Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, TN...Vanderbilt and Ohi family

April 9-11

We had a great time in Nashville with our wonderful friends, the Ohi family.  They were so welcoming and the kids had so much fun together.  Their two children are so delightful and sweet.  We had a small adventure on the way to Nashville when we started to smell something strange coming from our engine.  Thankfully, we were right outside of Chattanooga on the way to a National Park.  There was a Ford dealership was just 2 miles away.  They quickly diagnosed the fuel pipe leak and were so nice to us.  They even loaned us a car so we could go see the Lookout Mountain National Battlefield while they fixed the truck.  It was an important battlesite in the Civil War.  We even made it to Mel's in time for a great BBQ dinner, southern style.  Today when we had tater tots for lunch the boys asked if it was fried okra.

 We spent a fascinating morning at Vanderbilt where both Mel and her husband are researchers.  She was so patient explaining the complicated things they are studying and showing the boys all the amazing microscopes they use.  We were very impressed!!  I tell the boys that Melanie is the "smartest person I know."

We enjoyed walking around the campus and another Centennial park.  This was an interesting building in the middle of the park, Jordan said it was in the Percy Jackson movie. 

 We spent the afternoon at the Grand Old Opry Hotel.  It was so AMAZING and HUGE!  They have tons and tons of indoor gardens, waterfalls, fountains and shops inside these huge atriums.  It would be so fun to stay there someday.   Today we are headed NE up to Mammoth Caves National Park.  We had such a great time in Nashville...I sure hope we can come back sometime. Thanks Ohi family!!