Bus Trip to Nashville Dec 3-6, 2004 Seventy-Five of us left Jacksonville at 7am on two coaches, not buses. Most were from the Catholic Church in Fruit Cove, but a few were from our church. A good widow friend of ours went with us and shared our room. We stopped at rest stops every 2 hours, and for lunch at a place with a big choice of fast food places within walking distance. Water, sodas, beer, wine AND booze were PROVIDED on the bus. We watched Miracle on 34th Street and Jack Frost movies on the way. We arrived about 6pm Central Time (12 hours). By the time we got settled in our room it was time to leave for the "Magical Music Christmas Show". This was just a short distance (walkable) from the hotel, but we took the hotel shuttle. It was a very nicely done variety show at the Acuff Theatre which is right next to the Grand Ole Opry House. Had a hot dog for supper. Returned to the room at 11pm - crashed. Dave was up early, of course, but the girls slept in 'til 7:30. Dave went down to get in line for the buffet breakfast at the closest restaurant. Had a nice meal - famished- but EXPENSIVE ! 9:30 found us enroute to The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum which is downtown. We were there 1 1/2 hours, which was enough, but just. There was a lot to see. Back on the bus and around the corner to The Wildhorse Saloon, which has 2 balconies in addition to the main floor. They had a large choice of foods, large portions, and good prices. The first $15 was prepaid, and almost everyone spent less than that. They had a lady singer, Cindy Moore, who recreated Minnie Pearl very well. The rest of the show was all patriotic. First all the vetearns stood (almost all of the men). Then each service stood as their service song was sung. Then everybody stood as she sung "Proud to be an American". Then everybody cried when her husband sang about a soldier who finally made it home for a Christmas, but it was in a casket. Then we bawled when she read this poem which her husband wrote when he was in Afghanistan: Never Forget, The Rules That Were Broken, The Threats That Were Spoken , The Lives That Were Lost , The Price Freedom Cost , The Brave Who Went In, And Never Came Out Again , The Eagle Has Been Challenged, And Opened His Talons, America Is Weeping, Awake From Her Sweeping , Her Enemy Will Soon Regret, That We The People, Never Forget. We dried our eyes, blew our noses, and got back on the bus. The next stop was the Ice Carving Display over by The Opry House. This is a very large walk-through display. The temperature in the building is 15 DEGREES! You are given a fur lined parka with hood. You are in the room about 6 or 7 minutes. I didn't get to freeze anything off. I got off the bus at its closest point to the hotel and walked to meet with Reta, my step-aunt and her husband Marion Tinker. Reta is Sara Nelle Warr's older sister. Their across the street neighbor is a big shot at the hotel. She helped us get together. We met in a restaurant that didn't open for hours and had drinks, snacks and desserts - on the house. We hadn't seen them in 15-20 years. We talked for 3 hours, and Lorraine arrived before they had to leave. We had a free evening and did a partial tour of the hotel, a full tour would take too long. We got food to take to the room in the Food Court in the Delta Atrium. Saved some for breakfast snack. Dave up early. Girls up at 6:45, Left for church at St. Joseph's in Madison. It was a very nice church, and so was the pastor. After the entrance, he welcomed all visitors, especially those from Jacksonville. He said our reputation had proceeded us, That we were well known for our giving. Our 75 extra people completely filled the pews. We then headed to "The Hermitage" home of Andrew Jackson. They had an informational movie, a nice museum, and then a half mile walk to the house. It was in pristine and original condition. The tour was guided room by room. There was the garden and graveyard out back, then back to the visitor's center and lunch. They had good, large portioned home-cooking. we shared a catfish with greens, fried okra, green beans and cornbread. We did not see Andy Jackson, but was told he (a recreator) was around sometimes. I did see his boss, Abe Lincoln. He was in modern clothes, eating lunch. I introduced myself and said I hoped he made money with that face. He (Dennis Boggs) did make his living with his face. His picture is on the website. Back to the hotel for a free afternoon. They had a BIG craft show in one of the halls. The girl's enjoyed that while I had a beer and tried to find the Jaguars Game. Took all the purchases back to the room, and finished touring the parts we missed and the pictures we didn't get before because it was dark outside, and the lighting was low. At 5:30 went to the Linda Davis Family Christmas Dinner Show. They had VERY good music, GREAT lighting and audience participation. It was about 90 minutes - After we finished our standard Christmas Dinner. Got back to the room just in time to watch the Sunday Night ESPN Jaguars game against the Steelers. Good game except for the result. Again the "Cardiac Cats", as we call them, made us watch the last second of the game. There was only 1 game this year that was not decided in the last minute. 5:30 wake-up to be on the bus at 6:30. We stopped at a grocery store the day before to stock up the drink coolers and get something for breakfast on the bus. Napped for a while, then watched movies, White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye; The Christmas Box with Richard Thomas (John-Boy), and most of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Dick Van Dyke. It rained all day until we got almost to Florida. Stopped for Gas and lunch north of Valdosta. Got home at 7PM. It was a very enjoyable trip. If you ever go on a bus tour, be sure you do it with the Catholics, they know how to have a good time.