December 2021 – Gripped by Travel

“Welcome to Nashville, man what a great day / The first stop we’re gonna take you is a place called Broadway “ that how the comic duo that are Austin and Colin start off their funny, information and catchy song about Nashville. They take us on a journey through the sights and sounds of Nashville.

Welcome to Nashville – Austin and Colin.

Their first stop is Broadway and it’s a good place to get acquainted with the city. Located in the downtown area, it includes Lower Broadway which is renowned for its honky tonks and live country music as well as restaurants and a number of tourist attractions.

Honky Tonk Central – Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Austin and Colin are seen queuing outside the 100 year old former grain store, that is now the Acme Feed & Seed restaurant and music venue. Head for the rooftop bar with its views of the Cumberland River, the Nissan Stadium, the home to the Tennessee Titans of the NFL and the Broadway strip.

Next on their list is Demonbreun, the area and the street are named after a French-Canadian fur trader who is known at the “first citizen of Nashville”. You can continue to follow their list which then takes you to Belmont, Hillsboro Village, Vandi, Green Hills, Frothy Monkey etc. However, you will probably be visiting for its musical connections and the museums.

Acme Feed & Seed Restaurant & Music Venue – Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Throughout the city you will find numerous music venues playing something to suit everyones taste, it’s not just country music that you will hear in Nashville. In addition you will probably want to head over to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The museum’s core exhibition “Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music” tells the story of the origins of country music and its main contributors using artefacts, photographs, recorded sound, vintage video, and interactive touchscreens. You might want to also visit Music Row’s Historic RCA Studio B, the oldest surviving recording studio in Nashville, where landmark recordings by Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, and many others were made. Due to its size pre-booking is advised. Personally, I would be off to the Johnny Cash Museum by day and will be spending an evening at the Tribute to Elvis Show.

Johnny Cash Museum – Nashville, Tennessee, USA

For car nuts, just over an hour’s drive out of town will take you to Bowling Green, the home of the National Corvette Museum. On display are over 70 Corvettes displayed in periodic settings.

Bucharest is home to the world’s biggest parliamentary building. Originally at The Palace of Parliament but more commonly known today as the People’s Palace construction started in 1984 and took thirteen years to build. An area of s (2.7 sq mi) of the old city centre was flattened to allow the construction including monasteries, factories and a hospital. One engineer set out to save as much as he could.

Moving Churches to Safety – Bucharest.

Today the People’s Palace, both houses of the Romanian Parliament., along with the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Communist Totalitarianism and the Museum of the Palace.

The People’s Palace – Bucharest, Romania.

Prior to the Second World War Bucharest was known as the “Paris of the East”. The war, the Communist era and an earthquake in 1977 robbed the city of many or the art nouveau buildings. Here and there are places where that former sophistication. The Cantacuzino Palace which now houses the George Enescu museum is one such example which was built between 1901 and 1903 by architect Ion D. Berindey.

Berindey was responsible for a number of famous landmarks during this time including the Bucharest observatory that was built between 1908 and 1910. George Enescu incidently is regarded as one of the greatest musicians in Romanian history. You might even choose to stay in the elegant Athenee Palace Hilton hotel designed by the French Theophile Bradeau. Around and about you will find more examples that listed here. Remember to look out for Bucharest’s copy of the Arc de Triomphe.

Personally, I would recommend seeking out the beautiful churches and chapels that fuse Byzantine, Greek, Ottoman and Renaissance styles. On your list head for The Stavropoleous Church in the old city, St Apostle’s and the Doamnei Church.

If you are interested in looking back in time, you might be interested in watching the TV series “Comrade Detective” on Amazon Prime. Set in 1980s Bucharest it tells the story of two police detectives investigating the murder of a colleague. There is more to this story than meets the eye!