NEW ORLEANS

It`s been a long day but a lovely train ride in real comfort to New Orleans. We boarded at 6.50 this morning and pulled into the station at 3pm. The countryside all the way down was mainly wooden shacks but still had those rocking chairs on the porch. The land was very swampy as we got closer to New orleans. We passed through Greenwood, Yazoo, Jackson Mississipi,McComb and Hammond. We arrived in beautiful sunshine and it was great to have a strech. Taxi took us to our hotel (Holiday Inn ) which is only a few blocks away from Bourbon street. The room is lovely and after getting something to eat we are sooo looking forward to getting in that big bed. I`ve even got some fresh milk for my cuppa in the morning! goodnight godbless bet x x ps will upload photos in the morning.

STILL ON ABOUT MEMPHIS WEDNESDAY

Well we had such a full day on wednesday that all we could do when we came home was download the pictures,so this is how the day went.Got up at our usual time about 5.30 my turn to make the tea and then betty wanted me to turn on the computer and find yesterdays episode of the archers,so there we are sat in bed at 6.am having a cup of tea in memphis directly opposite graceland listening to the archers on the radio,i turned to bet and said is this what they mean when they say it`s all rock and roll !.Anyway up and dressed and into breakfast about 7.30,well we were enjoying our breakfast and what do you know betty got talking to an english lady in the lobby(what`s new),well it turned out that she had co-starred in a film with elvis it was called Hawian Paradise and her name was Suzanna Leigh ,that`s her in the photograph with betty and elvis (he seems to be everywhere).I thought she was having us on but sure enough when we visited graceland there she was on the billboard for the film,she was only 19 at the time and she was the only english girl in the film (Betty`s got more gossip).So it was off to the graceland tour we were booked on for 9.am and that was really worth the visit,the house itself inside and ouside was hardly extravagante just a normal working kitchen ,he seemed to have other rooms inside the house and outside for various pastimes such as pool and racketball .The grounds and pool were nice and the little memorial garden where the family are buried was tastefully done. Anyway that`s where we met Barbara and Ron ,they were from philadelphia and just stopping over in memphis on route to texas to look at the grand canyon with the snow around,they were in a large mobile home and towing a little car they were self sufficient,they were a lovely couple and they are on the photograph alongside the lisa marie aeroplane,the two planes on show were quite impressive especially the large one it was really plush inside.But the motor museum was fantastic, some of the cars on display and various bikes he had ,was well worth seiing.By this time it was getting on for lunch and we had to get into memphis for 1.30 because we were booked on the backbeat tour around the town,now graceland is about 7 miles from downtown memphis but there is a small bus that runs continuously between the two ,so we jumped on the bus at 1.pm and was in beale street for about 20 past where the bus was waiting.
This was great fun. It was an old bus and Mike fly was our guide and lead singer. In all I suppose there were about 25 of us. He passed round shakers and betty offered to have on of the tambourine.He tuned up his guitar and off went. First stop he showed us where Johny Cash first lived which was just an appartment. These appartments where onlg given to poor people. We called in at Sun Studios Elvis`s first record label. Beale street where BB Kings Club is. Beale St is tacky and a lot of places you wouldn`t want to be walking round on your own. Whe then went onto the Lorraine Hotel where Martin Luther King was shot. That hotel now houses the Civil Rights Museum. In all we were on the bus nearly two hours and everyone was singing and shaking something!
We made our way back to the hotel because I`d booked a pink cadillac ! now don`t be nasty! ok the deal was if we ate at Marlowes Restaurant they would pick you up from your hotel. Well the food was good but it was a bit like a dinner. Bet had put her sparkly top on as well.
Back at the hotel we booked the taxi for 5.45am to take us to the Amtrack Rail Station to catch the 6.50 to New Orleans. Bet will talk to you later. x x x

