Nashville, TN

I hate taking detours, unless it means being able to visit the country music capital of the world: Nashville, TN.

Today is the first day of deviating from the original route to Orlando, FL. We have plenty of time to kill and many things to see. After visiting Memphis, it only seemed logical to compliment the experience with a similar outing. We travel Northeast, for the first time since departing Oregon, and head to Nashville unsure of what to expect.

The city here is well kept, with the lines in the sidewalks cutting through the concrete in a defined manner and the streets worthy of red carpet status. Skyscrapers and historic buildings perforate the sky with authority and tourist shops and eateries own the majority of Broadway, our adventure for the night.

Neon lights and a cacophony of voices pave the way into downtown Nashville. Our first stop may as well have been our last. I have never heard music before like I have tonight. In fact, I may actually have a new appreciation for country music... I stand firm in the belief that seeing it live will always beat listening to a recording though, so don't expect to see anything from the country genre in my CD player, ever. Covers included, but were not limited to, artists such as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, The Allman Brothers, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Blues-infused live country music shows and more chicken-pickin' and pentatonic soloing than anyone should be able to handle have made for a most excellent night.

Our destination tomorrow is undecided, and that degree of spontaneity is what has allowed me to enjoy this trip so much. It is rare that so many consecutive days get progressively better, but I ain't complainin'!

Colorado girls, you stand no chance against the ladies of Nashville. Just sayin'

-D