From Nashville

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WEDNESDAY 1/3/07
NASHVILLE to MEMPHIS
We visited the Parthenon in Nashville first thing this a.m. It is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens. Created with exacting attention to detail, the massive building was originally built in 1897 as the centerpiece for Tennessee’s Centennial Expo. Today it houses a permanent 20th century American art exhibit, gallery space for temporary exhibits and a massive 42-foot gold sculpture of Athena.

Then off on Rt 40 W to Memphis.

Great lunch at Cajun Catfish Company on the way into town. Memphis has a nice small trolley system, and we rode the Main Street Trolley to the Civil Rights Museum. It’s located in the old Lorraine Motel where many black civil rights leaders stayed when visiting Memphis, the same place where MLK was shot. We didn’t know this ahead of time, so it took our breath away when we saw the site. After the museum, we hustled to the Peabody Hotel to see their ducks. Believe it or not, these ducks spend the day in the hotel lobby fountain. They live in a shelter on the roof of the hotel at night, are escorted to the hotel fountain via the elevator each morning at 11:00 and then marched back to the rooftop for the evening at 5:00. Definitely a first in our experience! Onward to the Rock and Soul Museum where we learned some interesting stuff about Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam and Dave, the Mar-Kays, Booker T. and the MG’s, and lots more. Fun! Dinner was at the Blues City Café where the sign says “Put some ‘South’ in your mouth” - then BBKing’s Blues Bar for some good music and a bonus treat in the form of the Beale Street Flippers - some very strong and limber gymnasts!

Wish we had had more time to take in the National Folk Lore Museum and the Peabody Museum (with lots of oriental stuff dating back to the days of clipper ships.)

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Photos

NASHVILLE
the Parthenon

MEMPHIS
at the Blues City Cafe