Redscale

Memphis, TN

Nashville, TN

Nashville, TN

Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga, TN

Brooklyn Bridge, NYC

Flatiron Building, NYC

I wanted to experiment a bit more with lomography and my Diana camera and the redscale film always intrigued me. The only problem with this film is that it's only a 100 ISO - I usually use a 800 ISO and it still needs a lot of light. I asked for advice and they confirm my fears, it is definitely a summer, sunny day film. Then we booked our trip to Tennessee and I thought it would be the perfect time to experiment.

I was very anxious when I went to pick my prints up. And at first I was a bit shocked and disappointed, I didn't expect it to be quite that red. The contrast is very strong and if something was in a shadow, it's just black and you can see any details on the picture so some were a let down. Some were actually good, well I liked them anyway, but I think I choose the wrong time to experiment that film, I didn't want experimental pictures of my honeymoon, I wanted memories. But all in all, I still have all the canon pictures as memories and interesting, different, pictures with the lomo. And let's face it, I'm never going to be able to use that film in London...!

Missing

Nashville. So much.

Knoxville

Knoxville was our last stop in Tennessee before heading towards New-York. Our main goal was to go to the Smoky Mountains and maybe drive to Cherokee. We arrived there in the late afternoon and headed straight out after checking in our hotel. We had a walk around downtown and discovered how lovely it was. We looked into the shops, definitely my kind of shops, a bit above the budget though. We felt less out of place with our slim fit black jeans and our shirts than in the other places, and it felt nice to walk. There is for me a more "trendy" feel to this city, but it also makes it more expensive. We had dinner in a lovely Italian place on the main square, it was nice to have vegetables and no fries! On the way back to the hotel, we walked along the river and went up the Sunsphere. Then I realised that underneath my feet was nothing when we were in the sphere and I had to get out. I have silly phobias.

On the second day we went to rent a car. They had no GPS. Right. That delayed us a fair bit as we had to download maps and GPS on Tom’s phone. We tried it out by going to the basketball hall of fame and it was such a nightmare to find our way that we almost gave up going to the mountain. We were a bit defeated at the hotel when we decided to look at what the way would be and figured out that once you are out of Knoxville it’s a straight road down to the mountain. So we drove. And I loved it. The side of the road is full of tacky shops and mountain trees. It was one of my favourite part of the trip (I feel like everything was!). We drove through Pigeon Forge and passed Dollywood. We drove through the Smoky Mountain, it started to rain, a hot light rain that stopped as soon as we left the mountains. We drove past Dollywood again, pretended we took the wrong exit just to take a picture and left. On the way we stopped for food and returned the car. We survived driving out of town without a GPS and with road works and diversions everywhere. I’m proud of us.

Back in the city we had a giant ice cream. And enjoyed our last evening in Tennessee. I already miss it.

Chattanooga

Back to the honeymoon. The next stop on our trip after Nashville was Chattanooga. We honestly ended up there because of the name. When we decided to go in March or so, we looked at the map, we saw that name, it was on the way between Memphis and New-York. So we planned our stop in Chattanooga. We didn't have much time to see all the places so we only stayed one day there.

We arrived in the morning on a greyhound bus, and suddenly realised we had changed time zone. We didn't have a clue until we arrived one hour earlier than planned... So, there we were, in the worst greyhound station so far, needing to get to the close by airport to rent a car. We asked for direction, yes, it's walkable, just go right up the ramp. We went out of the station. It was a national road with no pavement (we were dragging big suitcases). What on Earth are we supposed to do? No choice, no taxi, nothing. We start to walk, it can't be the way, let's try over there. Ok, where is that bloody airport? Oh a car is turning and stopping by us. Hello, I'm lost, I'm looking for the airport to return this car, we are lost too, looking for the same. Come on in, I'll drive you. Oh cops are coming and stopping. Are you lost? Yes. Follow us, we'll show you the way to the airport. And there we were finally, at the airport, which was 2 minutes drive away. I still don't believe you can walk. If the same situation had happen anywhere in London or in France, we would still be there trying to figure out our way.

Hangover cured by a little more sleep, we rented the car and headed to our motel. It was the first time I was driving anywhere else than France. At least it's the right side of the road for me. Still I was a bit freaking out. We got to the motel nice and safe and decided to go straight to Point Park as after all it was the main reason for us to be there. The drive is lovely, I don't mind so much small winding roads, that's what Brittany is made of, and being surrounded by trees and going higher and higher above the city just looked great. We spent quite a lot of time there, looking at the city and the Tennessee river from above, walking up and down hill, reading about the civil war battle that took place there. We thought we would check the Lookout Mountain on the way back. I have a terrible vertigo so we thought it wouldn't be worth it to pay to go there. We missed the entrance and ended up in Georgia. I liked that. A couple of state signs photos later we were back on the road.

