| So the most important place to visit in Memphis is Graceland,
the home of Elvis Presley, the 'King' of Rock 'n' Roll.
What is surprising, given the excesses of many rock stars, is how
modest it is. It stands in about 14 acres and cost $100,000 in 1957. It is
obviously highly commercialized with over 600,000 visitors a year. However
it was nowhere near as naff as we expected. |  |
 |
The first rooms were grand but not outrageous for someone with that much
money. Perhaps it reflected his humble beginnings in a two room shack. |
 |
 | The later rooms were
less formal and more reflected the styles of the 60s and 70s. You know,
carpet on the walls and ceilings - but even WE did that! They were a
little over the top but we could appreciate the style. The upstairs of the
house remains private and some of the items on show had been recovered
from his homes elsewhere. |
 |
Some of the outer buildings held his awards and memorabilia which was
extensive. There were just corridors and walls covered in gold discs, although
many were for a million dollars of sales rather than a million sales. Still it
was impressive. |
 |
| He also had two jet aircraft, probably some of the first in
private ownership. They said he had spent more on the insides than on the
outside. The colour schemes were striking but some of the furnishings were
most opulent, including a queen sized bed and a bathroom with gold
everything! |  |
 | There was also a
museum of his cars some of which had been in his films. Some were fairly
exotic like a couple of Stutz to go with the Lincoln Continental and the
Rolls. But we thought this Cadillac in its setting evoked the most
American imagery. |
 |
The story would not be complete without a picture of the 'King' obviously
taken in his younger days when he first became a heartthrob. Finally everyone
passes by his graveside, alongside his parents, and realizes that to his many
fans this is still a place of pilgrimage and a national historic monument. |
 |
|