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Published: December 19th 2010
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Nashville: home of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman, The Country Music Hall of Fame, live music, boot-scooting aka line dancing and the city with a million churches...I bet you didn't know that there's over 500 churches in and surrounding the city of Nashville! Adelaide I think you have been trumped!
I arrived in the city on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. I'd actually had a seat to myself on the bus, which is always a big relief. As the taxi pulled up to the Music City Hostel I wasn't sure what to expect, however I was soon greeted by a very lovely welcoming party, taken to my weirdly arranged room (old units had been converted into dorms and I was in the 'kitchen') and met my room mates who were both German and lovely.
A night for resting and reflecting and some 'family' time with the very lovely Cathy and Jay who were the parents Dakota, a staff member at the hostel. We watched a classic movie 'home for the holidays' before I retired to bed.
Thursday the 25th November: Thanksgiving in the States. What a day!! I woke up early to walk to the supermarket, which I was told was
no more than 2 miles down the way.....an hour and a half later and directions from 4 different citizens I found it! I must admit it was a nice way to see another side to Nashville, this is the day I discovered all the churches...beautiful buildings churches, so dominant, so peaceful.
After taking a taxi back to the hostel the cooking had begun. My lovely Guatemalan friends, Cathy and Jay, Haddie and Ida had all begun cooking. My dish was the dish with no name; mum's famous vegetable medley (with sweet potato of course!) roasted pine nuts and balsamic vinegar. Might I add that it was a huge hit.
By about 3.30 dinner was served and what a spread it was!
Everything from pork loins to sweet and sour cabbage, Warldorf salad to potato pie and of course the Turkey!! We all devoured the absolutely delicious food and then sat there complaining about how 'stuffed' we all were!
After resting our bodies we started the clean up and then spent the rest of the day listening to some amazing music courtesy of Ulrika, Garry and Dakota. A very joyful day.
Throughout the rest of the stay I visited the Hall
of fame and Studio B which was amazing....Elvis recorded over half of his songs at Studio B and I felt very privileged to be there!
The weather decided to get extremely cold, so in about 6 degrees Paula, Yvonne, Nadine and I hit Broadway street (Nashville's version of 6th street) We enjoyed some line dancing lessons to country music of course before finding some live music to practice our moves!
Saturday I wandered down to Borders and tried to organise my life. It was a lazy day, but we all need one of these every now and then!
Today I could have gone to see Ben Folds in concert but instead was getting ready to board the Greyhound bus back to San Diego, you can imagine my excitement?!
After sitting around the bon fire and listening to the muso's jam until 1 I attempted to sleep for an hour before waking up to catch my taxi. The taxi never came! And so I went back to bed. Now can you see why I was very upset that I didn't go to Ben Folds....what a missed opportunity!
When things like this happen, it always turns out for the best. I
mean I couldn't have imagined myself enjoying sitting on a Greyhound bus for 2 days.
Nadine had worked hard searching for a church to visit, and Mt Zion was the lucky church to have us visit. What an experience. The real deal, a gospel church, with band and choir included, a very enthusiastic preacher and some very passionate church members.
Lots of singing, holding hands, praising the lord and hailing, but all in good fun. Hallelujah!
Another reason I was so happy I missed the bus was getting the chance to see Garry perform at the songwriters night. A 20 year old singer songwriter, amazing guiatarist and self taught pianist. I really do hope that he 'make's' it, because he is incredibly talented.
Monday rolled around really quickly and by lunchtime I found myself at the airport getting ready to board the plane to San Diego, yes the plane. No more Greyhound! I was happy but at the same time I found myself feeling as though I had cheated....this greyhounding around the country had become a part of me and here I was ready to board a plane.
As I sat in the aiport I watched soldier
after soldier walk along the concourse, with and without family, each one looking focused on whatever it was that lied ahead.
As I watched them waiting for their planes, some with their children asking them to play, others with their wives weeping softly I wondered what was going through their heads, where they were going and what they would face...
Oh the beauty of plane travel, I arrived in San Diego at 9pm, yes I gained 3 hours!! and this is where this chapter ends
A lovely time was had in Nashville, a really nice city, great musicians and generally a nice vibe.
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Gabrielle
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Its called Pumpkin salad
Hannah, i believe your vege medley is known as the Roasted Pumpkin (sweet potato) salad1- haha