Nashville Trip Day 2

Day two began with a bus tour of Nashville. Lisa Lally served as a tour guide for us. She is one of many artists in Nashville trying to hit the big time. She has performed in Illinois several times and was recommended to us by Martha Speir. Lisa is a cab driver (her cab is pink) and performs when she can.

One stop was at the Parthenon. This is where the group photo posted on the first day was taken. Everyone will be identified later. Other highlights were the Capital Building, Vanderbuilt University, Music Row, The Downtown District, and many other places that we would tour in the next two days. Lisa ended the tour by serenading us with "Harper Valley PTA."

Lunch was at Hattie B's Hot Chicken. It seems there is always a line whether it is lunch or dinner! The chicken was great!

Fontanel was the next stop. It is the log home where Barbara Mandrell lived from 1988 to 2002 until the three kids were grown and the family decided to downsize. It is 27,000 square feet with 20 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 5 fireplaces, 2 kitchens, an indoor pool (that is now sealed over), and an indoor shooting range. Barbara's husband, Ken Dudney designed it, and her daughter Jaime is now the tour manager for the current owners.They are record producers, and Fontanel is often used as a retreat for song writers, a recording studio, etc. There is a log pole in the great room that has been signed by many famous guests including Oprah and Bob Hope.

Carol, Kathy, and Joe may well have been holding a $100,000 guitar as guests are encouraged to sit on the furniture, touch the collectibles, etc. Our tour guide was also a musician who performed for us. It is quite an impressive place!

The Ryman Auditorium is the original home of   "The Grand Ole Opry."

 We were treated to a full tour including the backstage dressing rooms.
The building was originally a Union Gospel Tabernacle Church built in 1892, and is often called the "Mother Church of Country Music." The Grand Ole Opry began there in 1943 and stayed until 1974. It is now housed in a new building at Opryland. However, during November and December, the Opry is held at the Ryman. We all got to walk across (and stand on) the Opry stage as Jananne and Donna are doing here.

The history and story of how the Ryman has survived over the years is quite interesting. You might want to do a Google search and learn more. And don't forget, you can still tune in to the Grand Ole Opry on WSM radio at 650 AM on the dial for every Opry show.

Our day ended with dinner at Puckett's Grocery Store and Restaurant. It is known for slow smoked barbecue and other delicious southern food. Puckett's started as a grocery store in the 1950's, and is now a well-known community kitchen with live performances. We did not stay for the performance, but were definitely well fed!