After a Light Summer Rain....

One day we were looking out for a night place to stay somewhere in Tennessee. We've found one and it was a very pretty one too. The rain just stopped some minutes ago before we arrived there and I had the wonderful opportunity to shoot some pictures with fog rising over the pond, enjoy!

Mystic in blue, green and purple...

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain”
~ Author unknown ~

If you click in (all) the picture(s) you'll see this over sized, amazing, pretty flower bigger

Covered with rain drops...

The same flower, another framing...

Hi my friends,

I love the rain! ... what about you...? :)

Thanks for all the many comments to my last post, thanks for taking your time to visit my blog and to read all my "bla bla bla's"....LOL... :))

Stay tuned, there will be more coming :)
Susanne

From Virginia to North Carolina

A last view to the Blue Ridge Mountains

There was an almost endless forest to cross on I-64 East until the Junction to I-95 came up, heading further towards the South

Crossing over the James River, we are still in Virginia

The James River
in the U.S. state of Virginia is a 410-mile (660 km) long river, including its Jackson River source. It drains a catchment comprising 10,432 square miles (27,020 km²). The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million people (2000). It is the 12th longest river in the United States that remains entirely within a single state.

Pretty wild flowers by a rest area place, before we entered to the State of North Carolina

Hello my friends,

We spent now 6 days in North Carolina and heading tomorrow down to the Ocean. I'm very excited to see the water again :)

Thanks for all your nice comments, very much appreciated!:)

Have a wonderful time and stay connected with me....
Susanne

My Wordless Sunday in North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Mountains Parkway in Virginia

After leaving my cousin in Nashville, Tennessee we crossed the border to Virginia, the beautiful "green" State with pretty farm lands, a lot of forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains as a part of The Appalachian Mountains.

We've decided to take a ride trough the Blue Ridge Mountains Parkway

The Blue Ridge, or Blue Ridge Mountains,

is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division. The province consists of the Northern and Southern physiographic sections, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. This a mountain chain in the eastern United States, part of the Appalachian Mountains, forming their eastern front from Georgia to Pennsylvania. To the west of the Blue Ridge, between it and the bulk of the Appalachians, lies the Great Valley, bordered on the west by the Ridge and Valley province. The mountains are well known for their bluish color when seen from a distance. Trees put the "blue" in Blue Ridge, from the isoprene released into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the characteristic haze on the mountains and their distinctive color.

Beyond the Great Valley, among the Alleghenies, stand Big House and Little House Mountains, though in the distance their outlines merge into a single profile.

Within the Blue Ridge province are two distinct sections: the Shenandoah in the northern section and the Great Smoky Mountains in the southern section. The Blue Ridge also contains the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile (755 km) long scenic highway that connects the two parks and is located along the ridge crestlines along the Appalachian Trail.

The beautiful view from this overlook offers a look at the mountain town of
Buena Vista.
Around you see the magnificent mountains rising straight up from the valley below. The green valley extends as far as your eyes can see.

The ride at the Blue Ridge Parkway was very nice, but tiring also. We were not used anymore to drive on small and steep, serpentine roads. But we were happy we did it, it's an experience you will never forget!

After this field of hey balls we've found a real campground, hidden away DEEP in the woods. :)

Hi my friends,

thanks again for all your visits and kind comments to my last post about Nashville, you make always my day with your words. :)

I hope you still enjoy traveling with us, where ever the wind blows us, there we will be going. Next goal will be the Outer Banks on the Atlantic shores. I hope there to find some wild mustangs to photograph - who knows...... :)

Let's keep in touch together!
Susanne and David

Music City USA: Nashville TN

As I mentioned already yesterday, Marti and Byron (my cousin and her fiance) drove us to down town in Nashville to see all the great spots and to enjoy all the fantastic music sounds in the bars.

