Monday, June 7, 2010

Making Friends with Security Guards

Since it is now coming down to the last two weeks of my Nashville adventure I am determined to do everything specific to the area that I can.  Today this entailed visiting the Nashville Capitol Building and the Bicentennial Mall.  I got dropped off near Broadway by Rachel and Jen on their way to a conference and from there I just walked until I got tired at which point I found myself right in front of the Capitol Building. 
 <<Capitol Building from where I ate my lunch>>

Upon entering there was a security guard who insisted on taking all my information down before he directed me down a long, creepy tunnel where a golden elevator awaited.  Once I arrived in the actual building I was told to get a self-directed tour booklet because, "there aren't tour guides every time someone decides they need one" well thank you, thank you very much.  Thus I directed myself around the building and in the end made only one wrong turn where I was met by a locked door at the top of a dusty staircase.  I didn't think I was going the right way but hey, if you're going to make me walk down a tunnel why wouldn't you direct me up a dusty, forgotten staircase?  As for the pictures in this post, I was by myself so most are scenic with a few close-ups of my chipper face, sincere apologies.

<<The sleeping guy I sat next to while I ate lunch. Decided his name is Maurice of Sheraton>>

<<Long, empty tunnel>>

<<Me and my self-directed tour book...that I kept, muahaha>>

<<What my head was just previously blocking>>

<<Supreme Court Chamber, I think>>

<<House of Representatives Chamber>>

<<Former State Library>>

<<Tourists on Segways! No, the security guard didn't know where they got them either>>

<<The tomb of President James K Polk and supposedly his wife>>

<<Civilian reading his newspaper>>

<<A marvelous garden>>

After reemerging from the tunnel I walked down a never ending flight of concrete stairs to reach Bicentennial Mall which in fact turned out not to be a mall at all but another park with State history everywhere.  This included a giant map of Tennessee, a wall of historical facts and at the very end, a mosaic of 3 stars surrounded by smaller coliseums.  After this experience I believe I am qualified to be considered an expert on Nashville history, right?
<<Giant map of Tennessee (supposed to be surrounded by fountains but due to my unlucky nature they were being serviced by immigrant workers)>>

<<Standing on Nashville, domination is mine!>>

<<Always wanted to know how they did the lettering on those markers>>

<<Court of 3 Stars>>

<<Wall of Tennessee's historical time line>>


<<Capitol Building from the other direction>>

<<Of course, I would step in gum. Lucky for me it was so hot the gum literally melted right off>>

<<Where the bus driver unexpectedly peaced out for 2.5 minutes>>

<<The bus leaving, so exciting, I know>>

*Stairs and Security Guards*
Megan

1 comment:

  1. Cool pictures! And stepping in sugar, classic. I feel like I've had many an experience with that.
    Only two more weeks in the Nash? What happened? And enjoy it to the fullest :)

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