Back in Chattanooga we walked to the Tennessee river and we sat with our feet in the water with no one else around. I felt lucky and happy to be there. It felt good to be in Tennessee, it felt special. After that we went for dinner at Sticky Fingers as it seemed to be recommended. I was a bit disappointed. We ordered the ribs and it was nice. But not so much it would be that famous. Their salads were gigantic though. If you want ribs, go to Memphis!

On the next day, we drove the car back, took another greyhound, finally the last one and we were off a bit further in Tennessee.

Third Man Records

Here is the real reason why we ended up in Tennessee. Tom and I are both Jack White fans and when we were friends we joked about going to Nashville together to go to Third Man Records. We joked, but we were actually quite serious but as our friendship was more and more ambiguous, we never made any serious plans. Then we got together and we knew it would be one of our next trips, as soon as we could afford it. One day, Tom saw an add for cheap flights to America with British Airways, and we "needed" a honeymoon, no need to think twice. So we built our trip around that, we knew we wanted to see Memphis and spend a few days in New-York. We looked at a map to see what else was on the way in Tennessee.

Back to Third Man Records. I was so excited on the way there. And you need to be motivated if you are walking. It was sunny, boiling hot, far away and in, let's say, not the nicest part of town. And did I say it was boiling hot!? But we made it and behaved like two kids on Christmas morning. We had to buzz for someone to let us in. A minute later a pretty young girl wearing a yellow and black (the shop's colours) dress opened the door for us. The shop is tiny but it is what we were expecting. Suddenly four other people came in. We couldn't move anymore, and we were annoyed, let us enjoy the shop! So we pretended to look more than you normally would need to and waited until everyone else was gone. We picked quite a few records, since we knew we were coming, we hadn't bought any of Jack White new records. We had a chat with the girl - people in Tennessee have all been so friendly and nice to us, we felt very welcomed - and we shyly asked if we could take pictures. I think she is used to it. We left the shop with a smile on our face and records under our arm. Oh and we went back. Twice. In two days. Might as well make the most of it!

Nashville

Nashville. Nashville is the reason we wanted to go to Tennessee in the first place and I haven't been disappointed. East Nashville stole a bit of my heart and as much as I loved every single moment of our honeymoon, being there felt special. Just like New-Orleans a few years back, I left a piece of my heart there too and I can't wait to go back. I wish the weather would stop trying to destroy this city every other year! But I'm losing the plot here.

It is the first place we looked up when we were planning our trip and some friends recommended Airbnb to find somewhere to stay. We were scrolling through the pages when we saw the pictures of the most perfect, gorgeous, typical, yellow southern house. I wanted to sit on the porch. We looked up people's comments, all top rating, all saying how perfect it was. So we booked with Paul and Janet. The house was amazing, they were friendly and so helpful and I had my drink on the porch.

It was probably the most relaxing part of our trip. We just enjoyed the hammocks, tennis table and cool bedroom with Snowby, the cat. We went downtown everyday by bus (we are not good enough on bikes), it's a short ride and it brings you fairly close to the Broadway where are all the bars and live music you could want. It's very touristy around there but as soon as you walk away it gets a bit "rougher". Specially for us in the way we are not used to that kind of cities, there are people everywhere in London, all the time, over there you can feel a bit lonely and out of place sometimes. Saying that we never had any troubles at all.

We spent a lot of time walking around East Nashville, checking out music shops, vintage shops and local hand made products stores. The end of afternoon is perfect to just walk in the streets and look at all the historical houses. I wouldn't mind living there! 5 Points area is full of restaurants, bars and shops. Life feels good there. We went for pizzas, twice, at the 5 Points Pizzeria. I really recommand it, we shared the small size, it was still huge. I mean seriously food in America is insane! And free refills! On our last day, we went to the ice cream parlour (black raspberry-corn flavour, yum) and then for a drink at Rose Pepper during happy hour. 20$ for a pitcher of margarita. Let me tell you, we were a joyful bunch after that. But we didn't leave it there and went to the Eastland Café next door for a 5$ pizza and 5$ fancy martinis. I don't think we were walking very straight on the way back. We relaxed a bit more on the porch and my heart felt a bit sad as we were leaving the next morning (oh the hangover on the greyhound bus...).

But all that is not the real reason we wanted to go to Nashville. To be continued...