After eating breakfast with Sharon and Lindsay, we decided to go check out Fido's. Caleb Grimm, from Anthem Lights, had told us about it the night before. We got to Downtown Nashville around eleven thirty and enjoyed walking around. We found Fido's very easily and decided to go in and get some Coca-Cola's. We really enjoyed the atmosphere there, it was just a fun, upbeat place and we all enjoyed it. Here are some pictures of us enjoying our Cola's and below are some pictures of Fido's. :)
After going to Fido's we had to go back to Downtown Franklin
to see the Starbucks there. When talking with Don, Karen's husband, the
night before he told us that she often wrote there. Kelsey had also
told us we needed to visit Starbucks before we left, so we figured we
would kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, and visit Karen
Kingsbury's Starbucks! It was so much fun going there and getting to
see where Karen writes parts of her books! However, I did not order anything to drink at Starbucks. I am not a fan of coffee in any form, however I do loooooooooooove their hot chocolate, but it was to hot that day to let myself indulge in one. (Because they are so good and could quickly become addictive I have made a rule for myself that I am not allowed to have one except for special occasions. :P Anyone else ever done something like that?)
After Downtown Franklin Christina and Rebekah wanted to stop by Christ Church where they enjoy to watch the worship service each Sunday. Jenn Helvering, Sandi Patty's daughter leads worship there on Sundays, so it was fun for Christina and Rebekah to get to see where she leads worship and where they watch services weekly. :)
Afterward we decided to drive by Opryland just to see what it was like. Along the way we missed a turn and found this beautiful fellow. I wanted to ask him if he was famous, but he didn't stick around long enough for me to ask. LOL :P
Throughout the day we, Jacqueline and I, had been tweeting Caleb to see if there were any other good sights to check out and he suggested Centennial Park, we loved it! It was so beautiful there, and even though it was in Downtown Nashville, you felt totally safe walking there. I am sorry to say that as much could not be said about walking in downtown of the city where I live.
We saw this really neat statue surrounded by benches with virtues written upon them. Jacqueline and I both had fun having our pictures taken next to the benches inscribed with wisdom.
At Centennial Park is the only full sized replica of the Parthenon. It was humongous! I don't know if I will ever receive a chance to visit the real Parthenon, so it was so neat to see a replica of the one I have read about so often in history. (What can I say, I am a history geek!) (At least I used to be when I had time to read about it in the interesting formats of truly learning about it, not just times and dates :P )
Dad took this picture of me next to one of the columns. It really gives perspective on how huge the building actually is.
While at the Parthenon dad started taking pictures so Jacqueline and I enjoyed the benefits of a mini photo-shoot! Christina and Rebekah chose to opt out since they were tired.
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| The details were stunning. |
After our impromptu photo-shoot at the Parthenon we took a walk around the park. If I could I would totally vote for uprooting Centennial Park, well... actually all of Nashville, and planting it where I live.
We found this random fish and I couldn't help but have a little fun with it. Hey, the guy was having problems blowing the golf ball into the hole and I thought I would try to help him. The silly thing never would budge.
Beautiful shots of the Parthenon from across the lake. :)
The two following pictures are for everyone who knows my family outside of the internet. I hope you will fully appreciate them. For those of you who don't know me outside of social media, I will explain. From the time I was around fourteen my parents have made my sisters and I enter an art contest called the Junior Duck Stamp Program. Part of the package was you had to have pictures of a duck to draw from. Well, if you were to ever look at the folders on our computers, you would find a good 80% of them are of ducks and geese. Well, it looks like even on vacation we can't get away from the JDSP. :P
After Centennial Park everyone was tired so we headed back to the hotel. Well, I guess I should actually rephrase that, EVERYONE ELSE was tired. Once again a little tidbit for those who don't know me, I am a die hard shopper. I do not always have to buy (although I do love a good sale rack) but I just love shopping for the sake of the experience. Any how, once we got back to the hotel, dad was a complete angel and agreed to take me shopping. I had been dying to go to Macy's since we arrived, but my sisters are not the die hard shoppers I am. :P
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| Picture of the sunset on the way to the mall. |
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| Proof I made it to Macy's (and of my magnetic pull to sale racks :P ) |
For those who are wondering from looking at the above picture, I did manage to get away without buying anything. For as much as I am addicted to shopping and sales racks, I refuse to buy something I have even the slightest question as to whether I would actually use it more than once or twice. Dad was a complete angel and just followed me throughout Cool Springs Galleria from store to store until the mall closed. I truly have an amazing dad.
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| Packed and ready to start the LONG drive home. |
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| The sunset that welcomed us into my home state. |
I was really sad to leave Nashville, I quickly became attached to that city in a way I have never become attached to any other city outside of my home. When I said I could easily transport that city to where I live, I really meant it. It in some ways reminded me of my hometown, as I like to put it, on steroids. :P It just had an easy going fun atmosphere. I hope to someday return for more than just a few days to really enjoy it properly. In the end though, it was wonderful to get home. Also, in the two pics below is the only thing I did break down and buy on the trip, the blue shirt-that-can-be-transformed-into-a-skirt. I found it on the clearance racks at one of the boutiques in Downtown Franklin and was amazed at the deal I found and couldn't pass it up knowing I would enjoy wearing it many times. :)
I hope everyone has enjoyed seeing the trip through my eyes. :)
Blessings, Michelle
P.S. For those of you who were wondering why I was dying to go to Macy's, we don't have one where I live and I love that store. Pretty sad, huh?