Tennessee State Capitol Building
A commanding presence atop a hill in downtown Nashville, this is an outstanding example of Greek Revival architecture. Built in the mid 1800's by noted architect William Strickland, this is a must-see for history buffs. Several areas, including library and government chambers, have been restored to their 19th century appearance. For a spectacular view of the city, be sure to stand outside the building during the early evening hours. On weekdays, the staff offers guided tours generally on the hour, except at noon. Groups need to telephone ahead and make reservations.

The Shelby Street Bridge
(sometimes called the Shelby Avenue Bridge) is a truss bridge that spans the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It was originally opened on July 5, 1909, and was reopened as a pedestrian bridge on August 3, 2003. The bridge spans 960 m (3,150 ft) and is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world.

Sunlight over the skyline of Nashville's architecture

Batman Building in Nashville

The AT&T Building (formerly the South Central Bell Building and Bell-South Building, also known as the Batman Building) is a 630.5 ft (192 m), 32-story skyscraper completed in August 1994 and located in Nashville, Tennessee. The structure is designed as an office tower capable of housing 2,000 workers and as of 2008 is occupied by two companies. It is currently the tallest building in the state of Tennessee.

Another shot of the fascinating architecture of Nashville, where old and new greet each other

The Union Station Hotel
This classic downtown Nashville Tennessee hotel is a shining gateway to the past, perfectly blending modern convenience with warm, historic elegance. Marvel at our 65-foot, barrel-vaulted lobby ceiling ... featuring gold-leaf medallions, 100-year-old, original stained glass, and rare bas-relief sculptures.
Indulge in old-fashioned Southern charm, complete with state-of-the-art comforts like wireless and high-speed Internet access and premium-cable television. Choose from more than 12,000 square feet of stately meeting space - offering the latest in technology.
Whether you're here for a conference, wedding, or vacation, you'll delight in the amenities at this enchanting downtown Wyndham Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.

One of the wonderful arty glass windows in the Hotel

The Shermerhorn Symphony Center

For 22 years, Music Director and Principal Conductor Kenneth Schermerhorn led the Nashville Symphony, until his death in April 2005. The orchestra's profile increased during his tenure, through recordings, television broadcasts, and tours. Following Schermerhorn's death, in August 2006, Leonard Slatkin was named the orchestra's artistic advisor, for a contract of three years, through 2009.

In September 2006, the Symphony opened Schermerhorn Symphony Center, a US$123 million project, which includes Laura Turner Concert Hall. Slatkin conducted the orchestra's first concert in the new hall on September 9, 2006, which included works by Shostakovich, Barber, Mahler, and a world premiere Triple Concerto by Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, and Edgar Meyer.

The Merchants Restaurant
With the start of the Grand Ol’ Opry across the street at the Ryman in 1925, some notable folks started staying at the hotel: Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Porter Waggoner, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Roy Acuff. Other notables included Will Rogers, Wild Bill Hickock and the James Boys (they shot someone on Broadway). As the years went by the quality of the hotel began to decline. In the Roaring Twenties it became a “speakeasy” and was affiliated with Al Capone. In the 1940’s it was a brothel. In the 70’s it became a honky-tonk and “dive” bar. By the 1980’s it was ready for the wrecking ball, but Ed Stolman and the Nashville Arts Commission saved it by having it listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

BBKing Bar
B.B. King's Nashville offers a variety of great Creole Cuisine fused with flavors from around the globe that is sure to please all of your guests. Our highly trained staff are experts in all aspects of event planning and can handle any and all of your needs. The incredible facility that consists of two different levels ranging from our cozy fireplace nooks in the 1st Avenue Dining Rooms to the raucous atmosphere of the deep blues. We can accommodate small intimate groups of 30 to grand celebrations of 1100.

Broadway in Nashville
They don't call Nashville "Music City, USA" for nothing. Nashville boasts one of the most fertile music scenes in the world and is home to a multitude of live music clubs, concert venues, music publishers, record companies recording studios and recording stars. You can catch today's stars at one of Nashville's concert venues or the stars of tomorrow at one of Nashville's clubs!

