Memphis promised to be a good spot, and it cetainly delivered. After a late check in at the Elvis Presley Bvd RV park we met and chatted to some lovely people on the site next to us. They had a very small retro type caravan, and were happy to show how you can fit a bed, kitchen, toilet and shower and a dining setting into a van no more than 12ft long. Amazing use of space.
The morning saw us up bright and early to visit Graceland, the home of Elvis. It is located just 900m from the RV park, so we walked up there early to beat the crowds. This is the third most visited place in the USA, with around 600,000 visitors a year.
We registered and paid our entry fee, and were whisked away in a shuttle bus across the road to the mansion. We had audio sets which we could turn off and on at any point to get a commentary on what we were seeing, and it was great to be able to get the information personally delivered at the right moment that you were actually seeing the exhibits.
The house itself has not been altered from the time of Elvis' death in 1977. The furnishings, carpets and appliances are all still as they were when the Presley's lived there. It must have been the height of fashion in the 70's with green shag pile carpet and jungle prints and gawdy animal print fabrics on the lounges, but anyone who lived through that era will remember these things as very trendy at the time. The kitchen could have been the one that we found when we moved into our house in French's Forest - it was dated then - twenty years ago. The outbuildings contained hundreds and hundreds of exhibits, including gold and platinum records, costumes, posters, trophies etc. It was extremely well done, and we spent a long time just browsing through the various exhibits, listening all the while to the commentary on the headsets, and Elvis music wherever we turned. The grounds are beautifully kept, and the graves of Elvis and his parents and grandmother are in the reflection grove adjacent to the house.
We also toured through the car museum and the plane which the Presley's used for transport, plus the jet. In all, we spent three or four hours here, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was well worth visiting.
From there, we were directed to catch a local bus into the main part of town - Beale Street - the home of the Blues. Beale Street is full of clubs, bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and more - all dedicated to the Blues. There were blues bands playing in most of the establishments, and the atmosphere of the place was great. We stopped in to BB King's restaurant and had us a good old Southern lunch of BBQ ribs, chicken, salmon etc. Of course the meals are big enough to feed a small army, but undeterred, we waded in. Extra nakins were called for to clean up those who had opted for the ribs. And what flavours they manage to pack into those sauces. Sticky sweet and spicy with smoky BBQ flavours - YUM.
We then rode the trolley car system upand down Main Street and along the river front. The Mississippi River at this point is WIDE. It is extremely busy, with a cargo port handling large ships and barges.
Our trip on public transport back to our RV site was most interesting. We caught a number 4 bus for part of the journey, and had to transfer to a number 42 bus for the rest of the trip. The driver of the number 4 bus was so helpful to us that we were amazed. Not only did he show us where to get off his bus, he actually parked his bus, making the other passengers on board wait, then got off and walked with us to show us the stop for our connecting bus. He was so helpful, and refused our offer of a tip. I can just see that kind of service happening in Australia - Not.
Our second bus trip was also a hoot. Our driver, Barbara, recognised us as Aussies, and made up some quiz questions about what we had done in Memphis. She laughed and joked with us all the way to our destination, and even let us off between stops so we didn't have to walk far. Brian promised to send her a Koala and a calendar with the Opera House on it, so she gave him her address to mail it. It was wonderful service, and it topped off what has been a really good visit to Memphis.
Memphis is a relatively poor town by all observations. The housing we saw while touring on local buses was quite low quality, but the people here are so friendly and happy, and they certainly cannot do enough to help vistors enjoy their great city. I should not really be surprised - it has been the same wherever we have been, and I guess that is just another reason why we love the US. The people are amazing.
Tomorrow we head off - we would love to spend more time here, but alas we are on a deadline. We will head for Hot Springs - just outside Little Rock, Arkansas, where there is a lovely RV park right on the lake where we have made a reservation. The drive is relatively easy - just over three hours, and that will leave us about five hours the following day to Dallas - a day before we have to hand back the Motorhome.
Our RV trip is rapidly drawing to a close. Sadly we cannot extend.
Cheers,
It seems the more people have, the less satisfied they are, and the reverse is also true.
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