When we started the planning for USA 2016, knowing we would have a few days either side of the cruise, I knew Nashville had to be on the list. Shanhong was happy to let me make the plans for the entire trip, and so I finally got to one of the cities that has been on my list of places to visit for years. For someone who doesn't know, Nashville is 'Music City'- home of Country and Western music, and of many famous music stars. The first few photos are taken in and around the city - visiting places such as Opryland resort, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman Auditorium and others.

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Nashville is perhaps most famous as being the home of the Grand Ole Opry. Anyone who has seen the US TV Series, Nashville (one of my favourite current series!), will know how important this stage is to stars of country. Legends such as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Minnie Pearl performed on this stage and have been joined in more recent times by stars such as Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and the Dixie Chicks. Founded in 1925, the Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music radio programme, broadcast live, and the longest running radio show anywhere in the world. It holds such significance in Nashville that its name is included on the city boundary signs. They read, "Music City - Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County - Home of the Grand Ole Opry" .  We had the chance not only to be in the audience for a recording, but also have a backstage tour.

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Of course there is more to Nashville than just the music, and so we spent a day immersed in History. We started with a visit to Belle Meade, a historic plantation famous for horse-breeding and wine, and then went on to the home of Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States. Oh... and we had some great food at Cracker Barrel!

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