Posh McDonalds and Custard...

Not Nashville in Tennessee, which is about 300 miles to the west, but Asheville, still in North Carolina, and in the Blue Ridge Mountains (which I thought were in Virginia, as in the song).

Seems my geographical knowledge of the eastern US states is about as good as the average American's knowledge of where Basingstoke is. (And who can blame them.)

Asheville has history...



This is at Biltmore village on the outskirts of Asheville. It's a preserved area and all the houses and shops are in some manner of ye olde style which I know nothing about. Here's a picture and you can tell me...



The Olde World Christmas Shoppe sells Christmassy things the whole year round. 365 days a year. (Except when we were there and it was shut.)

Even the McDonalds has to be in keeping...



Yes, we did go in, and it had a grand piano on a little stage too. Albeit one of those you put a memory card in and it plays itself. Also my first experience of an Egg and Bacon McGriddle, which is egg and bacon in two small maple syrup pancakes. And my last experience of one too.

The actual town of Asheville has some really impressive buildings...



...and some interesting public art...



...but all of this pales into insignificance besides Asheville's top feature, which is...



...Kamm's Frozen Custard Shop, which is well worth a visit. In fact, it's well worth the two round-trip flights and the three hour each-way drive. Best food experience of the holiday so far. Here's the order form if you want some... (I'm not sure they deliver, though...)