I stayed the first night at the LaQuinta on Donelson Pike near Nashville Airport. It's a lovely hotel. I then returned to the Airbnb apartment where I stayed in January. It's in the Edgehill neighborhood, near Belmont University.
I saw the eclipse peek thru clouds near Green Hills Mall. It was partial in Nashville.
Tuesday's Predators hockey game was exciting. The Preds scored two third-period goals to force overtime. Although they lost in overtime, they clinched a playoff spot.
Wednesday was my day for exploring Nashville. I visited the Tennessee State Museum, which focuses on history. The feature is the "Tennessee Time Tunnel," which goes from Earth's creation to today.
From there I ate at Frankie V's, a new LGBT-friendly bar and restaurant 8n a converted house in the historic Germantown neighborhood. Good Mexican comfort food, and a yummy margarita.
Then to funky East Nashville. At the game I got a card for free tokens at UpDoen, a bar and arcade. I got a DrPepper and played 10 games of pinball. Iron Man was my favorite machine there.
Lastly to Trax, my favorite Nashville gay bar. It was an early night.
Now it gets complicated!
I flew Frontier Airlines, the low-cost carrier. Philadelphia to Nashville was an easy nonstop. Coming home, they offered a connection with a 13-hour layover in Denver.
This is where you can make fun of me. But I LOVE Denver, Denver loves me, and I took it. The plan was to arrive at Denver Airport around 10 AM, take the train into town, and be back for the connection at 11 PM.
The flight to Denver and train were fine! I had lunch at In-and-Out Burger on Central Park, went downtown, did a little day drinking at the Denver Eagle. I left there at 6 PM to head tobother bars...
And found email that 5he flight to Philadelphia that night was canceled.
Yikes! I headed back to the airport, checking if there might be another flight...I thought there may have been. But I got to the airport, went to ticketing, and it took a while...but there was a connecting flight leaving early the next morning, with a 6-hour layover...in Cincinnati.
OK. I had time to kill. I took the train back to Denver and visited two gay bars new to me. The Tight End is a sports bar with lots of TVs. I liked it but it was very quiet, since the only sports on any of the TVs was basketball from Sacramento. I then went down Colfaz Anenue toward the state Capitol to Buddies, which was busier but I felt aloof from their crowd. Then back on the train...boy, I got to rediscover Denver's A line! Went thru airport security after midnight with ABSOLUTELY NO WAIT. If you've ever used Denver airport, famous for long lines, you'd be amazed.
The flight to Cincinnati was delayed an hour, but I didn't mind with a long layover upcoming.
Let me tell you, CVG is a great airport for a layover! They have lots of food options, including Skyline Chili. I LOVE Cincinnati chili and enjoyed a large 3-way, spaghetti topped with chili and lots of cheese.
There was an entire wing of the airport that was quiet! British Airways uses it but apparently not at that time. So I napped.
The final flight was half-full and pleasant. So I'm home!
