Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Nashville and Opryland!

That's Me---Singing With Elvis On Broadway in Downtown Nashville
Last week I planned a surprise trip for Cindy, who has been a very good girl and deserved a treat from the man of her dreams....moi (insert blush here).
Going to The Ryman on Friday Night!

Downtown Nashville
Destination:  Nashville, AKA Music City.  Nashville is a pleasant 2 1/2 hour drive over Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau from Knoxville.
Icy Roads and a Little Snow Can't Keep Us From Nashville!

Me---In Our Hotel Lobby Before Going to the Opry

What a Handsome Couple!
I informed the dear lady of our trip on Friday morning at 10:00.  We departed our home at noon.  Nashville, HERE WE COME!
That's Me!...Minglin' With the Crowd in Tootsie's Orchid Lounge---Nashville's Most Famous Honky Tonk

Horsey Ride on Broadway, Anyone?

Downtown Nashville's Life and Casualty Tower
We arrived at our downtown hotel at almost 4:00, because we stopped on the way to eat.  We rested only a few minutes before heading downtown to the storied Ryman Auditorium for the 7:00 PM performance of the Grand Ole Opry. 

Honky-Tonkin' on Broadway

Our Restaurant
What a fantastic old building, full of the ghosts of legends past and present! I could feel the presence of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, and a hundred others.......
Atrium, Opryland Hotel

Opryland Hotel Atrium

We sat in the balcony.  Our seats were right on top of the action.  On this night, we saw Vince Gill, Bill Anderson, Ricky Skaggs, Jeanne Seeley, Del McCoury, Jean Shepard, Connie Smith, Riders of the Sky, The Whites, and more.  The performances were terrific!  The sound system is state-of-the-art, as one would expect, and the two-hour concert flashed past much too quickly.  We could have stayed all night!

The next day, the Cinderoo and I further explored Music City, prowling the vast---VAST expanse of the Opryland Hotel and walking for miles along Broadway's stretch of honky tonks. 
Flora and Indoor River, Opryland Hotel
We had dinner at a fantastic downtown restaurant named "Demos".
You're not gonna believe this, but our meal of delicious strip steak, lasagna, salad, spaghetti, bread, cherry cheesecake and drinks came to the grand total of $28.  I'm not kiddin'!
Opryland Flora
You won't believe this, either---we slept 12 hours when we finally got back to our room.  Aaaahhhhhhhhh.......

Opryland Atrium
We arrived home on Sunday afternoon, content in the glow of a wonderful venture along the Yellow Brick Road to the Land Of Oz.

Next Installment:  The Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry

14 comments:

  1. Wow...your are really a handsome couple, and Cindy got the best husband of the world. What a beautiful surprise and trip.

    You both deserve it, and thanks for sharing your trip and pics.

    Greetings to you and Cindy

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  2. WOW!!! You and the Cinderoo live a charmed life. And good for you! :)

    Great photos, too.

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  3. Sounds like you two had tons of fun. I love the pictures.
    I thought Opryland had closed a few years back. Has it been re-opened again?
    ~ gloW ~

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  4. What a great husband you are! And, to get everything packed and ready in two hours? Cindy must be a traveler extroidinaire. We love Nashville and haven't been in a few years. Those pics sparked some great memories-

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  5. Sounds like a great time! I like the haircut, you and Cindy look great together. The photos are great! I really like the colors and the adventure. God bless!

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  6. You wife is beautiful and you two are a handsome couple - having a great time in Opry land. Glad you had such a great time. sandie

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  7. What a great time...and great couple!

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  8. Clint I went to Nashville last February and stayed at Opryland. wonderful place and so scenic. I also went to the Ryman Auditorium and the newer Grand Ole Opry. we sang on centre stage.....claim to fame. Had a fantastic time. Your blog I have almost the same photo's as yours. Oh what memories you brought back.
    Yvonne.

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  9. Wonderful shots Clint....looks like a lot of fun for you and Cindy. I dare say though you were smart not to try to swivel your hips like Elvis or you might have thrown one out (hey, I know this from my own experience). Wishing you and Cindy another wonderful day.

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  10. I loved Nashville and Opryland (an staying there).
    All your photos showed you had a great time. Isn't it good to be retired and enjoy life..Demos sounds amazing!!and Yummy!
    We went to the park where the seats all have famous names with D.O.B and D.O.D. written on. The clock chimed the hour and Elvis sang 'Love me tender.'

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  11. What a wonderful surprise for Cindy, but two hours to pack? Clint, what were you thinking? LOL Just kidding, I'm sure Cindy is used to you and is ready at the drop of the hat to go out touring with you. $28 for that meal, that's unreal! The entertainment sounds phenomenal, the singers couldn't have done more than a few songs each with that many of them, and yes two hours would pass way to quickly.

    oops, just noticed the time. Total oops, have a good day... gotta run!

    Hi Cindy! :-)

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  12. You both look good. Don't understand snow :)
    Seems you had a lovely time.

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  13. Hi Clint -

    How loving of you to surprise your precious wife!

    Glad you had fun and got plenty of sleep.

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  14. Hi again -

    Love that photo of you and Elvis!

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