Memphis...Tennessee.....

We left Missouri on Thursday, 13th June and drove into Memphis, Tennessee that afternoon....

It was really humid so after we checked into the hotel, we went and had a swim in the pool ....again we had it to ourselves....what does this mean??

The view of Downtown Memphis, from our room

Feeling refreshed we walked to Downtown Memphis, towards Beale St...which is where most of the live music is played.  It was a Thursday afternoon and so quiet.....but really pretty.

There were quite a few people on Beale St and a few live bands getting ready to start playing, so we grabbed a beer and sat down to listen. Stu was wearing his WC Eagles shirt and this bloke came up to us and said in a very Pommy accent..."Go the Dockers!".  Bloody hell...it was a Pommy couple who live in Rockingham who were out on holidays.  So we had a beer with them....but sadly couldn't listen to their Aussie accents, as despite the fact they'd been in Australia for 20 years, they hadn't lost their English accents.  It's always nice to speak to other Australians when you are away from home for so long...the accent can be very comforting!
We moved on to the next live band, and these guys were really cool....and talented...

We could've listened to them for hours..the beer was cheap, seats comfortable....and we kept pinching ourselves..."Jen and Stu are in Memphis, Tennessee..listening to live music"!! We couldn't believe it!
As the beer was flowing a little too quickly (for some) we went for a walk around the area....the place was starting to get busier as the sun was starting to go down.....

By this time we were ready for dinner ..we thought about some fried strawberries...NOT

so went into a bar where "would you believe", Jerry Lee Lewis was playing!  So we sat and listened to him while we had a delicious meal...and we Skyped Stu's mum who was dancing along with Stu!! The whole of Beale St was such a buzzing place, great atmosphere, warm night, weird and wonderful people....we loved it!  The next morning Stu got up early and took some great pictures of Memphis while the sun was coming up.....

 We checked out of the hotel and made our way to......GRACELAND, GRACELAND....MEMPHIS TENNESSEE...

I really had no interest in going, wasn't an avid Elvis fan, but Stu was keen.  It turned out to be really, really good. You got on a bus and were driven across the road to Graceland, were given a set of headphones and made your own way around the house...(some areas were restricted) while listening to the commentary.  Lisa Marie spoke occasionally as did Priscilla and it was a great insight into the man.  The furnishings were left the same and you could look into the rooms and take pictures without touching stuff.

Graceland

Front living room

The kitchen

Another lounge room

The gaudy poolroom complete with pleated ceiling!

The Jungle Room

The Jungle Room

The back of Graceland

His many gold records, costumes, movie posters were on display.  He was also very generous with his money and donated to numerous charities, which continues today.

 We also visited his gravesite, which is at Graceland and where his twin brother,  mother and father are also buried.  Everyone was very respectful and it was a quiet, peaceful place.

After hopping on the bus again, we were driven back across the road to look at the Elvis car museum...I'm not into cars and motorbikes, but he had plenty of cool cars and bikes that he bought for himself and others.....

the pink Cadillac he gave to his mum

the two private planes he had....one for himself and one for his tour manager, so he could fly ahead to get ready for the next gig.....

It was a great way to spend a few hours and I would really recommend going there.....for some light entertainment.  There were some avid fans there...this was one lady's bag, while her husband had the Elvis shirt on.......

and there were some wannabees.....

I know I shouldn't...BUT....I have taken to spotting "Kath and Kel" lookalikes (from Kath and Kim) while on our travels......we spotted them at Graceland (they were about the same age as K and K) and I will continue to seek more out.....

So we went to GRACELAND, GRACELAND,MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE....loved it and now....Elvis has left the building...thankyou very much!