Florence and Gator Sliders, Y'all

Day 2 of our trip was a success. After breakfast and blogging this morning, we hit the road and headed to Nashville. The drive was mainly uneventful, except for our stop just over the Kentucky border to eat lunch at a place called Skyline Chili. Lee loved it... I thought there was something slightly weird about the chili, but it was filling and cheap, and our waitress was super nice. And yes, that is cheese.


After lunch, I read a few chapters of my latest book, and took a two hour nap. I must have really needed the rest because I slept like a log without even being able to recline the seat. While I slept, we passed into the Central Time Zone. Somehow knowing that makes me feel even farther away from home... but my cousin Becca is happy about it. :) Tennessee was upon us before we knew it. And wow was it hot! Our car thermometer was reading 105 degrees, and it's usually only plus/minus a few degrees!


The hotel we are staying in tonight is beautiful. Much more stylish than our last, and still a lot of space.


But the key cards were by far my favorite part...dots!


For dinner, we went to a really cool place called Caney Fork. The food was great, the decor was sweet, and we had an awesome waitress again.


Ok, you have to admit that last picture is pretty funny. They definitely had some interesting food. Frog legs anyone?

We opted for the fried pickles instead! Mmmmm.....


Lee stepped out of his comfort zone and LOVED his meal.

Yep...gator sliders...


Something else we didn't expect: fritters coated with powered sugar (in the North, aka fried dough balls).


When our appetizer came out, another waitress brought us a basket filled them. Lee thought it was a dessert for some other people that was accidentally placed on our table, so he was hesitant. I told him he was ridiculous and that I was going to eat them. I tried to persuade him that they were the equivalent of the complimentary bread you usually get at most other restaurants, and that they couldn't charge us for them even if they weren't complimentary because we hadn't ordered them! After our waitress brought us a refill, Lee was convinced. They were sooooooo good! I asked our waitress what they really were, and she told us. Then she asked if we liked them and if we wanted more. You should have seen Lee's face. After she left our table, he said to me, "See, that's one of the reasons I married you. You can get me food." His second mentioned reason? So that he could beat me in mini golf. Guess where we went next...


We were so close to our hotel (there it is in the background).


Hole in one, baby!


I totally won the first round. ...We don't need to mention the second one.


Things I am already learning about the South:

1. People are nicer.
2. There is really good food.
   
3. We need to get a washer and dryer STAT. Clothes that stick to you are not fit to be worn again without washing.
4. Showers are for nighttime too. In fact, they are becoming necessary.
5. Air conditioning is amazing.
   
6. It can be really hot even at 10:00 pm.

Alright that's it for now. It's late and bed is calling. One last picture to post, in case anyone can explain this to me... "Florence Y'all"? Goodnight!


~Hooks