. Percy Priest Lake and Recreation Area with a couple of Australian guys we met at the hostel. There's a little man-made beach area so we went swimming in the lovely warm water and then lazed around sunbathing. The area was really tranquil and beautiful and I think our
timing was pretty good because apparently on the weekends the place gets very busy. Afterwards we went to a Mexican restaurant which was having a Green Chilli festival and the food was also damn good! The following days mostly consisted of wandering around Broadway, listening to amazing live country music and watching american football at every opportunity. Two places we went to that do stand out in my memory are the Tennessee Sports Museum and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Both were awesome although obviously very different. At the Sports Museum we were able to try on the Tennessee Titans football kit which I think suited Louise and I very well. The Country Music Museum had an unbelievable collection of clothing and other memorabilia from Elvis's gold car to one of Johnny Cash's setlists.
We left the hostel on Tuesday to go to stay with our first Couchsurfing host so neither of us quite knew what to expect. Luckily our host and his two roommates were great. We arrived late at his house late on the Tuesday and just hung out chatting for a while before going to sleep. The next evening our host and one
of his roommates took us around a couple of bars in a different (and non-touristy) part of Nashville. The second bar was amazing because people just turn up with instruments and all sit around together to play music. Obviously both Louise and I loved Broadway but it was definitely a good experience to see a more authentic and non-touristy part of the city. Now, this brings us on to Thursday which was our last evening in the Music City and probably one of my favourite days of the trip as it was the day of the Titans (American) football game! The Titans were playing at home against the New Orleans Saints and because it was a pre-season match we'd been able to get the tickets really cheap. The game was awesome (particularly as the Titans won!) and the announcements on the video screens were as cheesy and over-the-top as you would expect. I couldn't resist buying a souvenir Titans cup which I spent most of the following week drinking out of as I love it so much. However, I did manage to refrain from buying a football jersey as much as I would like one as they are ridiculously expensive...
sad times.
Well that's all I can remember right now so apologies for the very short and dull recounting of our week spent in Nashville. One thing I will add here is that the people in Nashville are just brilliant. Everyone talks to everyone. When you're walking down the street, waiting at the bus stop, whenever. It's just great. At home if a stranger starts talking to you on the street and asking how your day has been you assume they are either (1) trying to get money from you; or (2) insane. The Music City exceeded all expectations I had and I definitely intend to return in the future for more excellent country music and hopefully to see another Tennessee Titans game!
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Ian
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Not Jealous
This week I built an ikea drawer unit and then decided which items of clothing shall go in which drawer. How do you like them apples?? I'll probably start a blog of my own. Have been checking photos on facebook. Just about everything looks amazing (esp. the Titans game!!), so glad you're having a good time. I know you're in Colombia now, you'll love Cartagena. If you can go to the mud volcano, i think it's called El Totumo, that's great fun, but do be prepared for old women wash you (everywhere) and demand paying after. And San Gil (go to Gringo Mikes!!!!) and Tayrona National Park come highly recommended if you've got room for them in your itinerary. Peace out / Rock Rock On.