Graceland

The storm has passed on and the air is fresher but as we walk downtown we can see the damage caused, lots of branches of trees are down. We’re eager to get to the Rock and Soul museum early as today we are going to Graceland.

The drive takes about half an hour, just time for us to soak up some video of the King himself, playing music. We check in and collect our tickets and get booked on to a tour which is in an hour and a half, we’re both a bit disgruntled, what should we do till then? We’re directed to the large halls of exhibits, costumes, life story, cars, motorbikes, fairground stalls, the halls of exhibits go on and on, no need to worry what to do at all. I do notice that all the costumes on show are from when Elvis was a young, slender man!

Dinning Room at Graceland

Reception Room at Graceland

It’s time to board the shuttle bus to take us to Graceland, we’re no sooner sat down on it before we’re going through the famous music gates and up to the mansion. What strikes me first is that the house itself is not that big. The tour is all with ipads and headphones, the living room with its 15-foot sofa, the dining room all laid out for dinner, the kitchen remodelled in 1970. The tour continues through more exotic rooms a basement den with mirrors on the staircase ceiling, a bar and at that time state of the art TV and music system, on to the Jungle room a very exotically decorated room with tall carded chairs, green shag pile carpet on the floor and ceiling and animal statues. Finally, the Racket Court with its bar and piano where he recorded his final 2 songs, the office space, swimming pool and memorial garden where Elvis, his mum, dad and grandma are all buried and a plaque to his twin brother who was still born. It’s been fascinating, yes there was obviously money spent here on the house but the overall impression was of a much-loved family home. Finally, there are his airplanes to view, gold plated bathroom sinks, leather and suede huge armchairs and a bed, flying Ryanair will never be the same again!

Racket Court Room & piano

The trip back to Sun Studios is again accompanied by more Elvis film clips, we collect our tickets and again we have an hour and a half to wait. We’ll go and get something to eat round here! Well, it is Sunday of the Memorial Day holiday and nothing is open except McDonalds, the girl serving us has the thickest southern drawl accent I’ve heard yet, the only thing I understand are the numbers she shouts every couple of minutes. Somehow, we manage to order.

The Sun Studio tour is the bit Dave has been most looking forward to and although it is only 2 rooms, it’s packed with memorabilia and the tour guide is excellent with a very good sense of humour and lively delivery style.

Singing in Elvis's Mike

Finally, tonight blues music on Beale Street, we start in the Juke Joint, where a band are on the tail end of their set but they’re really rocking the joint. On to the Rum Boogie Café for typically southern fare, BBQ chicken, beans and salad and of course live music. There’s a 7-piece bad set up playing blues soul music, Ride around Sally, Soul Man, the tour of our youth continues. The vocalist has a great falsetto voice and the guitarist, the biggest set of teeth you’ve ever seen all constantly smiling and their trousers, huge baggy pants in pink or cream! After, this it’s time to just join in with the locals and cruise up and down Beale Street soaking up the atmosphere, listening to the music and ogling the folks and how they’re dressed, nothing it seems is too short, too brief, too tight whatever shape your body is!!!