Tennessee

MEMPHIS
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Memphis, Tennessee

	As for Memphis, we were pleasantly surprised.  After a long day of driving (Memphis is about 3 ½ hours West of Nashville, which is about 3 ½ hours North of Atlanta), we arrived at Holli, Mel and Sam Payne’s house.  They had pizza, beer, and the Presidential debate ready for us, as well as our very own guest house; we certainly made the right decision to spend a few days in Memphis.  The next morning we went on a run and then hit the National Civil Rights Museum and Graceland.  Everyone should visit each of these places at some point – they are both amazing in their own right.   

	The National Civil Rights Museum is located at the Lorraine Motel, the site where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the principal voices of the Civil Rights Movement, was tragically and fatally shot in 1968, on the balcony of Room 306 and 307.  The motel has been preserved to look as it did at that historic moment, and is actually part of the museum, as is the boarding house across the street where James Earl Ray confessed to having fired the shot that killed MLK.  A number of powerful and interactive exhibits in the museum trace the Civil Rights Movement from its origins through to today.  Not only do these exhibits leave you in complete awe of those who contributed to the movement and who sacrificed so much to obtain equality and rights already guaranteed to them (to everyone) under the United States Constitution, but they also inspire you to cherish these rights – and our freedom – and not to take them for granted.  We certainly came away feeling as if we should be doing much more to ensure that people today, both in this country and around the world, enjoy these basic inalienable rights and principals on which our country was founded. 
  
	As for Graceland, it is an entirely different story.  In one word, it is awesome; in two, big pimpin’.  As just a few examples, the “Jungle Room” has green shag carpeting on the floor, walls and ceiling (putting a new twist on “wall to wall carpeting”).  The “TV Room” has mirrors covering the ceiling and walls, three television sets (which Elvis put in after he heard President Johnson had three televisions going at once in the oval office), bright yellow and navy blue velvet couches, a yellow leather bar, with matching yellow leather stools, among other things.  Someone should definitely decorate a NY or LA hotel with Graceland in mind.  The tour covers the mansion and other buildings on the estate. You can also tour a museum housing Elvis’ classic car collection, one housing his personal items, including guitars, and his 747 private plane called Lisa Marie, as well as a smaller one called the Hound Dog II. 

	After Graceland, we hit Beale Street in downtown Memphis, which is famous for its live jazz and blues, BBQ and Cajun cooking.  We chose BBQ at Blue City Café  (apparently, Corky’s BBQ is also excellent, although we did not get there) and checked out a few blues clubs, then hit a late movie in Peabody Place, which is right around the corner.  All in all, we liked Memphis and Tennessee quite a bit.  One other thing worth mentioning about Tennessee is that there is an abundance of McDonalds, BBQ or firework factories throughout the state (if you are interested).
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TENNESSEE
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Civil Rights Musuem
Memphis: Tennessee
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