The big drive to Nashville
Ooops we slept in! We were supposed to meet up with Nita our cab driver at 8.00am, but we didn't get down to the hotel lobby until 8.30! She's so lovely and good natured, and said that it was no bother, but Jenny and I were really sorry for the inconvenience we'd caused her.
We were supposed to be heading straight out to the Memphis airport to pick up our hire car so we could drive to Nashville, but Nita had other ideas. First stop, the National Civil Rights Museum. 
On April 4, 1968 an assassin's bullet killed Dr Martin Luther King's Jr as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, less than 200m from this building which was a boarding house. A bathroom window on the second floor of this building, presents a clear view of the balcony outside Room 306 - Dr King's room - at the Lorraine Motel. 
In the segregated South, most hotels were white only. African American proprietors Walter and Loree Bailey welcomed black travellers to the Lorraine Motel. Close to Beale Street and known for its home cooking, the Lorraine hotel attracted both black and white musicians. Stax label artists Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Steve Cropper, and Otis Redding were regulars.
The National Civil rights Museum was founded in 1991 to preserve where Dr King spent his final hours. It was funded by many, many people whose contribution has been marked by a brick in the pavement outside the hotel.
Next stop,
The Blues Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, as with the Civil Rights Museum, the Hall was closed, but I am excited to be able to say that I have peered through its windows.
Almost across the road was the diner where Elvis Presley would regularly dine. His favourite meal was peanut butter and banana sandwiches! We had ham and cheese toasties and coffee, and it was totally yummy.
Then it was off to the Airport to collect our car. I have to be honest and say that I was feeling pretty nervous about driving on the right side of the road, and that a visit to the loo was necessary. I was intrigued to notice that it was also the place to shelter if there was a tornado!!!!
Next stop, back to the hotel to pick up Catherine and our suitcases.
One thing we've found since we've been here, is that it's so easy to make acquaintances. We met this little lady from Long Island, New York, who was in Memphis while her husband went to a conference. She was a real sweetie.
After leaving the hotel we pulled over to take a photo of the building Elvis lived in as a child.
Our hotel in Memphis wasn't far from the motorway that took us all the way to Nashville. On the way we saw cotton fields,
stopped to have lunch (I had a Black Bean Quesidillo and a keto coffee). I also pumped up the tyres (which cost $3.00!!!) After another couple of hours of driving I needed a bit of a break, so we headed off on Crooked Creek Road, and ended up at the home of a lovely couple who welcomed us into their home and let us use their loos!!!
It seems like if you have an Aussie accent here, you can almost get away with anything!
It took us the best part of 5 hours to get to our hotel in Nashville ... and i didn't have any major calamities along the way!! (Thank you God!!) After making ourselves comfortable, we headed out for some dinner. We went into a cute coffeeshop cum Deli and ordered a couple of salads. I had a beautiful mix of spinach and strawberries.
We wandered up and down the street to take a look at all the different venues. Practically every one had live music pouring out of them. Then it was off to the airport to drop of the car and then make a choice about how we would get back to the hotel! 
We caught an Uber. Our driver was Kevin, who made a comfortable living as an Uber Driver. He told us about his clever daughter who was almost a qualified surgeon.
I saw so many good signs today. You choose your favourite:
This says, "The most important things in life are the people ..."
Catch you tomorrow!
On April 4, 1968 an assassin's bullet killed Dr Martin Luther King's Jr as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, less than 200m from this building which was a boarding house. A bathroom window on the second floor of this building, presents a clear view of the balcony outside Room 306 - Dr King's room - at the Lorraine Motel. 
In the segregated South, most hotels were white only. African American proprietors Walter and Loree Bailey welcomed black travellers to the Lorraine Motel. Close to Beale Street and known for its home cooking, the Lorraine hotel attracted both black and white musicians. Stax label artists Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Steve Cropper, and Otis Redding were regulars.
 |
| The Wreath marks the spot where Dr King was shot. |
Today the museum is much more than a memorial to Dr King. The display inside the boarding house building tracks the manhunt for the assassin to the moment of his arrest, and highlights the investigations into his killing. The exhibit describes the impact of the civil rights movement on a city, a nation and the world. The Lorraine Motel has become a place for teaching and learning about the African American fight for equal rights. On the wall outside there was a poster highlighting today's leaders of the civil rights movement. 
Next stop,
The Blues Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, as with the Civil Rights Museum, the Hall was closed, but I am excited to be able to say that I have peered through its windows.Almost across the road was the diner where Elvis Presley would regularly dine. His favourite meal was peanut butter and banana sandwiches! We had ham and cheese toasties and coffee, and it was totally yummy.
Then it was off to the Airport to collect our car. I have to be honest and say that I was feeling pretty nervous about driving on the right side of the road, and that a visit to the loo was necessary. I was intrigued to notice that it was also the place to shelter if there was a tornado!!!!
Next stop, back to the hotel to pick up Catherine and our suitcases.
One thing we've found since we've been here, is that it's so easy to make acquaintances. We met this little lady from Long Island, New York, who was in Memphis while her husband went to a conference. She was a real sweetie.
After leaving the hotel we pulled over to take a photo of the building Elvis lived in as a child.
Our hotel in Memphis wasn't far from the motorway that took us all the way to Nashville. On the way we saw cotton fields,
stopped to have lunch (I had a Black Bean Quesidillo and a keto coffee). I also pumped up the tyres (which cost $3.00!!!) After another couple of hours of driving I needed a bit of a break, so we headed off on Crooked Creek Road, and ended up at the home of a lovely couple who welcomed us into their home and let us use their loos!!!
It seems like if you have an Aussie accent here, you can almost get away with anything!
It took us the best part of 5 hours to get to our hotel in Nashville ... and i didn't have any major calamities along the way!! (Thank you God!!) After making ourselves comfortable, we headed out for some dinner. We went into a cute coffeeshop cum Deli and ordered a couple of salads. I had a beautiful mix of spinach and strawberries.
We wandered up and down the street to take a look at all the different venues. Practically every one had live music pouring out of them. Then it was off to the airport to drop of the car and then make a choice about how we would get back to the hotel! 
We caught an Uber. Our driver was Kevin, who made a comfortable living as an Uber Driver. He told us about his clever daughter who was almost a qualified surgeon.I saw so many good signs today. You choose your favourite:
This says, "The most important things in life are the people ..."
Catch you tomorrow!
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