A FULL DAY IN MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS

Well this is different! After the managers cocktail party last night (he was a misery!) we did enjoy a couple of red wines. I must say we have found it difficult to buy wine you have to look for a liquor store and they are hard to find. That is serious when your on your hols! There were some nice people at the hotel which made it interesting. After the party we went to bed to get up early for our bus to Memphis.
Breakfast was fruit,different cakes and bacon egg etc,very nice. Quite a few new arrivals this morning. We met Mary and Robert, now Robert was a definite forest gump,we couldn`t really understand him and he couldn`t understand us because afterwards we commented about the weather and he thought we were both weather reporters! Well they were in Nashville to Lobby for more social facilitys for their town. I told them what we had in England they couldn`t believe it. I reckon if we weren`t getting that Greyhound bus we would have gone with them.
Well the taxi arrived and took us to the station and what an eye opener that was. Most people hadn`t got a case just a plastic bag with there belongings in! The first coach had a flat tyre so we had to wait a while not taking our eyes off our bags. We finally got onto the coach and a lady moved so bri and I could sit together. We stopped in Jackson for 15minutes and when Brian used the toilet there was a sign that said "Ticket Holders Only Any Body Else Don`t Even Ask!" The houses were just how you imagine with rocking chairs on the porch and chickens in the garden.
Everybody shouts on the bus and they don`t mind whos listening Brian was listening to a girl who was talking about how she got on when she was a stripper! Dad I think you would have found it interesting.
Now when we arrived at Memphis Bri found a taxi. I was quite happy to get away from the station but nearly died when I saw the taxi. The driver reminded us of Jed Clampett out of the hillbillies. He was chewing a bit of wood ,his jumper needed an oil change and there was a bush growing out of each ear! The taxi looked like it should have been in the museum.The seats were ripped and it was filthy,plus everything rattled. Well he did get us to The Days Inn safely we paid him and he wished us luck and we wished him even more luck! As you can see in the photo the first room wasn`t up to scratch but they did move us. We have got another poolside room and this one is in the shape of a guitar. The room is great I`m joking,don`t know who I think I am. We`ve been for something to eat and Brian will report tomorrow. Thanks for all your emails
we love getting all the news. Goodnight Betty x x x x

MEMPHIS

LAST DAY IN NASHVILLE

Up this morning really early about 5.30 Betty did us a nice cup of tea,this makes a real change for me ,we don,t usually take it in turns it,s been my job for the last god knows how many years ,she must be going soft on me.Anyway i had to take a photo of the bed we have got in this room ,it must be nearly 7 foot wide,you could get another family in it,none of this elbow in the ribs during the night and how much of this bed do you want,or why don,t you get over your own side,you could loose each other,now that,s a thought?.Anyway we had a lovely breakfast,buffet style and were out for about 9.am,we have a short walk from the hotel where we can pick up the bus to downtown Nashville for $1.60,we went straight into the bus station which is called music city station and well organised and clean.So off we went for a tour of the Ryman Auditorium or the Grand Ole Opry as it is known,it really is quite a bit of history in the music world when you see a list of the people that have appeared there,it is all wooden pews that come round in a semi circle .We were getting a little peckish by the time we finished the tour so we went over to Demo,s restaurant where we had eaten the previous night,now this place can be highly recommended,the food, service and price was excellent.We had another walk around and visited the RCA music hall of fame building which was interesting,on the way back we called into the new Nashville Symphony Hall which is quite impressive,it seems strange really that just a couple of blocks away on Broadway you have got all the bars and clubs belting out live country music at all times during the day and just down the road is the symphony hall.Anyway everyone here is so friendly and out for a good time and they are all dressed up in cowboy boots and hats and all talking like Forest Gump.I would say if you like country music Nashville is a must see place,you could get cowboy boots buy 1 pair get 2 free,Betty was tempted(Ithink she likes the idea of being a cowgirl secretly).Anyway day over and back to the hotel,we have decided that we are doing a day each for this blog ,it leads to too many fall outs when we try and do it together.While i,m doing this Betty is listening to Elvis Presley on her I pod,she is getting ready for Memphis tomorrow.We will be taking the Greyhound Bus from Nashville to Memphis which should be interesting.So good night and Betty will speak tomorrow.

GOODBYE NEW YORK HELLO NASHVILLE

We checked out of the Radison after having a great time. It was all plain sailing getting to Nashville.It was a small plane and at first it was quite scary but all went well. Had a good sleep! A taxi took us to the hotel which is very comfortable. After sorting ourselves out we then took the bus into Nashville. We love it here everybody treats you as a long lost cousin. It wasn`t really as I imagined it was a lot smaller or perhaps that was after being in New York. Anyway there was so much music going on. we were so hungry and found a great grill and ate for England (and drank) we then made our way to the Full Moon bar where there were 3 girls singing. They were very entertaining. I loved the shops and almost bought some cowboy boots but you know what it`s like when you get them back home and wonder why! anyway I need to throw my old boring boots away. Brian has just got into the big bed and I`m jealous.,I`m so tired so will talk tomorrow goodnight bet x x