Graceland, Memphis - Tennessee

Monday 28 July 2008

With a packed lunch, a car full and Elvis playing 24/7 on the radio we drove 3 odd hours to Memphis. Home of Elvis. Once again another surreal feeling washes over me. We are in Memphis, and about to go to Graceland. Home of Elvis. Elvis!

Ashlen is absolutely in love with Elvis. She really enjoys his music and was stoked to be going to Graceland. However, half way through the house tour she burst into inconsolable tears as she wanted to meet Elvis but couldn't because he was dead and she didn't want him to be dead!

We started off walking out of the car park into a building very much like going to the movies. Except walking instead of walking into a theater , you walk outside to where all these souvenir shops are and other Elvis exhibits are as well as the long line to catch the shuttle up to Graceland. The funny thing about this is Graceland is just across the road. I guess they do it to control how many people enter the house at one time. The security is pretty tight too. I don't think you could blink in this place without someone counting how many times you do it!

Well Graceland is just as it looks! (Imagine that?! LOL) And it is set on a huge property in the middle of pretty run down streets which is a real shame, because you can imagine in it's hey day it would not have been like that.
Going into the house was like entering a time warp. It is exactly how Elvis left it with a variety of decoration throughout the house that shows a couple of era's - like the 50's 60's and 70's! The lounge and dining area were very formal and classy compared to another lounge room that was decorated in green shag pile carpet. We especially loved the basement (why don't we have these?) with it's very kitch bar area and pool table.
Outside was adorned with stables, a swimming pool and a racquetball court that apparently cost $200,000 to build. But now it holds many of his awards and gorgeous one piece bedazzled jumpsuits. Very cool indeed.
Next was Elvis's car collection and boy did he have some absolutely gorgeous cars that any girl would love to go driving in LOL And the $$$$ he spent on them - obviously he was raking it in! Alot of them had the original receipts that he paid for them, some were passed on or sold but somehow made their way back to the collection after his death. What impressed us the most though was his plane - The Lisa Marie. All up he spent a million bucks buying a decking out this plane and I'm telling you I want a refund on my plane tickets! I too want a plane with gold encrusted sinks and seatbelts and I too want a lounge and bed on the plane - and I really don't mind the velour look. Can't win 'em all I guess!

Next stop on the agenda is the famous Sun Studios where Elvis recorded his first single. We didn't end up going on the tour but we had a lemonade and basked in the glory of the atmosphere as we looked at old photos and read old newspaper articles about times gone by. Aurora was thrilled to see U2's photos and memorabilia there too!

It was also the day that we crossed into another state - Arkansas, via crossing the Mississippi River, the second longest river in the States . So, so far the states we've been to are California, Tennessee and Arkansas (for a split second).

Check out these gorgeous jumpsuits!

At the gates of Graceland.

Out the front of the mansion, Aurora is ready to do the audio tour.

Roar - the jungle room - the kid's favourite, complete with shag pile and tikki's.

The lounge room - very formal. Loving the Peacock stained glass windows.

Ashlen - grieving :(

Elvis's MG - For you Matt!

Sun Studio

Driving across the state.

The Mighty Mississippi!

On the drive back to Nashville we came cross the Casey Jones Village, you know that Casey Jones song?! Well I don't exactly but it keeps haunting me tune wise. We stopped here to stretch our legs and discovered Ashie burning up. A pharmacy nearby provided us with medication and her fever subsided the next day thankfully.