Let the MUSIC begin!

After finding our rooms in the Windmill Inn, getting settled, and trying to figure out the heater/ac, we rested a bit, changed clothes and were ready to go to supper.

In the meantime, the thoughtful bus driver had repaired the very needed walker, so all is well in that area, sort of.

The bus driver does his driving well--parking in close places, turning the coach around in small areas--it's his personal skills that need work. He yells lots. (another day another story)

We were taken to Golden Corral (I can hear Nki saying Euw) but not like any other G C you have ever visited. Billed as the world's largest (can't say for sure, since we were kinda stuck in one room), IT HAD A DINNER SHOW. Yep, A DINNER SHOW. First of all, tour groups (about 6 or 8) are treated a little differently at Branson Golden Corral. We go in a different door, tell a young lady if we want chicken, beef or ham and then sit at our designated tables. Salad and dessert, tea and water are already on the tables and we are brought our meal (which was described to us by a tour guide person before we left the bus- so as to make a good choice). Service was fast and efficient. About the time we were finishing our red velvet cake, the "show" began. A gentleman was introduced and he sang and sang. Very "lounge singer" style of entertainment--t.v. screens showed us pictures of his family (4 girls and a baby boy) and his patter continued with him eventually introducing his mother who moved mike stands and generally assisted. We were told that she runs the gift shop there. (I know--a gift shop in G C !) There was no "fee" for the show, "just put what you want in the jar on the table, remember I have 4 weddings to pay for". Way, cheesy.

We moved from Golden Corral to the Mickey Gilley Theatre. Wow, are there lots of theatres, here. Several on each block it seems.

This one was large, about half full for the show and comfortable. The show began w/ information about Mickey Gilley on video screens--3 huge ones on either side and at the back of the stage. It was like having the entertainers in your lap. The music was very much to my liking and the comedy was well timed, a tad off color, but not too much. And most of the humor was directed at the "star" of the show. There was discussion during the show about Mickey Gilley's famous cousins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart. His piano playing style is VERY like JL Lewis, just not as exuberant. All in all a really engaging and entertaining evening. I enjoyed it so much, I bought a cd. I think that will be encouraged at each show we attend and I probably won't buy from each one, but we'll see. The show began at 8 and we got back to the room about 10:45. The traffic in "downtown" Branson is really slow because the whole town is out and around in private cars and coaches and everything moves at a snail's pace.

The room heater is tricky - turn it on high heat, and you get cool air, put it on low heat and you do indeed receive warm air. At least that's a good lesson to know, since we'll be here for 3 more nights and there is a real chill in the air after dark.

Breakfast in awhile and on to the Yakov Smirnoff Show and then shopping at The Landing -- there is a Bass Pro Shop--am I excited?