Opryland

A little out of order here - on our trip to Nashville, Jeanne and I visited The Hermitage, the home of Andrew Jackson. And Opryland Hotel and Convention Center where Bill's meeting was held.


It would be hard to imagine what was inside based on looking at the first view of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. The inside of this huge facility has four large halls, slightly different natural settings, all beautiful. I'm just going to tell it in pictures...but this is a place you could visit and be transported to a tropical paradise of waterfalls, flowers, paths to walk, as well as restaurants in every conservatory room and many shops.



Rick Steves, wonderful writer of travel books, had a quote in a recent newsletter talking about a place he had visited.
" I didn't realize until later that I'd experienced one of the highlights of my trip. The impression needed — like a good red wine — to breathe awhile. That was a lesson for me. "
I was so glad that Bill was late and Jeanne and I had hours to walk around these gardens, stopping to eat, to sit near orchids or waterfalls and just watch and relax and talk. Just lots of slow, deep breaths, this place was so relaxing and beautiful. It was the defining hours of the trip.