Memphis

January 2008

On a very cold morning in January, Dave and his sisters Ali and Rachel left for the 6 hour drive up to Memphis. It had always been a dream to visit this city, considered the home of Blues music, not to mention Graceland. We spent 3 days there and had a blast - was definitely one of the coolest places we have ever been.....

Each night we checked out some awesome live music on Beale Street and ate at some of the famous establishments. We also visited Graceland and the Black Civil Rights Museum, housed in the original Lorraine motel, site of the assassination of MLK.

Downtown Memphis and the street trolleys

We ate breakfast at the famous "Miss Polly's Soul City Cafe"

Yep folks....them's "grits"..

The Lorraine Motel

Visiting the Black Civil Rights Museum was a very sobering experience. Built onto the original Lorraine Motel where the famous civil rights activist and his group were staying, they have preserved the motel room and the balcony where the assassins bullet struck Martin Luther King Jr in the cheek and jaw. Even the cars parked out front are the originals. U2 got it wrong (and Bono has even acknowledged this) but in their famous song "Pride" the lyrics should have said "early EVENING April 4, a shot rings out in the Memphis sky.....". MLK was killed at about 6pm in the evening. The museum was a really informative and moving experience to visit as well.

On the corner of Beale and 2nd is the Blues City Cafe - made famous in the movie "The Firm"

Rachel sitting where Tom Cruise and Ed Harris sat in "The Firm"

Standing on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi

Ali with Memphis city in the background