Rocking with the King!

byphaeton

833 followers

11 years ago

Had a great nights sleep. Of all the hotels we stayed at this was the best. There was the bedroom as well as a sitting room, very spacious and a great view. Large breakfast area and the staff were very polite and courteous. If you are ever in Natchez, MS I highly recommend this hotel. It is the VUE hotel located on John R. Junkin Drive. It is high on a hill overlooking the Mississippi River. After breakfast we boarded our bus and proceeded north along the Natchez Trace. It was a bit foggy for the most part but it was a very scenic drive. continued north and had lunch just outside of Memphis.

After our dinner we descended on Graceland. On the side of the road opposite Graceland was a collection of museums and souvenir stores. there was also an enclosure containing two of Elvis's planes. one was quite small while the other one looked like it could hold his whole band and their instruments. We got off of our bus in the parking lot to the sound of the kings music. His music is playing non stop. It is hard to believe that he recorded such a great amount of music during his short life. I don't think that they repeated one song in the whole time that we were there.

The tour was done with military precision. From the parking lot we where escorted to an assembly area where we had our picture taken in front of a mock-up of the front gates to Graceland. Before boarding the bus that drove us across the road we were provided with a set of earphones for our self guided tour. I wish that I had taken a few notes as I hope that I don't miss anything. As this was our second time here I think I can remember the main points. Betty's hip was giving her a rough time so Marge and I did the tour while Betty stayed on the opposite side of the road.

Upon entering the foyer we were schooled in the use of our headsets and we set off on our tour. The rooms were roped of so we could not enter them but had to stay on the outside and look in. We got a glimpse of the kitchen, nothing too spectacular. We then moved on to the Jungle room so named for the decor. My first time through I was sure that there was a T.V. set with a bullet hole in the screen. I thought that was so cool because how many of us at one time or another felt like shooting our own TV's.

On the way downstairs there was a sort of a landing that contained a room were there was a pool table and a small piano amongst other things. Apparently, Elvis and boys held their jam sessions there. Continuing to the basement there were a couple of large rooms. There was a guide standing at the bottom of the stairs and I asked her about that TV set. She told me that it had been removed a number of years ago and that it was in storage. Made me feel better that I wasn't imagining things. :-)

Upon entering the room it was filled with large showcases containing a lot of his jumpsuits that he wore at his different venues. When I was in Nashville at the country music hall of fame there was a big wall with all of the greatest hits of all the recording artists in their day. Well, one side of this room had a huge wall with all of Elvis' gold records. It was as big as or much bigger than that wall in Nashville. I was truly impressed.