We're in Memphis
We got to the airport at 4am. (Thanks Kate for waking me up in time, and thanks Dave for driving me there.) A huge queue was waiting to be checked in, but the airline staff didn't sign on until 5am!
Passports viewed, bags checked through to Memphis, and boarding passes organised, we headed to the gate through which we would board. We were some of the last to get on the plane that took us to Sydney. I was sitting in an Exit row so I was able to stretch out. And after I'd figured out how to access the TV screen I watched Top End Wedding. What a wonderful movie - so heartfelt, with fabulous Aboriginal humour. It sure helped the 3.5 hours pass quickly.
When we arrived in Sydney we were directed to a gate through which we boarded a bus that took us over to the plane in which we would fly to Dallas. As we walked down the runway to board the plane I felt the simplicity of this sign (on the left) summed up the beauty of our lives in Australia.
Boarding the plane was very organised! We went on in designated groups and it was easy to access our seats. I was snuggled between Catherine in the window seat and Jenny in the aisle seat, and before the plane had left the tarmac, I was asleep again. I vaguely remember pretzels and juice being handed out, but I was too sleepy to have any myself. I could hear Catherine going "Oh my goodness there's the Mississippi River". Jenny woke me up after we had landed in Memphis!
When we arrived in Sydney we were directed to a gate through which we boarded a bus that took us over to the plane in which we would fly to Dallas. As we walked down the runway to board the plane I felt the simplicity of this sign (on the left) summed up the beauty of our lives in Australia.
The flight to Dallas!!! Oh my goodness ... what a long flight - 16 hours!! But how amazing! We won a day in our lives - literally! We left Sydney at 12.38pm on October 12th, and arrived in Dallas at 12 noon on October 12th! Yet we had dinner, several snacks, drinks of water, walks up and down the aisles, watched the sun set, watched it rise again, watched a few movies (I loved Rocket Man), ate breakfast, had a nap, had another nap ... and then another!!
Finally with flat bottoms, we arrived in Dallas. 
Then we had to go through customs. That took us nearly 2 hours! First we had to go into the purple lane and do an automated passport check, including having to supply the fingerprints of our right hand. Then another very, very slow moving line, where finally we were interviewed by a customs officer, and had to supply our thumb prints and the fingerprints of our left hands.
Next we made a beeline past Ricky shining shoes
.....to the gate through which we would board a carriage to take us on a monorail journey
to the gate that put us on the flight to Memphis. We still had an hour to kill so we sat in a cafe and drank a huge bottle of water each and then a cup of coffee. They make good coffee in the US!
Then we had to go through customs. That took us nearly 2 hours! First we had to go into the purple lane and do an automated passport check, including having to supply the fingerprints of our right hand. Then another very, very slow moving line, where finally we were interviewed by a customs officer, and had to supply our thumb prints and the fingerprints of our left hands.Next we made a beeline past Ricky shining shoes
.....to the gate through which we would board a carriage to take us on a monorail journey
to the gate that put us on the flight to Memphis. We still had an hour to kill so we sat in a cafe and drank a huge bottle of water each and then a cup of coffee. They make good coffee in the US! Boarding the plane was very organised! We went on in designated groups and it was easy to access our seats. I was snuggled between Catherine in the window seat and Jenny in the aisle seat, and before the plane had left the tarmac, I was asleep again. I vaguely remember pretzels and juice being handed out, but I was too sleepy to have any myself. I could hear Catherine going "Oh my goodness there's the Mississippi River". Jenny woke me up after we had landed in Memphis!
Toby was there to meet us.
We collected our bags and then were given a running commentary all the way to our hotel. There's so much to do here!
With bags dropped off in our room on the seventh floor, we headed out to Beale Street. We had to walk across the main road outside the hotel, through the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel and out the other side to catch a trolley car (tram). The fare of $1 is an honour system. You just put your $1 bill into a machine that collects it. Just as well Catherine was organised with American cash, otherwise Jenny and I would have had to have walked.
There were people on the tram talking about how they were going to see Bob Seger performing at one of the concert centres. I love Bob Seger's music, and if I'd known about the concert, I definitely would have gone along. As it turned out, there were no tickets left for the concert anyway, and the only way to get them would have been through scalpers. Oh well, I'll just have to wait for another opportunity to see him in concert.
We felt like we were in wonderland with the way the streets were lit up! And seeing the places with the names of famous musicians splashed all over them was surreal.
After soaking in the sights, sounds and smells we found a famous barbecue restaurant at which we enjoyed hickory smoked pork ribs, green collards and nachos.
We finished off by sharing a slice of pecan (pronounced "pea-carn"pie) and then headed out the door to see some street entertainment - an athletic young man lining up tourists and then doing a cartwheel and flip over them!
As we headed back to our hotel we made friends with the local constabulary, 
noticed that Chris Tomlin will be performing a Christmas show at the Orpheum theatre (which has such an amazing array of shows, you could almost live there).
Then the trolley bus arrived and we headed back to the hotel.
After a hot shower, we collapsed into bed in readiness for a full day tomorrow including Al Green's gospel church and Graceland!
We collected our bags and then were given a running commentary all the way to our hotel. There's so much to do here!With bags dropped off in our room on the seventh floor, we headed out to Beale Street. We had to walk across the main road outside the hotel, through the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel and out the other side to catch a trolley car (tram). The fare of $1 is an honour system. You just put your $1 bill into a machine that collects it. Just as well Catherine was organised with American cash, otherwise Jenny and I would have had to have walked.
There were people on the tram talking about how they were going to see Bob Seger performing at one of the concert centres. I love Bob Seger's music, and if I'd known about the concert, I definitely would have gone along. As it turned out, there were no tickets left for the concert anyway, and the only way to get them would have been through scalpers. Oh well, I'll just have to wait for another opportunity to see him in concert.
We felt like we were in wonderland with the way the streets were lit up! And seeing the places with the names of famous musicians splashed all over them was surreal.
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| BB Kings's Blues Club |
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| Jerry Lee Lewis' pavement |
After soaking in the sights, sounds and smells we found a famous barbecue restaurant at which we enjoyed hickory smoked pork ribs, green collards and nachos.
We finished off by sharing a slice of pecan (pronounced "pea-carn"pie) and then headed out the door to see some street entertainment - an athletic young man lining up tourists and then doing a cartwheel and flip over them!
As we headed back to our hotel we made friends with the local constabulary, 
noticed that Chris Tomlin will be performing a Christmas show at the Orpheum theatre (which has such an amazing array of shows, you could almost live there).Then the trolley bus arrived and we headed back to the hotel.
After a hot shower, we collapsed into bed in readiness for a full day tomorrow including Al Green's gospel church and Graceland! 
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