Horse carriages are to see also in busy Nashville down town :)

Founded by legendeary musican Ernest Tubb, The Ernest Tubb Record shop has been providing country, gospel, & bluegrass music products for over 58 years. The shop specializes in hard to find videos, DVDs, cassettes, and books.

In addition to all the unique items available, visitors can also tour The Green Hornet. This was the tour bus occupied by Tubb and his band from 1970 - 1979. The bus traveled all over over the country including 48 states and Canada. Today, the big green bus is on display for visitors to enjoy.

View inside in the record shop where you can find every style you like in country music

Hi my friends,

I've enjoyed every single moment in Nashville, the city is great, vivid, colorful and fascinating - and a feast for every photographer and his camera :)

Thanks for all your kind comments and compliments to my photos, very much appreciated!

I wish you all a nice coming up weekend and stay with me - we are in North Carolina :)
Susanne and David

The "Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville

My cousin Marti and her fiance Byron showed us around in Nashville and we started with the "Grand Ole Opry", the Mecca for country music stars & fans.

Thank you Marti and Byron, for your hospitality and for your kindness to show us all the fascination of country music in Nashville's Down Town. David and I, we've enjoyed that Saturday afternoon and evening in Nashville together with you very much! :)

All the famous country music stars started their big break trough career here in Nashville

Inside view of the theater

A piece of the original wooden floor - from the old music theater "Hall of Fame" - was integrated in the new "Grand Ole Opry" house

The Grand Ole Opry
No trip to Nashville would be complete without experiencing the music phenomenon of the world-famous 4,400-seat Grand Ole Opry. The Grand Ole Opry is the world's longest-running radio show and showcases the best in country music, bluegrass and more. On October 5,1925, the National Life & Accident Insurance Company launched Nashville's first radio station. Its call letters were WSM and the abbreviation stood for the insurance company's motto, "We Shield Millions."

Top-charting country music acts performed there during the Ryman years, including Roy Acuff, called the King of Country Music, and also Red Foley, Hank Williams Sr, Webb Pierce, Faron Young, Martha Carson, Lefty Frizzell, and so many others.

The Opry was nationally broadcast by the NBC Radio Network from 1944 to 1956; for much of its run, it aired one hour after the program that had inspired it, National Barn Dance. From October 1955 to September 1956, ABC-TV aired an hour-long television version once a month on Saturday nights (sponsored by Ralston-Purina), pre-empting one hour of the then-90-minute Ozark Jubilee.

On October 2, 1954, a teenage Elvis Presley made his first (and only) performance there. Although the public reacted politely to his revolutionary brand of rockabilly music, after the show he was told by one of the organizers (Opry manager Jim Denny) that he ought to return to Memphis to resume his truck-driving career, prompting him to swear never to return. In an era when the Grand Ole Opry represented solely country music, audiences did not accept Elvis on the Opry because of his infusion of rhythm and blues as well as his infamous body gyrations, which many viewed as vulgar. In the 1990s Garth Brooks was made an member of the Opry and was credited with selling more records than any other singer since Presley. Brooks commented that one of the best parts of playing on the Opry was that he appeared on the same stage as Presley.

In the 1960s, as the hippie counterculture movement built, the Opry maintained a straight-laced, conservative image; "longhairs" were almost never featured on the show. The Byrds were a notable exception. Gram Parsons, one of the pioneers of the country rock genre, had worked with The Byrds on a country album and was allowed to perform with the band at the Ryman in March 1968. Audience response was muted.

Hi my friends,

I hope you have enjoyed my little report about the Grand Ole Opry! It was a wonderful experience for me to see this famous house of country music from the inside and also backstage - I felt like a star myself :)

Tomorrow I'll show you some picture impressions from our afternoon in down town Nashville in the HOT June sun - yes we get sunburned all together - and photos also from the streets where all the famous bars are located and where you can just sit down and listen to good country bands, have a drink or two... and I have also seen a happy couple they were dancing to the rhythms of great country music - yes, it was my pretty cousin and her fiance - it was exciting to watch this two "love birds" :)

We arrived in North Carolina and plan to stay for a while on this place and explore the beautiful shores at the Atlantic... I missed the ocean on our trip!

