Walking In Memphis

Never having been to Memphis before I didn’t really know what to expect. Downtown was an easy walk to the river and the River walk was well designed for people wishing to relax and watch the sunset. Children had plenty of space to play and burn up that energy which they seem to have an abundance of.

Across from our hotel the “Sleep Inn” which was clean, kept clean by housekeeping and affordable was a park that was inviting. It seemed to be a site where many community events would take place. Trolley cars were being tested for their upcoming inaugural opening and they definitely add some charm to the area as does the Cobblestone Street they run on.. Unfortunately the day we were scheduled to leave, food trucks of all kind were setting up around the perimeter and if you read my last blog you’ll understand how disappointed I was.

Our first night we headed over to BB Kings House of Blues. We arrived before the house filled with patrons. We were able to sit, eat and listen to the music which was great. Special note, if you order the nachos be aware they were delicious however a single order was more than the 4 of us could eat especially with dinner on its way.
One person who made the evening so delightful was our waitress Tamiqa who was more than personable in fact she was downright funny and a joy to talk with.
Having just arrived from New Orleans where the music was awesome, this evening was no different and we were listening to some very fine singers and musicians.

The following day we explored the city a bit as well as the River walk again. Big Bass Pro Shop (an outdoorsman’s paradise) was on Joe’s list of sights to visit. Housed in a pyramid shaped structure which contains a waterfall, live fish ponds, hotel, restaurant, souvenir shop and everything people who enjoy the outdoors might want or need.
Afterwards we headed back to town to have lunch and found this little bit out of the way place Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken” and it very well could be!

We continued adding steps to our count and headed over to the National Civil Rights Museum the former Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated. The room and balcony where it took place has a large wreath to commemorate the date. Two cars from that period are parked outside which adds to the overall feeling. Not far from here is a wall with a mural depicting the sanitation workers who were striking for better pay and work conditions. MLK was there to support them.

There are many historic and notable buildings. One such is the Cotton Exchange Building. In its day it was where fortunes were made or lost as part of the Global cotton industry. Gothic style architecture at the corner of Front Street and Union Avenue it now is an apartment building. The floor on which trading took place is now a museum with exhibits and videos.

Also visited was Graceland for the Elvis fan in our group. Stopped at the wall where we all added our signatures.

I had done some research and had learned that an historic cemetery was less than 15 minutes away. Elmwood cemetery is on the National Register of Historic Places and once inside it’s easy to see why. Not your ordinary cemetery. Statues and gravesites that are remarkable for their ascetics as well as for the stories they tell. The most stunning among them is of “Wm Maxwell Rose”. Can be seen in my collections here in FAA

We finished our stay in Memphis with another evening at BB Kings and found ourselves in the middle of “Bike Night” on Beales Street. There was so much more to see and do that couldn’t be done in just 2 days so we will be going back to check on other sights like Mud Island River Park. A Swiss style Monorail takes you across the harbor to the park which features an amphitheater, museum with 18 galleries and much more. The following morning we headed on to Nashville. More on that in next week’s blog.
Till then keep on rambling.
Jim Cook