WHAT'S DOWN with the BREHMS AS OF SEPT. 4, 2011

As you can see, we made it. Music City USA

"MOTHER CHURCH OF COUNTRY MUSIC"

Howdeeeee! Sorry, just couldn't resist the Minnie yelp. We are having a wonderful time here in Nashville. Joined up with sister Mary Ann and Brother (in law), Jurgen. We have taken a couple of tours and seen a lot. Tonight, we do the Honky Tonk by night thing. It's raining, and the smell of the grass is delightful. We will be here until the 7th. Hopefully we can wear out our welcome by then. From here, we move to Memphis for more of the same. Then we begin our slow, take it all in, return to San Diego. Should be there in Nov. or Dec. Hope you are all well and having fun. Love and God Bless..............Ray, Diane, & the fur fellas

STAGE AT THE RYMAN

We took a tour of the old Ryman Auditorium, previous home of the Grand Ole Opry. It was built as a church, and has the second best acoustics of any building in the country. The first is the Morman Tabernacle. The Ryman is pretty much a museum now, and is loaded with pictures, costumes, musical instruments and various memorabilia from the very early days of Country Music. The set from "Hee Haw" is still here.

NASHVILLE SKYLINE, RYMAN AUDITORIUM ON RIGHT

Nashville is a very modern, and large city. Home of Vanderbuilt, Opra Winfrey, country music, and others. In some areas, it is as metropolitan as New York, and in others communities, it looks like the turn of the century. The country side looks like a huge golf course. Everything is green and mowed. Homes range from huge mansions to decrepit abandoned and collapsing old homes, All are very scenic.

PARTHENON REPLICA, NASHVILLE

This is a replica of the Parthenon in Greece. Three such Greek Temples were replicated here at the turn of the century, for the worlds fair. After the fair, the buildings were all leveled. Later, they rebuild this replica. Glad they did! It sets regally on the hill.

HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

We toured this also. Magnificient. Memorabilia, music, films that cover everything and everyone in country music. The Chet Atkins exhibit is wonderful.

GOLD AND PLATINUM RECORDS

This wall is maybe 1/4 of all the gold and platinum records displayed here.

THE NEW (since1974) GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE

This facility has been the home of the "Opry" since 1974. It is enormous. We took a back stage tour. Visited the plush and elegant dressing rooms, the "Green Room", which is a lounge area for the stars to hang out in when they are not on stage. They have post office boxes for all the inducted members of the Opry. Most of their fan mail comes there. We also went up on the stage.

ON STAGE at the GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE

Here we are on stage. The round piece of floor we are standing on has been used in every venue for the Grand Ole Opry since 1924. Every performer that has ever performed at the Opry has stood on this piece of history.

ATRIUM AT THE OPRYLAND HOTEL

Not far from the "Opry House", is the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Magnificent! We spent most of our time in the indoor gardens of the Atrium. Nine acres under glass. Rivers, boat tours, rare tropical plants, ferns, and fruit trees abound. Waterfalls, huge crystal chandeliers, exotic fish, restauants, shops, and on and on. What a place....