A Nashville Birthday Part 3
I just can’t STAND it – Day Three of my Birthday Nashville Trip has got to be the BEST! Breakfast was at a hole in the wall (no exaggeration there were many holes, and it didn’t smell so great) called Mas Tacos (this is a link to their FB page; they don't have a website, and THEY succeeded!!) I was so disappointed that I did not discover this place – it turns out Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives found it before me. But I found it on my own! EVERYONE’s food was amazing – small tacos with unique fillings like sweet potato – so you could order more than one variety and not get too full. Their black beans were to DIE for, as were the fried plantains. GREAT people watching too. I swear this is a Cuban-Mexican hybrid. My Aqua Fresca of pineapple and cilantro will be on my menu very soon. After this stiff fortification we headed off to Fort Negley Civil War Park, a not to miss Nashville destination. It’s so well done, and the info center has air conditioning which is WAY needed on sweltering Nashville days (this was one – I thought I had escaped summer weather going this late?!?) It averaged 95 degrees the whole time we were there. A walk up and around the remains with many plaques explaining the importance of this place and the sadness that also is a part of it will leave you somber and grateful. A super place for kids too. THEN we headed for Belmont Mansion and learning about one of the most, if not THE most interesting women in our history. Adelicia Acklen invented the pre-nup!! And used it with every one of her four husbands. She owned multiple businesses inclusive of plantations and oil fields from Louisiana to the east coast to Nashville, and was a blockade runner to boot. Smart as a whip, she spoke 3 languages and read the writing on the wall so she took her cotton payments in gold and banked "offshore" in London. None of which would have been possible without the pre-nup since women were chattel at that time. She loved wearing crowns and I begged for one at the gift shop but Gordon would have none of it. I just don’t understand… Back to our home away from home to take about 15 minutes rest before we hit the Firefly Grille (thank you Abby Gerwe of Queen City Destination for the hot tip!) The pic at the top is the interior of this joint. A really fun time, nice people, great food, and in a neighborhood NOT in the middle of all of the hoopla!! My brother said his burger was better than the 4 pound one he got the night before at 5th and Taylor (exaggerate much?!?) …I had a mixed seafood salad with a dill crème fraiche & mustard dressing which was fabulous, and Gordon’s Lamb was fantastic. Then it was back home to a movie on our 72” screen!!! Feet up, wine in hand…yes, a good day was had by all!