Waaaalking in Memphis

Trip Start Jun 19, 2008
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Trip End Jul 25, 2008


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Flag of United States  , Tennessee,
Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Unfortunately, we had to leave Nashville and head down to Memphis, which is also in Tennessee and is about four hours away from Nashville.  Well, what a nightmare.  The A/C was duffed, the bus was absolutely packed, and we were travelling between 10am and 2pm which is of course high sun.  So we felt a little sick after that, but after a wee nap after finding where were staying (some hostel in a church in Midtown) we hit Beale Street and caught some great jazz and some hilarious karaoke.  The next day it was up and off to the legendary Sun Studios which was amazing.  The atmosphere inside was truly electric, and we paid homage to some all time favourites that made their names in that studio such as Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, I could go on but I reckon you get the picture.  I got some ace pictures too which I can't wait to flaunt.  After this we hit the Rock n Soul Museum which was again, amazing.  Here we got more than a taste of the birth of the Delta Blues, but a great history about Memphis and the South in general from the beginning of the last century.  We had a great time.  But, we had to get going because I was meeting a friend called Andrew who was driving in from the next state to see us for a while.  Or at least that was the plan....
After chatting for a while, he decided to take us round the neighbourhood he grew up in which was just outside of the city, and which I will always remember as it was my first Taco Bell experience.  And probably the most hilarious I will ever have.  We then drove back to Midtown and after hanging out a bit more, we decided it would just be too sad to say goodbye......so instead we had ourselves kidnapped.  That's right.  We busted into the place we were staying, packed up all our stuff at 2am in the morning and left a note saying 'We're done here' basically.  From there, it was on through the night and into the horizons of Arkansas.  The Natural State.  They're not lying, they've got more trees than air space down there.  We had a slight disaster when we finally managed to get out of Tennessee, only for me to realise I'd left my hat in the bar we'd been sitting around in.  I tried to be brave about it like a big girl, but I was distraught and it must have showed because Andrew decided that there was just no way that I could leave it there, and he turned around and we drove all the way back in to Memphis to get it.  What a sweetheart.  So anyway, we stayed with his family for the night (or morning, if we're being precise) and then got up and had lunch after meeting the rest of his family when we got up.  My word.  These are without a doubt the nicest people I have ever met in my entire life.  I mean, I like my own parents and stuff but these guys are amazing.  Even their dogs are nice.  But John Snuggles isn't.  Okay, maybe he is, he's just misunderstood.
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