My boy friend and I were in Memphis and just got back. The whole time I was there this song was stuck in my head. We drove by the Airport and saw a plane land but it wasn't raining. Memphis is a pretty poor city as a whole. The streets are ripped up and everyone asks for money on the streets and lock your cars type of thing-- But driving long the river there are many beautiful shops and homes with that huge bridge over the Mississippi River with all the lights on it off in the distance. Beale street where they have all the blues bars is the coolest. Beale street also has a lot of BBQ joints and Southern Soul food places. Like it would of looked 50 years ago. You can walk up and down for hours listening to the music coming out from all the different places. The restaurants all try and get you come and eat at theirs but its all part of the culture of the area. Then there is the Mississippi River with the river boats. There is indeed a soulful feel to the city and of course everyone loves Elvis. There are even pink taxi's! Graceland is WELL worth the visit although you have to remember when Elvis bought it in 1957 it was 12 miles from downtown Memphis and a very rural area. Once Elvis made it home and they named the street in front after him the area really grew up and is actually pretty ghetto. But even if you look at video of Graceland from 1970 the street out in front was already pretty busy and then it keeps on growing up with stuff like "The Elvis Presley Motel" because people would come and congregate from all over and even they needed to eat and sleep. Graceland use to have a lot more acres to it which were sold off at some point. But Graceland the Mansion itself and the grounds and Garden where Vernon, Elvis, his mother and Grandmother are buried has all been left as it was in the 1970's. The last time it was even decorated was like in 1972 or something. It's actually an amazing place to visit and well worth the 30 bucks plus 10 bucks parking. Key is to take your time going through. Go on an early morning week day. They open the Graves to the public for free from 7:30 -8:30 in the morning for the people who can't afford the tours. There are audio tours and many things to see and hear about. I really enjoyed the culture of Beale street and it really did bring me back in time!! It was also neat seeing the Delta ( flood lands of the Mississippi River) outside the city where everyone worked in the fields and I guess that is where the "Delta Blues" originated from everyone coming into the city at night to go listen to or play the blues or ragtime.. I went in December and they had Graceland how Elvis use to like it at Christmas. But it was cold. I would rather be in Memphis in that hot southern heat to get the full effect of old Memphis. Especially if you are a northern girl like me. But I have traveled all over and I would reccommend making a 10 day trip spending 4 days in New Orleans, 2 days driving up through Birmingham and Montgomery for the history and then 2 days in Memphis to do Graceland, Beale street and the Delta one day for plan travel or car.
Oh, and it is just a 100 miles drive from Memphis to a town called Tulupeo, MS (I hope I have that right) where Elvis was born and it is a pretty drive. I love the south.!
Oh, and it is just a 100 miles drive from Memphis to a town called Tulupeo, MS (I hope I have that right) where Elvis was born and it is a pretty drive. I love the south.!
My boy friend and I were in Memphis and just got back. The whole time I was there this song was stuck in my head. We drove by the Airport and saw a plane land but it wasn't raining. Memphis is a pretty poor city as a whole. The streets are ripped up and everyone asks for money on the streets and lock your cars type of thing-- But driving long the river there are many beautiful shops and homes with that huge bridge over the Mississippi River with all the lights on it off in the distance. Beale street where they have all the blues bars is the coolest. Beale street also has a lot of BBQ joints and Southern Soul food places. Like it would of looked 50 years ago. You can walk up and down for hours listening to the music coming out from all the different places. The restaurants all try and get you come and eat at theirs but its all part of the culture of the area. Then there is the Mississippi River with the river boats. There is indeed a soulful feel to the city and of course everyone loves Elvis. There are even pink taxi's! Graceland is WELL worth the visit although you have to remember when Elvis bought it in 1957 it was 12 miles from downtown Memphis and a very rural area. Once Elvis made it home and they named the street in front after him the area really grew up and is actually pretty ghetto. But even if you look at video of Graceland from 1970 the street out in front was already pretty busy and then it keeps on growing up with stuff like "The Elvis Presley Motel" because people would come and congregate from all over and even they needed to eat and sleep. Graceland use to have a lot more acres to it which were sold off at some point. But Graceland the Mansion itself and the grounds and Garden where Vernon, Elvis, his mother and Grandmother are buried has all been left as it was in the 1970's. The last time it was even decorated was like in 1972 or something. It's actually an amazing place to visit and well worth the 30 bucks plus 10 bucks parking. Key is to take your time going through. Go on an early morning week day. They open the Graves to the public for free from 7:30 -8:30 in the morning for the people who can't afford the tours. There are audio tours and many things to see and hear about. I really enjoyed the culture of Beale street and it really did bring me back in time!! It was also neat seeing the Delta ( flood lands of the Mississippi River) outside the city where everyone worked in the fields and I guess that is where the "Delta Blues" originated from everyone coming into the city at night to go listen to or play the blues or ragtime.. I went in December and they had Graceland how Elvis use to like it at Christmas. But it was cold. I would rather be in Memphis in that hot southern heat to get the full effect of old Memphis. Especially if you are a northern girl like me. But I have traveled all over and I would reccommend making a 10 day trip spending 4 days in New Orleans, 2 days driving up through Birmingham and Montgomery for the history and then 2 days in Memphis to do Graceland, Beale street and the Delta one day for plan travel or car.
Oh, and it is just a 100 miles drive from Memphis to a town called Tulupeo, MS (I hope I have that right) where Elvis was born and it is a pretty drive. I love the south.!
Oh, and it is just a 100 miles drive from Memphis to a town called Tulupeo, MS (I hope I have that right) where Elvis was born and it is a pretty drive. I love the south.!