A Taste of the Deep South

We were lucky enough to try various new foods during our travels across Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana. These are some of the highlights.

Tennessee

In Memphis one night we ate in a smokehouse and I enjoyed BBQ Pulled Pork with fries – yum! The waitress kindly offered that we could try their “Sweet Potatoes” for free. We were expecting a sweet potato, so we were surprised

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On the Civil Rights Trail in Memphis

One of the main reasons for coming to Memphis was the National Civil Rights Museum. This was the town in which Martin Luther King was shot, and the history of this is palpable, especially as they have preserved the Lorraine Motel in which he was killed.

The Museum itself walks you through the background to Martin Luther King being assassinated, including the protests that brought him to Memphis that week.

Walking in Memphis

When we arrived in central Memphis we headed straight for Beale Street – which probably marks us out as complete tourists. To me it was so American that it looked like a film set!

It is mostly bars and restaurants and music blasts out into the street. That night we enjoyed BBQ on Beale Street and watched the street come to life with street performers and bands in bars.

Mallards and Music in Memphis

We were fascinated to attend one of Memphis’ interesting attractions. Ducks!  In a Fountain! This sounded rather intriguing so we went along to find out more.

The Peabody Hotel is a grand old hotel in downtown Memphis and it has some unusual guests… 5 ducks live in a little duck house on the penthouse floor – at 11am they come down the elevator with their chaperone, and plop into the fountain in the hotel lobby

Peace in the Valley at Graceland

Graceland – Home of Elvis Presley. What could be more American?!  I was excited about our visit to Graceland and had been listening to Elvis music in preparation. I had a belly full of tacos and was ready to go!

When you arrive at Graceland you are ushered into a tourist complex with Elvis-themed diners and exhibitions. You have to take a bus across the road and up the hill to the house itself.