Hey y’all. How y’all doing?

So we’re in Nashville and it’s the week of the CMA (Country Music Awards) so it’s probably the busiest and most manic week on the calendar. And we chose it! Downtown is a mass of closed roads, sound stages everywhere - and I mean everywhere. Even on the river! And boy is it noisy. And hot. And manic!!! And anything else you can think of

This morning we had breakfast at a cafe in our quiet residential neighbourhood. We then set off to find a pharmacy - Lin’s got a cold so needs day/night nurses and Andy has a sore shoulder and needs Ibuprofen. Yep folks we’re falling to bits! That also led us to a liquor store (not in the same building) to stock up on a few essentials.

We then went to the Parthenon. Yes, I know we’re in USA and not Athens! It appears in 1897 there was a Gramd Exposition where a replica of the Parthenon was constructed. But not very well. When it began to fall apart, the enterprising mayor decided to have it rebuilt out of stone to the actual dimensions of the original. Inside, it has a huge statue of Athena (see picture) and it is massive. The height of the extremely large building.

From there we went to the Country Music Hall of Fame. This is pretty much in Downtown and has its own underground car park also shared by the convention centre. And it’s on at least two and possibly three levels. We proceeded to drive round and round for at least 20 minutes looking for a space. And missed a few by a whisker. We were both beginning to lose the will to live when a miracle occurred and we saw someone leaving. So, finally parked we found we were not only close to the exit but also to the pay machine. Result.

Made our way to the HoF and proceeded to have a very good audio guided tour. Leaving there, we headed to our free car park that the security guy had shown us and headed into Downtown for a much needed refresher - again at Honky Tonk Central. Then it was on to the Johnny. Cash Museum which again we enjoyed.

To round off another busy day we headed to the Belle Meade Plantation just out of town. This place was a famous stud (think SeaBiscuit) and has a mansion and pleasant grounds. As we hadn’t had lunch, we treated ourselves to the only food available (the restaurant was closed) which was prosciutto and dry crackers! After a wander round the grounds, we headed back home, thwarted only by an accident which entailed doing a bit of a detour.

Off out tonight to a local Italian - and maybe wine in a glass!!

See y’all tomorrow