Day 6: Memphis

Robinsonville MS to Memphis TN

This morning we had to provide our own breakfast, so we thought ahead, and from pilferings from yesterday's breakfast, we put together something to get us started, which was 8:30. We took I-69 and I-55 north across the Tennessee state line and onto Elvis Presley Blvd until the turn into the parking lot. We arrived at 9:30 and had made the mistake of not buying tickets ahead of time, so we had to wait in line -- we got the platinum tickets for the mansion tour including the airplane and car tours. Then we had to wait in line for the shuttle bus. By the time we got to the mansion, it was about 11:00.

There was a very good self-guided tour with an iPad interactive video. Lots of hagiography.

They do manage to get thousands of people through a relatively small house -- on the scale of today's McMansion. It took about 2 1/2 hours to see everything, so with the AAA discount, we could justify the expensive admission. By 12:30, we were through. Back in the car, we continued north on Elvis Presley Blvd into the black section of town. Our mission was to find authentic BBQ ribs, and they were at A&R Bar-B-Que -- just what I imagined and hoped for. We both got pork ribs with the sweet tomato-based sauce, french fries, coleslaw, fried okra, and onion rings.

 

On to the Pink Palace Museum, the city's excellent extensive museum of Memphis history and natural history in the mansion that was built by Charles Sanders, the founder of the Piggly Wiggly supermarket chain based here in Memphis. He went bankrupt and never lived in it -- the city took possession and turned it into a museum.

At 4:30, we drove west into downtown and drove by Sun Studio at 706 Union Avenue, where Elvis and others recorded. Unfortunately, it was too late to tour but I did want to see the building.

We checked into the Hampton Inn a block from Beale Street, the main drag of restaurants, bars, and blues music. In search of tonic water for the anticipated gin and tonics, we walked down Beale Street from Second to Third Streets.

Back to the hotel at 5:30, we enjoyed our G&Ts and rested. After dark, I walked over to the Peabody Hotel and then a couple of blocks down Beale Street to soak up the atmosphere. Back to the hotel and to bed.