Nashville day 3

Following several hours of “house” cleaning, we debated what we might do this day. Our current RV park “home” is the next exit up the road from Grand Ole Opry, OpryLand, and Opry Mills Mall. From the highway, the only thing I saw promising was the Gibson guitar factory. Since we had seen a special on TV about the making of Gibson guitars, we thought it would be a reasonable outing.

We parked outside the Apple Barn – a country-style store selling everything from cider to ceramic chickens! The above photo was one wall (one of four) with jellies, jams, and preserves. It may not be artistic photography, but I was amazed at the different kinds that could be made.

Once we got into the mall, it was much larger than it looked from the outside. Shaped as three sides of a triangle, there was a wide variety of shops – not just the typical clothing / shoes. Lots of things for kids including a sea-life merry-go-round, complete with manatees, porpoises, stingrays, sea-horses, etc. Quite innovative. Next to this merry-go-round, there was a restaurant with large vertical aquariums throughout. Naturally, they serve: ta-da! Seafood! But you can’t pick your fish from the nearby aquarium.

We finally got to the Gibson guitar “factory”. Turns out that this one manufactures only mandolins and banjos. There are three other factories – two in Nashville, and one in Boseman, MT – that make the guitars. But it was an eye-opener for us, seeing the wide variety of guitars and other instruments that Gibson makes. We plan to return tomorrow (or Friday) when the “factory” is in operation – we were there today at 4:15-ish and the workers had left for the day. I’ll try to get some photos when we return.

We purchased tickets to the Grand Old Opry show Friday night. Not that we’re country music buffs, but how can one visit Nashville and not see the “SHOW”!

During our tour of Carnton plantation yesterday (about 40 miles south of here), the guide said several times how hot it was in this area during the summer. It was 91 yesterday, and humid. I can imagine what it’s like in August! The Cumberland River flows through Nashville and contributes a lot to the humidity.

More tomorrow.