The Trip Continues, Memphis, TN

Update on Day 1, Jacksonville

I'm pleased to announce that on October 28th Elizabeth and Cody Sims had a 5lb 2oz baby girl. They are all healthy and happy. I look forward to meeting my new grand niece.

Day 4, Memphis, TN. Today we traveled from Huntsville to Memphis, home of Elvis. 

We checked into our lovely AirBnB on Adams street within blocks of Beale Street "Home of the Blues" 

That evening we drove over to Beale Street to have dinner, explore and go on a Ghost tour. After dropping my charges off at the Blues City Cafe I found parking in a nearby parking garage. While in the garage I took a picture of where I left the car so I could find it later. I texted this picture to my son Austin, who visited Memphis during a college bowl game, and commented on the aroma and patina of the parking garage. Austin responded "That's how Beale street does!" 

After taking a look at Beale Street I found my group already seated at the Blues City Cafe. The cafe was bustling with quite a diverse group of diners and servers. I could hear some of the cooks in the back singing. I guess everyone is a singer in Memphis. The restaurant promises to "Put some South in your Mouth"  and features ribs. 

I decided to try out the sides and was not disappointed. A trio of turnip greens, seafood gumbo and soul stew. Yummm! This filled me up for our next adventure that evening. A spooky ghost tour of downtown Memphis.

We took the Haunted Memphis Walking Ghost Tour. I was told that the tour happened rain or shine, moon shine that is. 

But before the tour Jan and Patty sat at the bar at the Blues City Band Box next door to the Blues City Cafe. Mark, Jenny and I waited outside.

We met for the beginning of the tour at Alfred's On Beale. It was not raining. By the time we got to our first scary spot the rain had moved in. But just like the post office "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night" will stop us from experiencing the supernatural. 

 

Day 5, Graceland.  The Home of Elvis Presley. We drove this far we had to visit. 

But first breakfast. If you are in Memphis and looking for a place for breakfast try out Sunrise Memphis. Their claim of the best breakfast in Memphis is not an exaggeration. They served a really good meal and the coffee was hot and plentiful. 

After a hearty breakfast we headed over to Graceland, us and a whole lot of other Elvis fans. Some really big fans.  

While there were a lot of people there in looking at the place I'm sure that they are capable of handling many more. 

I'm not sure who Elvis's interior designer was but it was ....something. Eclectic might be one way to describe it. I think if Elvis wanted it he bought it.

And he bought a lot of stuff.

Day 5, still in Memphis.

The Lorraine Motel and the Civil Rights Museum. 

This is a very comprehensive museum of the generational struggle for civil rights in the United States. 
 

But even here in this solemn location there was still a struggle going on. Across the street there was a protester committing on the amount of money spent on the museum. 





Coming up next Hot Springs.