The pyramid in downtown Memphis which helped us orient ourselves as to where we were. Lisa – my blog-buddy of MANY MANY years, who lives in Arkansas, whom I had never met UNTIL OUR TRIP, it was so exciting – informed us that the pyramid now stands empty, which is the creepiest thing I can imagine.
My first glimpse of the Mississippi River as we passed over it into Arkansas. A thrilling moment.
Memphis, coming in from Arkansas
Overton Park. Quiet and peaceful.
Humes High, where Elvis went to high school. It is now a middle school.
The famous musical-notes gates of Graceland. It was about 9:30 in the morning here, and nobody was around.
Cary Grant’s star on the sidewalk outside the famous Orpheum
Inside B.B. King’s on Beale Street. We went there two nights in a row. Heard great live music both times. Met a bunch of nice people.
The awe-inspiring lobby of the Peabody Hotel. We showed up there to see the famous March of the Ducks, from the fountain (which you can see in the middle of that beautiful space) into the elevator. The place was packed with hotel guests and also spectators like ourselves. It was marvelous. I loved seeing the ducks strolling through the lobby on their red carpet into the elevator. So specific and awesome. One of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen in my life.
Early morning in Memphis. Loved this intersection.
Lots of ghost signs in Memphis, one of my favorite things. Here is the old sign for the Ambassador Hotel.
Old signage
Where Lansky Brothers used to be. I was picturing Elvis as a teenager, with his nose pressed up against those windows, staring at the flashy colored suits, dreaming of the day (not too far in the future) when he could buy all his clothes at Lansky’s.
Beale Street, Saturday morning
The back of the old Hotel Chisca, an important place in Elvis’ life. It was an incredible building.
Mural on the side of a restaurant called The Happy Mexican. This was right around the bend from the Lorraine Motel. You could see it through the buildings over to the right.
Little boy backflipping down the center of Beale Street. Saturday afternoon.
Schwab’s. Incredible. Celebrating 135 years of operation.
Elvis’ brass note in the sidewalk on Beale Street. There are brass notes every couple of feet all along Beale, celebrating all of the legends who have made music in Memphis.
Over the Mississippi into Arkansas, sunset.
Over the Mississippi into Tennessee, morning
Heady stuff. Great pictures.
WOW!!!!! I wasn’t aware that Memphis had a working streetcar(s). I know we have them here in NOLA as does San Fran but never heard of there being streetcars in Memphis. NOLA has much the same feel as Memphis insofar as its historical significance and time feeling as it has stopped still. Riding the streetcars up and down St. Charles Avenue is a sweet experience. I can almost imagine my grandmother on that car as she rode many days to and from work, mass or home. Such a flood of memories.