Thursday in Memphis

We've just about got to the end of the things to do list in Memphis - we kick off at the Pink Palace - it's a mansion that was owned by a gent named Clarence Saunders in 1915 he had about 1200 convenience stores - they were called Piggly Wiggly (no I don't know either) they were the first self service stores - he set the trend for the modern supermarket.

He planned to build a magnificent house in Memphis in 155 acres made of pink granite - unfortunately he went bankrupt in 1924 and never realised his dream - the city took over the estate and turned it into a museum of weird stuff (shrunken head anyone??) 

On to the Stax museum - this was an iconic record studio in the 60's. 

This is where Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Issac Hayes and a whole lot of other soul acts recorded 

They gave Issac this Cadillac after he recorded the Shaft theme ($26000 including the tv and gold trim)

The house band were Booker T and the MG's - this is the bass player Donald "Duck" Dunn's pipe - carved in his image! - are there any other bass playing pipe smokers out there?

We went on to another museum but to be honest we've about done with the civil war/ civil rights/ history of music stuff so I won't bother you win any more details of that.

Here's a picture of my lunch though - cheese, sausage and beer - and that was the healthy option !!