My Trip to Nashville

 So for all my friends, you all know I went to Nashville and North Carolina last fall.  The North Carolina part I'll cover in another blog, but I will cover my trip in and around Nashville first here.  So the reason this all came about was because I liked traveling through Nashville twice, plus my friend Jen is from the area so it all makes it worthwhile (plus when you can get away from work, why not?)  Anyway, the flight from Chicago to Nashville was fine enough and Nashville's airport is actually quite nice.  My taxi driver left a lot to be desired however, and I thought that the trip could hit a rough patch, however that would not be the case.
 So another main reason for my trip was getting to see the Nashville Predators and going to Bridgestone Arena.  Add into that that the state of Wisconsin was like 40 degrees cooler at this point, and it is a win-win to go.  Anyway, while it was a pre-season game, it was really fun to see a lot of people at this game.  Bridgestone is a very nice arena to be at, as it is very wide for concourses.  The team shop is very nice.  If you know me, I get a lot of hats, and yes I bought a nice Predators hat.  Overall, the game was suited for that of pre-season.  There was some star players playing, some second and third teamers and so on and so forth.  So if you needed a program for everyone, I would understand.  Nashville won this game, and all was well for them and I had a good time.  The next day would be interesting too.
 So like I said, part of my trip was meeting my friend Jen (she is next to that odd looking bloke in the picture) and I finally, after like a bazillion years (or like 4 to 5 if you were completely taking count) got to meet the lady!  So let me tell you a bit about her.  She's from the area in and around Nashville and got to give a lot of good tips about Murfreesboro, where I actually stayed.  I will talk to you about that as well later.  So really her ideas of touring things is what got me around the area.  So I was so happy to finally get to meet Jen and have a happy trip!

Jen and I at Sam's 

 Part of those things I got to see pretty much came after the escapade back from North Carolina, but anyway, prior to that I will recommend Go Fun play park for anyone with young kids or just trying to get away for a day.  I played some mini golf and it was fun.  But after my short trip to NC, I had a lot more adventures.  I'll detail the next paragraph the Saturday I got back, but the rest of the trip besides the Saturday involved relaxing that Sunday but doing a lot Monday and Tuesday prior to me leaving that Wednesday.  On Monday of my trip, I got to see the Battle of Stones River battlefield cemetery, which is a battle during the Civil War.  To see and hear about the amount of soldiers from both sides, as well as soldiers from Wisconsin in that fight, who perished was very sobering.  I remember vividly looking at the amount of soldiers graves who are unknown and those with names and couldn't help but think about what that fight overall for the war was for.  But it was something that people should go see to learn about the weaponry at that age of time, as well as a reminder of what was going on in the 1860's in America.  On the last full day in Nashville, I just was a sightseer of the city.  I saw the visitor center, Country Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville Sounds Stadium and a lot of different buildings.  I also traveled a bit through Murfreesboro, seeing Middle Tennessee State University and the downtown area.  All in all, it was a lot of nice adventures, but I also got to see one more sporting event prior to the other travels.
 Those that don't know me don't actually realize something, I've started to become a huge soccer fan.  Only once I had been to a international soccer game, a USA-Germany matchup in Chicago in college.  That game was fun, but the traffic pattern was a complete and utter disaster.  But to this game, which was Mexico-New Zealand in Nashville, it was really fun.  Mexico won 2-1, but the Mexican crowd very well brought itself out and showed a lot of enthusiasm and cheered raucously throughout.  I thought it was a fun game to be at as it wasn't a typical USA game, where you have the raucous USA fans.  This crowd was largely Hispanic, and it was really an inviting atmosphere.  I talked to a few Mexican fans and they were very gracious.  They all got a laugh of the Tennessee State Band in the Mexican apparel but all clapped because that Tennessee State band was really, really good.  It is a memory that I hope to have with me for a long time, hopefully forever.  In addition to the days after, it was probably the cherry on top of the great trip.
  In final, there may be people who want me to recommend places to them.  My best answer is just travel around Nashville, sight see, go places you don't know and see what adventure leads your way.  For food, again just roam around.  You see something, go there and have some food.  There are some places in Murfreesboro I would recommend, and they are Sam's, Toot's and Reeves Sain Soda Shoppe.  Nashville is food galore and you'll not go wrong wherever you go.  I hope I can head back to Nashville and Murfreesboro, as it holds always a special place in my heart.  Thanks to everyone, and especially Jen, for making my trip there super special.