The Marathon was called early due to the crazy storm that hit the south this weekend. Luckily, nearly everyone finished before the skies opened. When we weren't waking up at 4:30 am, we ate, danced, listened to music, window shopped, and had some family time with the Gauchat clan. PS Congrats to the runners!
Personal highlight: A BANJO and Mandolin demonstration at the Country Music Hall of Fame. I took notes (not even joking).
Here's what I learned: the banjo we have today in bluegrass and country music originally came from Africa in the 1500s on slave ships. Banjos were incredibly bare-bones at first, constructed out of a hollow object, covered in a animal hyde (ie you could construct a banjo out of a pumpkin and a cat). At the time, it was a drum.
Eventually, strings were added. The slave owners saw the slaves rocking out at night and decided to join the fun. What we hear today in music was essentially created by Earl Scruggs. He added the claw picks and created the modern country music/bluegrassy style. And now you know!
(*Please excuse that enormous man)More highlights in photo form:
Wall murals abound. 
Love this display at Abernathy Road. Loved it here. Tried to move in. More on this later. 
Look at Dolly—so beautiful. At her little store. 
Wall of boots. Dive in.
Zzzooooommmm! In the immortal words of Allegra, "There goes him!" But in this case, it's a her.
Storm's a-comin'. Just before the Marathon was called off. 
Bike racks behind the symphony. Darling!
Flight home.
LOVE those bike racks!
ReplyDelete