I spent this weekend in Nashville, taking some time to enjoy the city.
Arrived there on Saturday after a pleasant flight and checked into the hotel.
I then walked from the hotel to the WeGo bus station which was about a 20 minute walk along Broadway and Rep John Lewis Way. It was sunny and hot in the low 90s.
On my walk, I passed by quite a few homeless people and meth-heads, of which there was a strong overlap.
One in particular was busy loudly arguing with himself most vociferously, and a but further on a meth lady was getting in another homeless person's face and barking like a dog at him which was interesting to watch as I strolled on by. I decided not to remain around and see the entire interaction play out, as it was the very definition of "Not my circus, not my monkeys", leaving plenty of space between me and the meth-heads.
Got to the bus station and then hopped on the #34 bus to Opry Mills. Pretty easy system to figure out and the bus ride was pleasant with few people on the bus.
Got off at the last stop at Opry Mills.
Since this was the south, I had a meal at Mission BBQ, which was very good, with great friendly service and a nice atmosphere. I made short work of the Brisket platter which was excellent.
Then it was off to the Opry.
Getting there was a tad complicated as the easy walkway from the Opry Mills Mall to the Opry was closed for some reason, necessitating a wide detour around a pretty trafficy road on foot without much room for pedestrians. But, I made it.
The Opry is a live radio show that has been running since the 1920s.
Went in and got seated for the show.
The show is broadcast live on air and the announcer would announce the performers and also read out advertisements from sponsors in between performances in a most warm and welcoming voice.
Before the show officially starts, the announcer gave a nice audio/visual show giving the history of the Opry which was a nice introduction.
The On Air signs lit up and the show began.
We got to listen to some great performers:
It opened with Mark Wills:
Stefanie Quayle, who sang a Dolly Parton song -- and absolutely nailed it. Dolly had encouraged her to keep on singing early in her career and this was a wonderful tribute.
Medium Build did his debut at the Opry and you could tell he was all sorts of excited to do so, and he really gave a performance.
Charles Esten, who first performed solo and then in a duet for Islands In The Stream in honor of Dolly.
Note he's not using a strap to hold the guitar in place. He didn't use one the entire time he was on stage which was impressive.
Keith And Kristen Getty along with two of their daughters, for the daughters' first time on stage at the Opry and they did great.
Tommy Emanuel, who dazzled everyone with his amazing guitar playing.
John Conlee who did a very meaningful and emotional rendition of A Lot of Things Different that boright down the house:
The Oak Ridge Boys who sang Elvira, with one of them sporting the most epic beard to grace the stage closed out the show
It was a great performance.
After the show, I went to the Opry gift shop, and then after having some after show beverages decided to take an Uber back to the hotel as walking late at night back through the meth-elated area didn't seem like the wisest decision.
It was a great first day in Nashville. If you happen to be in Nashville and the Opry has a performance, be sure to go to it, it is really worth it.
