The Martin's Blog

June 1, 2014 – Our “real” anniversary is on June 8th but we decided to celebrate in Memphis TN on our trip back from Katy TX to OH.  After a 9 hour drive, we arrived in Memphis about 4pm and went to the TN Welcome Center on the Mississippi River and then did the River Walk.

Unfortunately, Mud Island and its Mississippi River museum were closed.  Flags are on south end of island.

We had “Soul” Burgers for dinner at Earnestine & Hazel’s, a former brothel, then danced to the juke box

We then drove to Beale Street – home of the “Blues”

Had a drink at Jerry Lee Lewis’s club where we were entertained by an Elvis impersonator

We stayed the night at a nice Days Inn right next to Graceland

June 2, 2014 – started the day with a tour of Graceland.  It is an audio tour and you only get to see the inside of the first floor.

Living room

Jungle room

Music room

Pool room

Paintings on display

His racquetball/fitness center has been converted for a nice display of record awards and costumes

Meditation Garden

Plane named after Elvis Presley’s daughter

1973 Stutz Blackhawk in Elvis’s auto museum – my favorite and the one he drove the day he died, August 16, 1977 at 42

Helen’s favorite

In the afternoon we went to the National Civil Rights Museum, which is located adjacent to the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated

We then did the half hour trolley loop of downtown Memphis, riding on two different trolleys

We arrived at the Peabody Hotel about 4pm and relaxed with a drink by the fountain as we waited for the “march of the famous Peabody ducks.”

The ducks live in a penthouse on the roof, come down the elevator at 11am sharp and spend the day in the fountain

At 5pm sharp they march back to the elevator on a red carpet to the music of the “King Cotton March”

This is what you call frivolous nonsensical tourism!  Note the Duck Master following the ducks

Catfish and ribs dinner at the Blues City Café on Beale St.  Our waitress was Serbian and her Serbian friend who worked in the gift shop was from the same small town where Helen was born – Ub, Serbia.  She called Helen last weekend and relayed information from her parents about the condition of Helen’s grandfather’s house and estate.  It is indeed a “small world”!

We then had a drink and danced to a band in the Blues City Café Club, again walked Beale St listening to music and people watching and ended at B. B. King’s Blues Club

Helen is telling people she slept with Elvis – this next picture is proof – it was in our motel room!

It was another memorable anniversary celebration!!!