THE BIG EASY AND STUCK IN A LIFT

Ok we actually slept in this morning and got up at 6 am.slowly getting back in to a normal pattern.I made the tea and we listened to the archers. Brian started to look through the hotel handbook when he noticed there was a swimming pool on the 6th floor. He said it would be good exercises for my arm! what makes him think he knows best. Anyway I reluctantly looked for my swimsuit and what a stroke of luck the 6th floor was the roof and the only thing in it was bird sh....t thank you god! After breakfast we thought we`d have a good look round,the weather was lovely and we soon had to come back and get rid of our big coats and boots. We then bought a day pass on the trolley bus and that took us to the edge of the Mississippi river. This is a great place with entertainers and cafe`s. We wanted to book the dinner on the Mississippi steamer but it was sold out so will try somewhere else tomorrow. Then it was lunch so decided to go to Olivers,it was a place we`d seen last night but couldn't`t get in. Very tasty a local dish called shrimp creole Needed to walk it off (anyone going away with bri will know we don`t get a rest!)So off we went round the french quarter. I loved the houses and we sort of got lost well eventually we found our way back to the lovely shopping centre i found a great pair of jeans but have only had them on 5 mins and the button has popped off! must be that lunch.

Time is getting on so we made our way back to the hotel when we got in the lift there were a crowd ok youngsters in there, anyway we got in and you`ve guessed it broke down! they were drinking and one lad was the joker,do we know somebody like that? the one girl was really scared,i suppose we were in there for half an hour. Good kids really all local we had a sing song. Oh and one lad was a fireman and he was scared! he said he`d never been to a broken lift they hadn`t got any where he lived. Perhaps he lived in one of those one horse towns we passed on the way here. Finally they got us out so were now having a glass of wine and our olives. Later were going to a place at the bottom end of Bourbon St called Fritzels where they have live music. It`s not the sleezy end (pete garner you would love it!) and thats scary we were there last night and there are some wierd characters about! It is scary at night but in the day it is lovely. Must say goodnight it takes a long time to get ready these days love bet x x x

LAST NIGHT IN MEMPHIS,TRAIN TO NEW ORLEANS,HOTEL ROOM

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