Nashville

"The Batman Building"

Springtime in Nashville

We just returned from Spring Break in Nashville, which is officially my new favorite town in the United States! Nashville is a city filled with culture, entertainment, live music, great antique shops, wonderful food, and the friendliest people I have ever met. Here are some highlights:

Country Music Hall of Fame

Our main mission was to visit colleges, but we had a lot of free time to explore the city. The historic relics at The Country Music Hall of Fame were fun to look at- I loved these boots, worn by Hank Williams III, at every concert appearance for 21 years! Hilarious!

They were hosting an event at The Parthenon, but we were still able to walk around and take pictures.

Yes, we stood in line to eat pancakes at The Pancake Pantry... and yes, it was worth the wait!

What do I miss the most? Well, at this moment that would have to be Las Paletas (the high today in Florida is 90 degrees)! Paletas are to Mexico what gelato is to Italy, all made from fresh, seasonal fruits and sometimes even vegetables! Sisters Norma and Irma Paz from Guadalajara, Mexico, are responsible for bringing their native treats to Nashville. With traditional and exotic flavors, the choice is difficult.  We sampled several: banana chocolate-chip, chocolate mint cookie, cucumber jalapeno, avocado, and more. My favorite? Pineapple hot pepper! Tristan was overjoyed to find that Las Paletas combined her two favorite foods, white rice and popsicles- into one delicious creamy treat.

Here we are at the legendary Bluebird Cafe, where we saw the dynamic Ashley Thomas play the "Sunday Spotlight" show and listened to several other very talented newcomers, including 15 year old singer/songwriter Bonner Black. Stealing the show was the amazing sister act, The Command Sisters. Charlotte Command, 15, is the songwriter of the duo and is gifted way beyond her years. Sarah, 12, plays multiple instruments (bass, piano, guitar, mandolin, and currently learning the fiddle) with the precision of a seasoned professional. Here is a video of the girls playing at another terrific venue, Nashville Hootenanny. They are so good!

And finally...our last day

at Percy Warner Park. Goodbye, Nashville! You are in my heart!