Day 8---Nashville at last

Look closely to see the sign!

Left West Memphis for the real Memphis this morning.  Crossing over the Mississippi while trying to give directions and take a picture at the same time is an experience!  If you look closely you will see a Tennessee sign hanging from the top in the middle of the bridge.  Quickly skirted Memphis and were on our way to Nashville, a trip of about 3 to 4 hours.

Count the greens

Let me tell you, if you think the desert is boring, it pales in comparison to the road between Memphis and Nashville.  The whole way is rolling hills with trees, and then more rolling hills with trees.  How many shades of green are there anyway?  The picture on the left is pretty much what the whole trip was like, except you can't see the hills.

Entrance of The Hermitage

 We got to Nashville in plenty of time to go and tour The Hermitage, the home of Andrew Jackson, our seventh president.  The site is owned by the state of Tennessee, and is a National Historical Monument.  People certainly lived simpler lives in the 1830's than they do today.  The original plantation grounds are park-like because the restoration committee planted them with trees from all of the battlegrounds Andrew Jackson fought in.  In his time the expanse was much more open, and filled with the sounds of his 150 slaves, most of whom were engaged in raising cotton, his cash crop.  The building, which has five rooms on the first floor and four rooms on the second floor is beautifully restored, with many of the original furnishings, including 200 year old wallpaper.

Front of The Hermitage

 The five rooms on first floor are Andrew Jackson's bedroom, an office, a fancy parlor and a everyday parlor, and a dining room.  The kitchen is detached because of fire danger.  The second floor is all bedrooms.  Tour very nicely done, with costumed docents to tell you how it was.

Pat and I checked into the Airport Marriott at about 4:30 after a burger and fries at Steak n Shake,  Nice, except for the $14.95/da charge of internet to your room!  Needless to say, I am in the lobby, where the internet is free.

The In n Out of the east

Happy to say goodbye to the car for a week!

 “Quilters aren't Greedy, they're just Materialistic.”