This is definitely a pilgrimage to Elvis and does a good job of depicting the man behind the fame. To think he bought this pad and 14 acres for around $100 grand. Not sure about his taste in home decoration though. OK if you like yellow vinyl walls, green shagpile carpet and draped brocade ceilings.
Quite a bizzare step back to the 70's. We were captivated by the whole experience as we were walked through his music and movie memorabilia, his collection of gold and platinum records and stage dress. Outside the house is a beautifully manicured meditation garden,....a powerful place including the last resting spot for 'the king'.
We explored some key attractions of downtown Memphis, including Beale Street which has a permanent throb of Blues music; and the spot where Martin Luther King met his fate from the barrel of his assassin's rifle. But one of the most intriguing and frivolous sights was the famous Peabody Duck March. Don't ask!!! This tradition dates back to 1930 where five ducks are kept in the penthouse of the Peabody Hotel. Every morning they are escorted down the elevator and waddle across a red carpet in the lobby where they decamp for the day in a stylish marble fountain.
Every afternoon the process is reversed, - all under the supervision of the duck master?? Sadly this pageant attracts thousands of visitors twice a day throughout the year, but at least it puts the hotel on the map!
After leaving the Mississippi cruise we hired a rental car and headed for Nashville. Accommodation was at a premium because Nashville was hosting many festivals and concerts including big ticket performances like Adele. The digs we ended up with were rumpy to say the least! We soon learnt that Nashville never sleeps. The downtown area is one large entertainment area based around country music. Not only was music blaring from the scores of honky-tonk bars, but fun spilled out on the streets, onto rooftops and along the riverbank. It is obviously a mecca for bachelorette parties. Hopefully a few of the brides-to-be will sober up before their big day.
Must say we enjoyed the creative spirit of the city's enjoyment, especially this self-propelled bar,....literally pedal while you partake!
If only we were still young and crazy enough to party until daybreak. Instead we went for a romantic riverside walk and called it a day around ten.
The next couple of days were nothing but an endurance test navigating the Interstates, leaving Tennessee, then crossing through North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia to Florida. Speeds around 120kph were normal and lane swapping was a necessary activity. After several hours of boring tarmac, we diverted our journey through the Smoky Mountain National Park, part of the southern Appalachian Mountains. In so doing we swapped this.....
for this........
As we came closer to the east coast we saw signs of the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, - debris and fallen trees, but only a patch on the carnage experienced by the people of North Carolina. Our first stopover in Florida was Orlando for the opportunity to be kids again......
And yes, among other things we got wet doing this.....
Now we are chilling on the beach at Fort Lauderdale until we are due to leave the shore and head through the Panama Canal. Not sure about the internet connection while at sea, so it will be a lottery where the next blog comes from.
Note to all hurricanes: Stay away!!
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