I guess third time's a charm. We passed through Nashville in 2009 on our way south from visiting Mammoth Cave National Park on our way back to Texas. I guess we waved at the city from the interstate. Then in 2011 we were headed back to Texas again, this time from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and we drove through Nashville on the interstate again--without stopping.
This year we're on our way to Georgia, and our route took us through Nashville for a third time. We decided to stop and visit a bit. We're here for two nights, and the highlight of our trip was a visit to Opryland today. We parked in the Opry Mills parking lot and walked through the mall, but didn't linger there. We walked over to the Grand Ole Opry to make sure we knew where to go for the show.
Then we walked to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel to visit the gardens, listed by Tripadvisor as #5 of 110 attractions in Nashville, right behind the Grand Ole Opry itself.
Gardens? we said. Yes, the huge hotel includes several multistory atria filled with plants and water features, including a 1/4 mile "river" and several waterfalls and fountains. The gardens are really something to see and must be a major undertaking to maintain. We saw lots of varieties of bromeliads, orchids, antheriums and many more. Most of the plantings are foliage plants and trees rather than flowers, but the foliage is very colorful and patterned.
The Grand Ole Opry show was at 7:00 p.m., so we walked back over to the theater at 6:00, a bit early to find our seats and check out the auditorium. Just before the show, a woman dressed like Minnie Pearl appeared to warm up the audience and tell us about the rules. She also explained that since the radio show was broadcast live, we would be hearing commercials.
Finally the curtains opened, and we saw the huge Grand Ole Opry stage.
The show was interspersed with commercials for Humana, Dollar General, and Cracker Barrel. Each half hour segment had an announcer and a couple of performers.
Saturday, June 15
Grand Ole Opry 7:00 - 9:15 p.m.
7:00 – 7:30
John Conlee
Kalisa Ewing
Connie Smith
7:30 – 8:00
Jeannie Seely
Jimmy C. Newman
Opry Square Dancers
Clare Bowen
8:00 – 8:15
INTERMISSION
8:15 – 9:15
Vince Gill
Joanna Smith
Pure Prarie League
Patty Loveless
Loretta Lynn
Of course the headliners were saved for the final hour. Patty Loveless was celebrating 25 years as an Opry member. Pure Prairie League performed their signature "Amie," getting the audience to sing along.
It was an experience to be in the same room with "the coal miner's daughter," Loretta Lynn, who still has her voice and stage presence at 81.
After the show we walked back through the mall to the parking lot where our truck was parked. By 10:00 p.m. we were home.
0 comments:
Post a Comment