The Saturday was travel to Memphis day. We departed around 11.15 and checked in to our flight. Not much going on at the airport where we didn't get into the Delta lounge as we were on a domestic flight.
We arrived in Memphis around 3 ish and took a cab to the hotel. We were pleasantly surprised to find the hotel was very near Beale St and a lovely hotel too. An added bonus for Maurice was that we were right across the street from the Gibson guitar factory - which did guided tours! After some difficulty getting the room key card to work the lift, we were helped by a guy we later found out was Alonso Mourning who is a well known ex basketball player. He was getting a civil rights award that evening.
We decided to just explore Beale St and ended up in a very busy BB Kings where an act had just finished. We ended up staying there once we had a few beers and watching two acts - a young guy called Will Tucker and then the BB King All Stars. Both were excellent. Will Tucker was only 17!
We had ribs 'n. hickey before heading back to the hotel for a relatively early night around 10.
The next day we had booked the Gibson tour for 12. So we had breakfast a local cafe first. The tour was interesting lasting about 45 minutes or so.
After that we went and got the tram around the loop which took us along the riverside and then we got off at the National Museum of Civil Rights. This was a very moving tour which was extremely interesting and informative.
After a short break back at the hotel we went back to BB Kings but I went back after food around 8.30 and Maurice went back out. It was not such a great night at BBs things were very quiet although there were good acts again. There were a couple of drunks who kind of spoiled it and just danced randomly in front of the stage.
The next day we walked up to Sun Studio and after purchasing the 11.30 tour we went to local cafe The Trolley Stop, and had a pizza breakfast! The Sun studio tour was very interesting and lots of pics were taken. After that we got the free shuttle to Graceland. A good bit smaller than expected but none the less over the top and actually rather moving. Elvis had been very happy there and it was most definitely a home for him and his family and vast array of friends.
We took the shuttle back to the Rock and Soul Museum and after a wee break in the hotel we then went to the Peabody Hotel to see the ducks parade at 5. Bonkers! We then finished off our day at the Rock and Soul Museum. A busy day and very interesting.
The last evening was spent once again in BBs with ribs as our food of choice!
The All stars were playing again. A good evening for our last one.
Impressions of Memphis: certainly the downtown area is a bit seedy. There is plenty to do and see but historic Beale St is now pretty trashy and full of large groups out on party nights. The exception was BBs on the Saturday night. Graceland is quite moving to visit - Elvis was and still is hugely popular. Seeing his grave and those of his parents and grandmother was very sad however. Grandma outlived them all! The museum of civil rights was very moving and the history of segregation and racial violence in the south really worth knowing more about.
