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It was slow going for us this morning after yesterday’s busy agenda. We had planned to spend the day back in the downtown Nashville area and had booked seats on The Redneck Comedy Bus Tour. A camouflage painted school bus with 2 bull horns mounted on the hood takes you on a tour of Nashville’s historic sites. The bus driver and tour guide are actually 2 comedians who’s information focuses on the more scandalous and slanderous aspects of Nashville’s rich and/or famous. Upon successful completion of the tour you become “redneck certified”. When we arrived downtown it was later than we originally anticipated and the lot we had planned to park in was already full. Consequently, we had to come up with a new parking plan.
Once parked, we decided to take lunch at a local legend and walked over to Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant. I’ll say one thing about Nashville, I have thoroughly enjoyed the weather here. Picture perfect blue skies again with temperatures reaching into the high 70’s brought out the lunchtime throngs. Obviously a local favorite, the Nashville workforce crowded the tables of the place known for it’s “meat + 2” and “meat +3” lunch plate specials. Of course they have upscale locally sourced menu items also but we usually always opt to eat a signature dish. I choose a “meat + 2” and Don chooses a “meat + 3″. (The number signifying the choice of side dishes.) They also serve cocktails made with Tennessee moonshine (the legal kind). Although the place started out as a grocery store it is now most definitely a restaurant serving comfort food with a nightly side of live music.
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Once full we settle up at Puckett’s and head out to do a little shopping before it’s time to meet the bus. I decide to check out The Hatch Print shop. A Nashville landmark, this letterpress printing shop has been in operation since 1879. Their distinctive style is known world wide and they have printed the posters for performances for the biggest stars in music. In my opinion it was akin to visiting an art gallery.
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The neon sign marking Hatch Show Print shop.
We also browsed some of the many stores specializing in cowboy boots. There are several that offer buy 1 get 2 free deals. Unfortunately (or fortunately for Don’s wallet), I didn’t see any that called my name.
No boots today.
Finally, it was time to get on the bus. Our tour guide, Junebug, had a delightful time with our bus full of Yankees. (Interestingly, we were sorted out by where we live and since we’re from Virginia we were put on the fast track to redneck certification.) As we drove around the city he regaled us with historical facts and stranger than truth stories of celebrities. We toured through music row and government buildings, honky tonks and even saw the building that houses Taylor Swift’s penthouse.
One of the government buildings.
Of course we passed our redneck certification with flying colors.
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On a different note, there is one topic that comes up repeatedly in every place we have visited in Nashville. That topic is the flood of 2010. Every building has their watermark, every person has a story. This event had a profound effect on this city. It is a shared trauma that obviously each individual is healing from in their own way.
The flood.
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