So, we arrive at our next destination, Memphis, TN.
Okay, I'll admit it, I know little to nothing about Memphis (beyond Elvis and 'Walking in Memphis') and it wasn't a place I was super excited to be visiting, how wrong was I!
We drive into the city to the sound of Marc Cohn and do a quick city tour of a few sights such as Beale St (whilst discovering the Bieber is in town and the city if full of tweens!).
Our hotel is pretty nice if unremarkable, and the first night I had opted in to a dinner at a famous barbecue place called 'Rendezvous'. So the night is hot and sticky and we get there and there is a big queue outside, I think this was because we had reserved a pretty huge section of the restaurant - sucks for those without a reservation! So we have a random buffet type meal of ribs which was pretty rank imo, and we've also paid to have free beer, but me being sick couldn't drink the damn stuff which was annoying so ended up going to the bar for a cheeky glass of wine. The atmosphere was pretty good though, we had a jukebox in our section and I attempted to liven up the atmosphere with a great double bill of the Venga boys and the Macarena (see evidence below of me attempting to do the dance). Didn't catch on, shame!
Next - Beale Street - Saturday night, one word, awesome! Okay so there is lots of ID checking this night, once to get onto Beale St, then to get in a bar and then for every drink, overkill? So, first stop is BB Kings blues club. The music is pretty cool but Naomi and I were just not feeling it, the bar was smallish and the Contikis there were all spread about and we were lacking the group fun we normally had. So after some dramas in getting Kate her ID (which had been 'borrowed'). Naomi and I decided to pace the street, first we found Janice, De and Trudy and had some hugs and hellos and they wanted to continue there wanderings so we parted ways. Now at this point, I still wasn't feeling in (lots of nights partying was starting to take its toll!) but this was the city where Naomi and I learned to work through the funk as it ALWAYS turns out to be a good night. First turning point, bumping into Mick who was in such a high and infectious mood! Second point, having a huge blue slushy cocktail thing in a big glass - strong! Last point, returning to BB Kings and finding we have taken over large sections of the dance floor! Brillaint night, only spoilt by tripping on cobbles on the way home and ripping the bottom of my dress, grr!
Drag myself out of bed the next day, determined to see stuff even if I didn't get to bed til after 3 (this was the start of a theme!). Firstly we went to Graceland. Now I'm not an Elvis fan, but it was kinda cool. The house was actually very small but it was decorated as it was when he died. There was also all his records, some costumes etc and LOTS of people. Tons. And they walk slowly!
Next we went to the Lorraine Hotel where MLK jr was shot, very sad. It's now a civil rights museum (closed when we were there as it was a Sunday morning) and there is a lady outside who has been protesting about the museum for over 20 years, she says MLK would have thought it a waste of money and the millions spent on it should have been spent on poor people. I think I agree with her, even if she is a little crazy. We also visited Sun Studios where Johnny Cash made music among others. I must admit, I didn't get of the bus here. The heat, humidity and lack of sleep got the better of me! Later that afternoon we also headed to see a baseball game, the Memphis Redbirds. Baseball is pretty dull though, so we enjoyed a bit of the buffet we had provided, watched a bit, I bought a foam finger and we headed back to chill.
Last night - included dinner which was okay but they decided to put this huge band on next to us which mean we couldn't really talk to each other. We had a few drinks in and Irish bar next door and again another in BB Kings but the groups I was with decided to call it an early (ish) night and prep ourselves for the next leg to New Orleans. And I'm glad I did. Do you know what they call Bourbon St (main party street in NO)? Beale St on crack. And that is VERY accurate description as I will further explain next time :)
Memphis, you were one of many surprises on my trip, so glad I got to visit you, may we meet again!
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