10/04/13: Day 2: Through Nashville on down to Atlanta
We started with the Quality Inn breakfast Buffet, including waffles. Then spent a couple of hours in Nashville, touring the State Capitol and the Tennessee State Museum.
The sun rose hot on Ten-Four in Clarksville, TN so I put up the windshield shades in a somewhat unorthodox manner at the "Q"
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The first thing I notice as the Nashville skyline approached was that huge cathedral. Any guesses?
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The route to the Library Parking garage is not quite straight forward. You have to circle the state capitol to get there.
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But the $2/hr library parking lot was full, and the lot across the street charged twice that. So we drove around a few blocks looking for parking. I noticed this stone sculpture on our second lap. As good a sign as any. We did end up in the $4/hour lot.
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Karen approaches the State Capitol across the vast granite expanse surrounded by war memorials
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A glance through the colonnade of the Tennessee Supreme Court
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The main and only advertised entrance to the Capitol is "The Tunnel." Four Karens reflect with gesticulations on the security of this narrow entrance
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Up on the second (official top) floor of the Capitol it evokes a tomb more effectively than the depths of The Tunnel.
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The legislative lounge has a library and marvelous stairway that are forbidden to visitors. Darn.
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Looking out from the balcony over the Farmer's Market
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Had to take this picture, like we did opposite the Office of California's Governator \(http://danklarmann.com/travels/travel.cgi?PicNum=IMG_2372&Trip=2010SeptTrip\).
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The original light fixture, but converted from gas.
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Karen is in The House
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Most of the tour is about the portraits on the walls. Tennessee is quite proud of both their Federal and their Confederate leaders. Here is a a bust of one of the many notables.
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One of these Jacksons is quite well known
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You may have noticed that I take a picture of a Liberty Bell at every state capitol. Or maybe you will, now.
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After the Capitol, we still had a couple of hours to spend, so we found the Tennessee State Museum. We had to walk 3½ sides of a block to find the entrance. Should made the right turn at Albuquerque Deaderick St.
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A detail of the sign in the previous picture, in case you want to appreciate the workmanship
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There were many exhibits in the three subterranean levels of the museum. Here is one on traditional woodworking
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And what thrid sub-basement is complete without a log cabin?
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As I mentioned at the Capitol, they are quite enamored with their ancestors here. Fathers and mummies, both.
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Refreshing honesty in all the labels.
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Karen said, "This is how we should decorate our house."
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Really, who needs a six-shooter for a fight of honor?
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Nashville has bike rentals downtown, as well as Bicycle taxis
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Karen brought my attention to this view of the State Capitol, that towers over the town.
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And the cathedral we noted as we approached turns out to be AT&T
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The $4/hr garage has art on the elevators, here's a couple of floors.
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We'd parked on Johnny Cash. See Karen arranging stuff in our car.
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As we pull out of the garage, I note the strings of lights hanging over the arts strip
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As we dive back down and around Capitol Hill, note the bike lane markings. Nashville has got StL beat!
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Then just driving down Tennesee into Georgia, into Tennessee, and into Georgia again. Finally danced with the Chattahoochee Country Dancers and spent the night at a couch surfing mecca, a private home called Hotel Hagen.
Yep, we're in the mountains!
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Flashed on Clarke's 2001 in this rest area. See our car reflected in this Korean War Memorial
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The second time we entered Georgia (I-24 porpoises) we stopped at a welcome center. I was struck by the seasonal decorations, and the very prominent lottery promotions.
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As we near Atlanta, the sun gets rude.
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The Chattahoochee Country Dancers in Atlanta have a nice, big floor, and a big, enthusiastic crowd. Our former St. Louisan friend Barb is on the keyboard at the right of the stage. Karen is the first female face you see straight down from her, about halfway down the hall.
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The stories are in the captions.