My trip to Memphis-Tupelo-Nashville 2005

[Eve]

1st day:

coming from all directions, the journey?s participants are gathering at the frankfurt airport. at 11.45 AM the travel finally starts. the flight is quiet and pleasant, after a stopover and change of planes in charlotte we arrive in nashville according to our schedule.

the bus already waiting for us, we decide to have a short break at ?wendy?s? before we head for memphis. rather tired we arrive at the hotel, grab our keys and off we go.

[Eve]

2nd day:

this time, the hotel is located a bit more downtown than last time, right in mainstreet, where also the ?trolley? is driving ? memphis? little streetcar.

the first topic on our schedule is GRACELAND where elvis lived from 1957 until his death on august 16th, 1977.

[Eve]

the tour is booked, a quick photo of the group is taken, everybody jumps into the shuttle, and we?re passing graceland?s famous gate. for many in our group it is the first time to do so! we visit the main building as well as all other ones and the meditation-garden. this time there are participating in the tour also a number of non-elvis-fans, but they as well look at everything with a great deal of interest. we only have 3 hours left, way too little for visiting the museum, the car-museum and the plane. as we intend to visit the shops as well, some of us decide to return for another visit.

[Eve]

the next stop is the famous restaurant ?marlow?s? where had scheduled a meeting with bill burk (the local newspaper?s ? the MEMPHIS PRESS SCIMITAR - award-winning journalist), whose job it was to report about elvis, resulting from numerous meetings and interviews with elvis was a close friendship. burk accompnaied elvis during his first flight ever and helped him to overcome his fear of flying. over the years a close realationship developped between elvis and him. burk is an acknowledged insider within the elvis-community who accompanied the king right from the start, which makes him a highly welcome guest in international elvis-conventions in the entire world.

[Eve]

beyond any dispute even from elvis-experts? side is his high level of knowledge which he has displayed in several books about elvis ? especially in his trilogy ?early elvis?. in addition to being an author, burk is the editor of the international, memphis-based magazine ?elvis world? (info courtesy of EPG). we enjoy our meal before bill tells a couple of stories about elvis and we take the opprtunity of asking questions. unfortunately he has very little time at his hand but does not miss to offer his books for sale.

[Eve]

the next stop should have been the first house elvis ever bought, at ?audubon drive?. having returned to our bus, unfortunately we have to learn that it?s owners, the freemans, split up, and there won?t be any sightseeing tours any more. the house is due for sale next spring. a real pity!

[Eve]

there follows a sightseeing-tour in memphis in search of elvis, starting with the ?overton shell?. this is a small open air theatre where elvis performed his first major concert ever on july 30th, 1954. unfortunately, here as well we do not have any access to the stage or backstage, the entire are being fenced in, it?s future being uncertain. we pass by khang rhee?s karate-studio ? the native-born korean used to run a martial-arts studio. rhee has been a ?grandmaster? of pasarya karate and came to meet elvis when becoming one of his karate instructors in the 70s (courtesy of EPG). the next stop is the ?midsouth coliseum? where elvis appeared a couple of time on stage as well. on the same area ?libertyland? is located the rollercoaster of which elvis loved to ride.

[Eve]

Nach einer Pause geht es zum gemeinsamen Dinner in die Bealestreet zu
Alfred's. Da war die Musik so laut, dass man gleich nach dem Essen das
Weite suchte. Es gibt hier auch reichlich Souvenirl?den, die alle noch
durchforscht werden wollten.

[Tommy]

Eve thank you for the nice stories and the great photos!

[Eve]

3rd day:

The rock & soul museum displays the history of blues in sound and vision. following we attended a guided tour through the ?gibson guitar factory? which increases the guitar-aficionados? pulse-rate. there is demonstrated anything from the instruments? manufacturing to their shipping.

[Eve]

between the two tours we have some time left for paying a visit to the famous ?schwab?s department. since its construction in 1876 there have never been made any modifications. a store in the typical southern style. at the end of ?beale street? there is a statue of elvis. of course, there as well souvenir photos are being shot.

[Eve]

the next topic in our schedule are the SUN studios where elvis recorded his very first record. but also many other famous musicians started their career at SUN?s, such as the likes of BB king, ike turner, jerry lee lewis, carl perkins, johnny cash, roy orbison, conway twitty and charlie rich. in the showroom there is still on display one of the original microphones elvis used, all other equipment has been replaced.

[Eve]

now we are offered the choice between a ride on a mississippi steamboat and a shuttletour to graceland. of course, I do take my choice in favour of graceland. the shuttles arrives within minutes and soon we are back one more time in our beloved graceland. some of us now visit elvis? former plane, the ?lisa marie?, the ?sincerely?-museum or the ?car-museum?. other ones take advantage of the fact that the postoffice opened its doors and get themselves countless postcards, to be sent to their beloved ones back home. in the meantime, our stomachs call for some food, the break is highly welcome, we are full and ready to continue our tour.

[diamond]

Eve Thank You for showing those magnificent photos, they really are something to treasure

[Dovey]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful pix's and story Eve.... you have many treasures and memories... really awesome. Dovey

[tilly01]

Hi eve

those are great pics it makes me all the determined to go to memphis one day

Tilly

Hope to see you in the chat room tonite

[Tommy]

Thank you Eve

[Diane]

Thank you Eve, I feel like I've been on a voyage to Memphis and Graceland going through this set of pictures that you've shared with us. It was great!

[Unchained Melody]

Wow, what a trip...the pictures are great Eve...

[Eve]

I thank you all for your friendly answers!