Yo dudes!
People on my travels did not recommend Nashville, but I've had a fantastic time here. When I was in Austin, I met a lady on my kayaking tour from Nashville and she gave me her email address to get in touch when I'm in town. I arrived here Friday evening and her and her daughter took me for dinner. It was so sweet! They took me to a lovely restaurant and wouldn't let me pay for a thing. Her daughter Kate is a couple of years older than me and is a grad student in business school. She is so intelligent, she already owns a third of a restaurant. She happens to be in New York about the same time as me (if I stick to plan) so we may meet up there.
When I got to back to my hostel, everyone had gone out already. I sat in my room for a bit before a girl from New York arrived. We of chatting be decided to go out. This was about midnight so we were pushing it for time, but thought we may as well. We sat outside with a couple of Aussie guys while we waited for our taxi, and it must have been about 30 minutes later we realised the taxi just wasn't coming. I guess it was a Friday night and they would all be picking people up from the bars. It was about 1 when a guy who works in the hostel came back early from the bar and started giving us all beer. It was really cool just sitting about having a chat.
Next day, me and my room mate Lucy walked to this pancake place that was highly recommended, but the queue was literally around the block. We were too hungry to wait, so we went next door. We then headed to Centennial park. To get there you to walk through the campus of Vanderbilt university. It's such a nice campus, but seeing all the frat and sorority houses is crazy! There was a cultural festival in the park around their replica of the Parthenon (random). The festival was fun, we went back to our childhood with face paint and Indian henna art on our hands. They were giving out so many freebies - freshly squeezed lemonade, toothpaste, deodrant etc. They had live music and a man doing a belly dance performance, which was weird.
We then headed to a local brewery called Yazoo. It was pretty new, it was their 8th birthday. But it was a good little tour, lots of free beer samples:) and another free glass, which I refuse to carry so I've left behind. We went out for Thai food that night with an English guy I met in New Orleans and an Aussie girl. The Thai food was so good, I ate way too much! That night we went to the bars here, which all play live music. It was everythig you ever expected of Tennessee - live country music, cowboy hats, checked shirts and cowboy boots. We met this bacholerette party where the bride had them all dress as Lady Gaga, they looks really good! The bride had a bouquet made of lollipops haha!
We finally got to the pancake place today (after queuing for 40 minutes), buy I understand why people queue. The pancakes are good, really light and fluffy!
I'm glad your all enjoying the weather at home with your BBQ's. I got the pictures Mum sent and Bonnie looks like such a scruff, but cute! Dad don't you be working too hard on that tan, I want to come back browner than you! Mum your garden looks lovely, well done!
Anyway, I'm off to meet Elvis xXx