A trip was planned to see it. We would also spend time in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee.
Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m. we picked up Jerry, then Joe and Margaret and headed to Memphis as our first stop on this trip. We spent Sunday afternoon and Monday in Memphis.
Essentials of snacks and drinks
Brochures, maps and the computer used to plan our trip
A pit stop along the way
A sweet neighbor couple, the Tiptons, sent a "goody bag" along with us for delicious snacks!
Cracker Barrel in Alma, Arkansas was our breakfast stop.
Crossing the Mississippi River
Downtown Memphis
Beale Street, the street comparable to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, sounded very interesting. The place where the Blues music was the popular thing. Also, one of the tours, the Mojo Tour, left from Beale Street. We wanted to get our tickets for the next day; however, the ticket place was closed.
Parking was at a premium. There were several parking lots where you paid to park. Mel parked in one and then to pay for our parking spot, he needed to put $5 in the slot number. He mistakenly put it in the spot next to us. I wrote a note explaining and giving them my cell phone number and put it on the windshield. Fortunately, our car was not towed away when we returned.
Walking down Beale Street
In front of the Blues City Cafe, a barbecue place, was this fellow who told us how good their barbecue was. We ate there. He was correct! Delicious!!
The fellow who cooked our ribs
Apple dumpling with ice cream - Yum! Yum!
It was prepared in an iron skillet and was sizzling when brought to the table.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Southaven, a suburb of Memphis.
Breakfast time
Mel is watching the automatic pancake maker a new experience for us.
The lady who cooked our breakfast
We returned to Beale Street Monday for the Mojo Tour, sightseeing and good barbecue.
Where we were to purchase our tickets - it was still closed.
Since we had time before the ticket office opened and the tour, we decided to take a trolley ride. We had been told about it the day before. We could get a one-day pass for $3.50.
In order to help the bus driver we tried to have the correct change for our all-day pass.
Talk about change - this was what Joe had in his pocket!
Boarding the trolley
Mel finding out what we needed to do to purchase our pass
Another new experience - putting the money in the machine for our ticket. This just shows you are never too old to learn something new!
They just look like pros riding the trolley!
Mary, a homeless lady, who was on the trolley and gave us a information about various places while on the trolley. She was a very sweet woman who was down on her luck but had a great attitude!
After a trip up and down Main Street, we did find the ticket office open so our tickets could be bought.
The young lady taking care of our tickets
Our tour did not begin until 11:30 so we had time to ride the trolley around more of the city. The Pyramid was intended to be an arena for the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team; however, before any games could be played there, it flooded. Problems were so many that in order to repair it, the cost would be more than the building was worth. Hence, the unique building has set vacant for several years. Bass Pro Shops are now going to open a shop there after the city invested several million dollars to fix it.
The movie, I walk the Line, with Johnny Cash was filmed here.
The bus for our Mojo Tour - a tour of the city with music, singers, and stories about Memphis.
Our musician and tour guide
We were given musical instruments to play with the songs. Mel and Joe were given the tambourines while the rest of us had egg-shaped objects containing small fillers that we could shake.
The musical instruments
Jerry playing his musical instrument
Robert Church Park
The musician told a joke about this park. He said NBC peacock came from this park. Margaret said, "Really?" He laughingly told her, "No! but it makes a good story!" No other person had ever commented about this before.
Awning on the Peabody Hotel
Notice the duck emblem on the awning. Daily they have ducks known as the "Peabody ducks" that walk down a red carpet and ride up in a gold elevator to a fountain that has a pool area. For 6 hours they swim then the stroll is repeated back to their duck suite.
Cotton Exchange Museum
The monorail that Tom Cruise used in the movie, The Firm.
Government housing where Elvis lived
Sun Studio where Sam Phillips recorded stars such as Elvis, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Sam Phillips later started this recording studio so he could have his name on the door.
Brooks Museum of Art located in Overton Park
Levitt Shell - Elvis performed here
An apartment building where Johnny Cash lived and was used in his movie.
Stax Museum
The building from where James Earl Ray shot Martin Luther KIng, Jr.
Departing the bus after the tour
A singer on the street
Information about Beale Street
A statue of Elvis Presley
Waiting for the trolley to go to Central Barbecue for lunch
The method for ordering our food at Central Barbecue was different. We listened to the instructions given and for the special of the day.
The menu
Home-made potato chips
The Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was shot. Now known as the National Civil Rights Museum.
The white wreath marks where Dr. King was standing
The small window on the right from which James Earl Ray shot Dr. King
The cars used by Dr. King
Discussing the window
Graceland - home of Elvis Presley
Purchasing our tickets
After getting our audio headsets buses are boarded to ride across the street to Graceland
Getting our audio headsets
Elvis's home
Pictures in front of the car museum at Graceland
Lisa Marie's plane
Priscilla's jet
We had a great time in Memphis - so many sights to see and experience plus delicious food!
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