We should have counted the steps to make it to the capitol entrance. We are guessing that not many guests arrive the way we did, as we got some mountain climbing in a very urban setting. Considering we had temperatures in the 80's this afternoon, it was a sweaty climb--but great exercise.
Tennessee is one of the few capitols that does not have a dome. Instead, its architect designed it to have a cupola as its highest point.
We were hurrying to make it inside for the 2:00 tour, and we have a picture to prove that we all made it to the summit of that hill. Mark is behind the camera, taking the picture of Merilee, Bob, and Denisa (with a couple of Tennessee's past governors that photo-bombed us).
We were thoroughly entertained by the young lady giving tours this day. She taught us about the three Tennesseans that became U.S. Presidents, and the two that became presidents of other countries. She told ghost stories in celebration of Halloween and bragged about her state's heritage and beauty. We'd have to give her the award for being the most entertaining state capitol tour guide in our journey so far. Her hands are blurry in the picture because she was always moving.
The capitol was completed in 1859, so it is one of the oldest we have toured. Its tall ceilings support lighting fixtures that were originally fueled by gas, but were changed to electricity when it was later invented.
We visited the House of Representatives where we got an education about their organization. Every member is up for re-election this year, as they serve only two years. But without term limits, they don't expect many new legislators in the November elections.
The Senate chambers has fewer chairs, and they serve 4-year terms. We learned that one of the elected senators will be chosen by their peers to serve as Lt. Governor. So Tennessee is one of the few states whose second-in-command is not directly elected to that position.
We made a quick run through the Governor's reception room, but our favorite room was the library. That spiral staircase winds it's way to the books high up on the 3rd floor ceiling. Denisa was just glad to have Bob and Merilee along to convince Mark that the velvet rope barriers really do mean that he shouldn't climb that staircase.
Our tour guide explained the symbolism of the Tennessee flag. From the capitol's balcony we could look down on flower beds that mimic the flag's design. Those 3 stars represent the three sections of Tennessee--the eastern mountains, the central plateau, and the western river flood plain. They are positioned on the flag in such a way that they are equal--not one of the stars are at the top (unless someone messes up and hangs the flag upside down).
After our tour, the trip down the hill was easier, as we walked through Bi-Centennial Park and into the Farmer's Market. Denisa is having apple-withdrawals, so she bought a few at the market. We would highly recommend the restaurant Bob and Merilee suggested for a nice pasta dinner--Demos'. We should have taken a picture of the sampler plate that they brought out so we could try all their pasta sauces before we ordered. After a great meal, we waddled down the street for some exercise at the Wild Horse Saloon. One of those wild horses met us in the entry way.
We bellied up to the bar for this picture with some regular customers. That's when we realized that not all of the hoofed patrons were horses at the Wild Horse Saloon. It looks like the Chick-fil-a cow has moved to Nashville and is trying to convince people to "eat more chikin" in Tennessee.
It was a quiet night at the Wild Horse, and Denisa and Mark were the only couple on the dance floor. When the musician took a break, we decided to see what else was happening in the neighborhood. The horse-drawn carriages were lined up along the street.
We were amazed at the number of shops selling boots along the main streets of Nashville, and wondered how they could all stay in business. We lost count after five boot shops.
The only business that was more prolific on Broadway were the honky-tonks. There were little bars and cafes one after another, and the street was lit up like it was the middle of the day. On this warm evening, many of them had opened their front windows and doors, and the music was spilling out onto Broadway. It was a neon experience to walk down the street just soaking in the ambiance that is Nashville. All the honky-tonks seemed to be packed, and we were content to meander down the street rather than crowd into the dark shops.
Even though we just rolled into the area this afternoon, we feel like we have already been ordained into life in Nashville. We can tell it's going to be a great time here!
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