Nashville, Tennessee

A free day to lose myself in Tennessee's capital. Thankfully, the down-town area is compact and eminently walkable.

There was a visit to the Johnny Cash Museum (ask me anything about the Man in Black; go on) and a wander along the revamped waterfront. I was assured no visit to Nashville is complete without a detour to the Goo Goo store for one of their delectable Goo Goo Clusters (basically like a Toffee Pop with a side of pecans and marshmallows). They are, apparently, a Nashville delicacy, being served here since 1912. I can also report they are delicious.

Hence the visit to the hotel gym for a major date with the treadmill.

Tonight, our last in this small but perfectly formed city, we pay a visit to the Grand Ole Opry.

    

Country music capital of the world

On the way from the airport yesterday, the cab driver asked me if I liked country music.

Not wanting to cause offence, I gave an awkward shrug. And while some Dixie Chicks and Faith Hill may have made it onto my phone, too many plaintive tunes about losing the farm or your woman doing you wrong can bring me out in hives.

Today, however, may have converted me. Not only did we tour The Country Music Hall of Fame, we also got a private audience with Johnny Cash's daughter Roseanne and his grand-daughter Chelsea who sang and laughed and shared stories of the musical icon.

Later there was a visit to the famous RCA Studio B where everyone from Elvis and Roy Orbison to Fats Domino and Carrie Underwood have recorded (fun fact: Elvis recorded 262 songs here, around 75% of his lifetime's catalogue). Listening to the original recording of Are You Lonesome Tonight sent shivers down my spine.

I would love to write more but the keyboard on my laptop is playing silly buggars. Where's the Animator when you need him?

The South - and gravity-defying hairdos

I finally arrived in Nashville - a day and a half after leaving Welli - and a tangle of flights and check-ins and security and filling in of forms.

Oh, and an hilarious eight hour layover at a dodgy LAX hotel, where I had to wind back my watch several decades. But it was clean and the staff was friendly and the roar of aeroplanes, not too far away, wasn't too intrusive, allowing me to grab a few hours' kip. And to have the longest shower in the history of womankind.

It got even better when I checked into my hotel in downtown Nashville this morning - there were 3,000 women from the Pentecostal church here for a conference. Which isn't interesting in itself but where it does get fascinating is that they don't believe in cutting their hair which, of course, means they end up with quite a lot of it. And then they get creative with styling, including up-dos Dolly Parton would be proud of. A unique, if slightly odd, introduction to the city.

Had a quick wander in the glorious sunshine and then collapsed in my room.

But Nashville sure looks pretty and I'm looking forward to the next few days. Only a couple of pics from today - promise more tomorrow when the Trafalgar Tastes and Sounds of the South kicks off..