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Cheesy posing
Us inside Sun Studio The journey from Chicago to Memphis was ok, the bus was not totally full and we stopped a few times so could stretch our legs. We jumped in a taxi from the station to our budget hotel, this time the budget hotel was good (not like the hole in Richmond). We just chilled out the first night as arrived late, watched some trashy TV as have not seen any TV for a while (which is a good thing!). I am so gutted, my trolley which I pull my rucksack around on is broken!!!! I will have to find another one soon else poor Thommo will have to help me carry my stuff.
The next day we walked to the Sun Studio from our hotel, Memphis was hot and we were a bit sweaty by the time we arrived. I found it a bit strange standing in the same room that many famous singer/song writers started out in or have recorded there. The tour was vary factual and we learnt a lot about the history of the studio. The best thing is that they run a free shuttle bus into the downtown area and on to Graceland. So we hopped on
Peabody Ducks
The only photo that came out, hard to get a snap as so many kids around the bus and went in search of some food on Beale Street. We ate in Alfred’s, yum yum pork chops, was such a nice meal. The restaurant had an outside patio where we could see most of the famous main cross section of Beale street. It was lucky Thommo applied his sun cream that day else he would have fried. We also visited the famous Peabody hotel to see the ducks leave the fountain and enter the lift. They have been trained to do this twice a day in time to music to please the customers and tourists, it is quite a spectacle. Afterwards we walked in the late afternoon heat back to our hotel.
The following day we walked back to Sun Studio to get the free shuttle to Graceland. Although neither of us are really Elvis fans there is no way we could visit Memphis and not take a trip to Graceland. I am really glad that we went. The house is amazing and although it is very busy with people doing the same thing you have enough time to go around at your own pace and see everything. The grounds are so large that there is
Inside Elvis house
Near the Jungle room even a stable and horses!!! The family are all buried in the grounds also, makes it a bit weird (still not that comfortable with taking photos of graves!) but also nice to be able to pay respects. I did not realise how many hit records he released, there are rooms full of platinum and gold records and his clothing. We also visited the car museum, he has some amazing cars and was famous for giving them to people. They have also managed to get both of his planes housed on site. The Lisa Marie plane is the most impressive in my opinion, they had to cut the wings off to transport it on the highway to the estate and museum grounds. After we got back to Sun Studio we walked back to our hotel in the heat again. That evening we jumped on the ‘trolley’, (a tram) to Beale street. We went to Pig on Beale to sample some more lovely pork, unfortunately I decided to go for the BBQ chicken (what a mistake). I thought that it would just be chicken that had been BBQ’d, how wrong, it turned out to be chicken with BBQ sauce and was too
Outside Elvis' house
Hot day! Massive house hot for my sensitive taste buds to handle, and they had poured Cajun spices all over fries and bread also! So, as any of you that know me can guess, I tried to force it down (and I mean really tried) but it was way too spicy for me and I had to leave near enough the whole meal. After that we ventured into the Blues Hall to catch some live music, and I could not taste anything that I was drinking for the whole evening! The music was really good and there was no cover charge (entrance fee) to get in. That night there was a tremendous thunder storm so we had to get a taxi back to the hotel.
The next day the rain was still going strong so we waited until late morning when it eased up a bit and made our way to the Civil Rights Museum. This museum is based at the site of the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King was assassinated. The museum was fascinating and reinforced some of the facts I have learnt at other Civil Rights museums. The front of the motel has be restored to how it look when
Sun Studio
Just caught the woman peeking out the side! the crime took place. It also houses many interesting displays regarding the crime and how the police and associated bodies went about solving the case of MLK’s assassination. After that we made our way down to the Mississippi river to take in the sheer size of it. That evening we had dinner at Club 152 and managed to catch the Elvis Factor show, it really was something and the performer (sorry I have forgotten his name) was outstanding. A holiday maker from England even got up on stage and had a go, not quite as good but still worth listening too. After the Elvis show a band came on, Rusty Lemon, who were actually very good. The thing that entertained me the most all night though was a young bloke’s dancing. I know it is mean to laugh at people but I really could not help it, and from the looks on other people faces they were amused by him too. He really did look like something out of a strip show but just not taking off the clothes!
Our timing was slightly out when planning the visit to Memphis as the day we had to leave was the
Fashion
Some of Elvis' clothes on display first day of Memphis in May, which by all accounts appears to be a fabulous festival which they hold every year. However, as you can well imagine all the hotels put their prices up by massive amounts. Was such a shame though, but at least we got to experience Memphis.
Onwards to Houston ….
P.S Thank you all for your comment and messages, its great to hear from people back home.
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anonymous
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Fantastic Fan
Made the mistake of mentioning Graceland over lunch - 30 minutes of Elvis worship later zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Still glad you enjoyed it