Stay with me and scroll trough my last posts, so called "Older Posts" - any comment is very welcome and is appreciated.

Susanne and David

My two Cousins

Friday night we arrived in Nashville, where I have two cousins. Marti (right) is my first cousin and her daughter Maggy is my second cousin. I have seen them for the very first time in my life and it was quiet a wonderful experience to see my lovely family members.

As soon as I will have good connections again, I will show you more photos from our great time we had together in Nashville. Marti took us out last Saturday evening and it was big fun - and VERY HOT!! :)

Sue & Sue are meeting in Paducah,KY

Yesterday, I had the great chance to meet a very nice blog friend of mine in Paducah, KY: Sue Henry, she is an excellent fine art photographer and I love to visit her blog! We had a great time together. While eating Ice creme, we were talking about this and that and of course about photography! I've enjoyed every single moment to meet you, Sue!
Thanks for taking your time.
Please, visit her blog at:
http://suehenryphotography.wordpress.com

Pretty house facades on Broadway Street in Paducah, where also our meeting point was: the Ice creme shop - the right place to meet on a HOT June afternoon :)

After so much talking, David got hungry and we get the great insider tip, from Sue, to try the "WHALER's CATCH" Seafood Restaurant - it was agood tip, Sue - thanks again! :)

WAHLER's CATCH - Restaurant in Paducah
Located in the Historic Johnson Building on Second Street, Paducah, Kentucky, Whaler's Catch Restaurant has a rich and varied past. Commonly known as "Whaler's" by local Paducahans, the first-of-its-kind fresh seafood restaurant and fish market was started in 1977 by Roberta Shelby Morse.

The food was delicious and the interiour deco was a bit of a maritime New Orleans atmosphere, very nice!

Next time, we will visit the National Quilt Museum for sure - we spent to much time eating in the Restaunt :)

National Quilt Museum Paducah
The National Quilt Museum was constructed in 1991 for use by the museum.

Its facility has been integral to the museum's success. The 27,000 square-foot building was specially designed by Paul Gresham of Gresham & Associates, Inc. and constructed by Vanguard Contractors for the activities of the museum. The museum includes three galleries; two classrooms, one of which can be divided into two spaces for smaller classrooms; a lobby; an atrium; a conference room; a Museum Shop and a storage vault in addition to staff offices and work areas.
The galleries were custom-designed for effectively exhibiting even very large quilts.

Indian Sculptures in front of the Quilt Museum
The National Quilt Museum is proud to bring On the Trail of Discovery, five life size bronze sculptures celebrating the Lewis & Clark Expedition to historic downtown Paducah. The statues were donated by Bill and Meredith Schroeder, founders of the museum. The Lewis & Clark Expedition statues provide exciting outdoor art, accessible day and night.
The sculptures are a permanent addition to the museum’s front lawn and link the museum to the history of Paducah and to Paducah's historic riverfront.

Click into the picture, to read the text to ON THE TRAIL OF DISCOVERY better - it belongs to the photo above.

Nice window details in the Main Street in Paducah

This reminds me to a scene out of "West Side Story" - but it's the Brick Lane in Paducah

Paducah has a lot of treasures to capture with the camera :)

Grandma loves her Quilts :) a window decoration at a gift shop

I have enjoyed our stay in Paducah, yes! Around every corner you'll find some pretty subjects and details. Take your time and visit Paducah too - and meet Sue! :)

Hi my friends,

FINALLY, I got my good old FAST connection back and I'm able to post again :)

And I got also my health back again, it was a bad day for me today: I got sick! And I think it was probably from the Oysters I eat yesterday.

Now I'm back to life again and I'm happy to show you my last impressions of Paducah and our nice meeting with Sue Henry! Let's keep in touch together, Sue! :)

Stay with me... we are heading to Nashville tomorrow!
Susanne and David