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Opryland - Part 4
Written by: Dominick A. Miserandino
Photography by: Margherita Miserandino
True, 'down home,' southern hospitality at its finest can be found in one of Country Music's oldest living legends, Opryland. Just don't ask them for Iced Tea, or expect to have the last word. But they do it with a smile, so you may get used to it!
There are dozens of stores, and we only had two hours before we had to go back and change.
I usually stay on one of those benches in the center, while Margherita goes shopping. This time, she came out with panic set on her face.
"But last time I went shopping, I couldn’t find anything that I liked. Where were you when I needed to show you something?"
"I was right here, playing a riveting game of solitaire."
"You should have known to find me."
"I’m sorry, but my psychic powers were a bit lacking today. I think it was from eating too much steak yesterday...made me sluggish." I even used my hands to demonstrate a sluggish feeling.
"I promise that from now on my psychic powers will be working in high gear and aware of when I'm supposed to find you to see how a dress looks. I’ll come over to reinforce your desire to buy the dress."
I don’t try to understand women; I simply try to avoid their wrath.
We went back to the room to change. Tonight we were going to the "Grand Ole Opry."
The Grand Ole Opry is the pinnacle of country music. This is where boys are made men, and men feel like they’re boys again. Damn, that’s a good quote! I hope the Grand Ole Opry doesn't steal it.
Anyway, we got on the bus (Opryland has its own shuttle service) and headed over to the Grand Ole Opry. We were seeing it in the historic Ryman Auditorium, which was one of the original homes of the Grand Ole Opry. Built like a church, the acoustics are said to be second only to Carnegie Hall. Every act comes on for five maybe six minutes and then moves on--just like on the radio. It is a radio show so it’s a pretty apropos description.
After the show, we waddled through the snow two blocks or so to go to the Wildhorse Saloon, which also happens to rank as my favorite intimate concert venue around. Why is it the best? It’s basically an enlarged bar, three stories high. It retains its intimate feel, while allowing the room to pack in a few million people.
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A Completely Packed Wildhorse Saloon | |
We went there for dinner and to see a Doug Stone concert. This is where you go for ribs. It’s a good atmosphere for ribs ... if it wasn’t for the annoying German drunk tourist who kept dancing in front of me. Other than that, the ribs were quite rib-a-licious, and I even had my first experience with fried pickles--a cross between pickles and more common fried zucchini. It’s not as bad as you’d think.
After the show, we grabbed the shuttle and headed back to Opryland.
Read Part 1 | Read Part 2 | Read Part 3 | Read Part 4 | Read Part 5
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