I mentioned earlier that we had all kinds of fun with the little bear that DG’s friends gave her before we left. One night we were completely wired, still on Southern California time, and had spent a couple of hours refining the ‘new dance look’. It was 2 AM Nashville time and we were in no way, shape or form ready to sleep.

So we took the panda out for a wee-hours walk and adventure around Opryland, and thus began the Great Panda Photographic adventure. Watch it as a slideshow — it’s funnier that way, the faster the better.

This was our third trip to Nashville for Nationals, but the first time we stayed at the Opryland. I have to say, it’s worth the money to stay there. The hotel itself is HUGE and very, very easy to get lost in. It’s attached to a convention center, but there are about sixteen different ways to get there, some easy, some not. If you make one wrong turn you’ll discover that you’re in an entirely new, undiscovered area.

We got into the room at about 1am, and we were starving, thanks to the lame food service on airlines and in airports. Because LAX had shut down the international terminal about an hour before we were due to arrive for our flight next door, it took us an hour and fifteen minutes to get from the airport entrance to the American Airlines terminal. Security was stepped up and slooooow, so our plan to arrive 90 minutes ahead of the flight resulted in us running like dogs to board.

Unfortunately, the flight attendants for our flight were caught in the same jam. This meant that we left LAX an hour late, putting our connection in Dallas in jeopardy.

Of course, whenever one has a tight connection and a late flight, it’s inevitable that the connecting flight is on the opposite side of the airport. In Dallas, that means catching the train to the opposite end, running out, flying down the escalator, across an empty floor past all of those just-closing fast food areas, hearing the last call to board the connecting flight, shouting across the room to hold up long enough for us and four others to board, and then actually managing to board with all that carryon luggage. Because yes, we WERE smart enough to carry everything on, hoping not to incur the wrath of check-in attendants over the size of the dress bag.

We collapsed in our seats after using every available inch of half-filled overhead bins to stow stuff. But we made it, and a good thing too, because I wasn’t looking forward to spending the night in a Texas airport — it was the last flight out to Nashville that night.

At any rate, by the time we arrived at Opryland, checked in, got to the room and realized it was 1 am, we wondered if we were going to starve.

No one starves in Opryland. No one. There is food available 24/7, unlike some other hotels we’ve stayed in. Not just food, but really good food. We opted for the late night room service menu, and had the best beef barley soup and caesar salads I’ve ever had. Their soups are homemade and amazing. The prices were reasonable too, for a room service menu.

Some other great perks: Ubiquitous free wi-fi in all hotel areas. The convention center area was locked wifi but everywhere else it was available with a nice strong signal. Uncrowded hallways, great beds, and roomy rooms completed it. If you’re going to Nashville, I highly recommend a stay there. Although it’s not a bargain-basement hotel rate, you’ll get treated with courtesy, Southern hospitality, and eat some amazing food.