It was museum day today in Nashville. After getting advice from the tourist information office we had the day planned.

Firstly the Ryman Theatre. This is called the "home church" of country music. It began as an evangelists church and later remodelled to become the original theatre for the Grand Old Opry. The Grand Old Opry started in this building in 1927 before moving to the new theatre that we visited last night. The new venue increased the seating from a modest 1300 to over 2800 when it opened in the late 1990's. The Grand Old Oprey in its present form returns to The Rymann during the winter months and it's show is broadcast for here for the I winter months. Now The Ryman has shows almost nightly in the summer months featuring Country music artists and other acts from time to time. It is a grand old building with lots of memorabilia to look at. We also took a backstage tour and visited the dressing rooms where famous country stars such as Dolly Parton get ready. It was a very interesting and informative tour.

It was lunch time next! We chose a bar/salon in the Main Street of Nashville, called (Little) Broadway. I tried sweet bourbon chicken wings and Joanne a salad. Already the bars were open and country musicians were in most bars and restaurants, wi staff on the sidewalk sprucing for customers. Nashville has a great feel to it, friendly, welcoming "ya'all" in that typically southern way. It is a nicer city that Memphis and s much more to offer. It is well laid out, modern buildings and most things to see are "downtown" and convenient.

We sat ate lunch, took a photo to prove it, and enjoyed the atmosphere of down town Nashville. We were impressed by Nashville. Particularly noticeable is the change in demographics from Memphis and New Orleans. Makes sense though; jazz, blues and to a lesser extent rock, then to Nashville and country obviously creates a cultural and therefore ethnic divide. So noticeable, the far less number of African American people. That southern drawl is still there and people enquire "are y'all having a good day?", " y'all enjoy the meal", is everything ok for y'all," and of course that very special farewell "y'all come back now, ya'here". Aah, the South, it is a great place to be.

It was nearly 100 (F) outside, humidity high and the streets were abuzz with people searching for that perfect combination of a cold beer, a particular cocktail and good country music. We walked a few blocks to the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum - the place of pilgrimage for country music fans. Three floors of music videos, costumes, biographies of the stars, guitars and other instruments, a Cadilac with bull horns pistols and shotguns in the car body and not to forget Elvis Presley's gold Cadillac and Gold Piano the latter of such was a present from Priscilla Presley, a 1st anniversary gift to Elvis in 1968. Every 78rpm, 45, 33, EP (ask!), cassette tapes, 4 & 8 inch tape, CD, DVD and MP3 ever recorded by country music artists. The tour begins on the third floor in the halcyon days of country music - good old hillbilly banjo music, and as you wander, the years go on. In one room is every gold and platinum record awarded. Finally you get to the circular tribute to the Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. It is a huge dome shaped building with a large spire hanging downwards from the high ceiling pointing to a sort of epitaph to artists past, present and future. Around the mid-ceiling are the words "Will the Circle be Unbroken?, referring to the longevity of country music. Three people are inducted each year and the rules now state that one of them must be someone other than an artist - producer, sound, writer etc. Interestingly, the writers can be more wealthy than the artists as they continue to get royalties, not only when an album or recording is sold, but every time a song is played! We were at the museum for nearly 3 hours.

Time for an afternoon break; coffee for Joanne and an ice cream for me.

Next museum fix was the Johnny Cash Museum for all things Johnny Cash. He had been featured at the Country Music Hall of Fame, but a museum of his own highlights the importance and reverence in which this artist is held. We had been using a discount coupon pamphlet however this museum only permitted one entry per coupon. I got a $1 discount because I am a senior citizen! More costumes, boots, guitars, film, video and sound recordings of the man. If you are a Johhny Cash fan this place cannot be missed.

Nearly two hours here and our stomachs were rumbling for some southern food. Broadway was buzzing, the neon lifts were beginning to entice the party crowd and it was "line dancing time".

Texas, New Mexico, rio grande, 4 corners - Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, the Sierra Nevada - the continental divide where the rivers run to the east on one side and down to the west on the other, in to California. 1 and a half hours from Nashville to Dallas and 31/2 hours from Dallas - 5 hours crossing the continent and we didn't start on the Far East gives you an idea of the width of the USA.