2011 - Tennessee - Memphis

Graceland

Yes - it really is black and yellow

What a wonderful weekend we have had here in Memphis!   Like most people, we started our visit to Memphis with a trip to Graceland.  We were hoping to see Elvis but he wasn't home.  Can't say I blame him - I wouldn't stay there either with all the crowds, noise, and commercial marketing of his life.  I think he would be horrified to see his whole life displayed on shirts, hats, postcards, etc.  But we joined the hundreds of other fans in touring the house and viewing all the displays.  Graceland struck us as a comfortable house to live in.  By today's standards isn't really a mansion although I am sure Elvis and his parents thought it was when compared to the two-room house they had in Tupelo.  The furnishing were a little gaudy and very 70s which is to be expected as it remains the same as when he died in 1977.  The green shag carpeting on the floor and ceiling of the "jungle room" is a definite indicator.  He lived rather simply with no servants except for a cook who came in daily.




After touring the house, we walked through exhibits of his many gold records, his stage costumes, and his two planes.









On Saturday evening we attended the Sunset Symphony held in Tom Lee Park on the banks of the Mississippi River. Only a couple weeks ago, the entire park was under several feet of water. Although the concert has been a tradition for 34 years, there was some doubt that the park would be dry in time to hold this year’s event. But it went off without a hitch. The concert started at 2 p.m. but we didn’t get there until almost 4. That was early enough as it was still over 90 degrees. We had planned to go into the park but there wasn’t much shade. So we stayed up on the bluff where we had not only a great view of the stage and excellent sound, but also a few trees and very welcome shade.We didn't dare drink much either since all the portti  pottie s were down below And we saved the $16 it would have cost to go into the park. The U. S. Navy Band Freedom started the festivities and were excellent. They were followed by a very energetic dance troupe that gave a wonderful performance in spite of the heat and humidity. Then came a commemorative Air Force Air Show with a fly over of several old war planes and then a very good aerial stunt flying show. At 7:30 the Memphis symphony orchestra took over with the very well-known soul bank, the BAR-KAYS joining them for the last hour.  At 9:30 the fireworks began and what a show! It was a great way to start the official summer season. 

 
After Mass on Sunday, we left our car in the church parking lot and walked to Beale Street.  Beale Street reminded us of Bourbon Street in New Orleans and Duval Street in Key West only more family-friendly.  No off-color humor in the bars, no obnoxious drunks in the street, just good food, good blues and rock and roll music, lots of people with young children, and the usual mixture of tourists and local people.



We visited the Rock and Soul Museum, $10 each with our military discount.  This museum created by the Smithsonian Institution, tells the story of musical pioneers from rural field hollers of the 1930s to Memphis' rock and roll hayday in the 70s to its continuing global influence on the music world.  There were some great exhibits and best of all, several old juke boxes with lots of old rock and roll.



We also went to the Peabody Hotel to see the famous Duck Walk.  According to the "Duck Master", the Peabody has had ducks in its lobby fountain since the mid-1930s.  The ducks live in the "duck house" on the roof.  At 11 a.m., they take the elevator down to the lobby where they march on a red carpet, of course, into the fountain.  They stay there until 5 p.m. when they march back to the elevator and return to their penthouse on the roof.  It is quite an event with the lobby packed with children and adults all waiting to see the Duck Walk.  It was a lot of fun.  P.S - drinks were very expensive with two drinks costing us $20.

 

As the temperatures were hovering around 100 degrees, the crowds were fairly small until later in the evening.  We left around 9 p.m. and the streets were really coming alive then. 

We went back to Beale Street on Monday but we waited until after 6 p.m.  I guess everyone was recovering from the holiday weekend as it was much quieter.  We planned to have dinner at the Rendezvous Restaurant, one of the best places to get Memphis ribs, but found out it is closed on Mondays.  Oh well, another excuse to return to Memphis.

We planned to leave Memphis today, heading to Branson, Missouri.  Unfortunately, one of our hydraulic levelers would not retract.  After working on it for several hours, Don finally forced the reluctant jack up but we will have to have it fixed before we can use it again.  At least we can drive the coach. But it was too late to leave so we are here for one more night.