Wednesday in Memphis

We are out and about today doing the Memphis experience - first stop Graceland of course

It's quite a modest place - the house is relatively small and is situated on a main highway and is surrounded by pretty run down shops - the area is not nice - however everyone is here to grab themselves some Elvis action. So you have the jungle room

Tacky isn't it - the green shagpile is on the ceiling as well - nice touch!

We moved on to the civil rights museum

This is situated at the Lorraine Hotel - where Martin Lurther King was assassinated in 1968

A facinating place - there is so much that went on here with slavery and oppression over the last 400 years that lead to the fight for equal civil rights - there were protests here in Memphis in 1968 because the sanitation dept took advantage of the poorest people and gave them jobs with low pay and no benefits. It came to a head when two workers were crushed by a truck and the workers went on strike for more pay and safer working conditions. The strike and the resulting protests and heavy handed

Police reaction was one of the reasons that MLK was visiting. The I am a man slogan was used as a peaceful protest.

James Earl Ray was a petty criminal that was convicted of the shooting - he was arrested at Heathrow airport - there are many conspiracy theories of course - he died in prison in 1998.

That's enough history - here's a pic of Sam the Sham and the Pharoes stage outfit

This is the rock and soul museum - an equally facinating place 

A couple of other pics for no particular reason

Beale street is the main drag 

And tonight is motor cycle showing off night!! Lots of outrageous Harleys mostly with a few Triumphs plus a bunch of very old looking bikers. Not exactly Easy Rider 

More museums and stuff to do tomorrow.........