Friday, November 22, 2024

On The Way Home We Stopped To See Elvis

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com



It's a long time in between posts but we have had a lot going on.  We left Cincinnati and headed for Hudson, Oh to visit good friends of ours from Monterrey.  After, we started the journey back to Mexico.  It was a wonderful trip visiting family and friends.  Would we do it again?  Yes because it was so much fun and then no because of the Airbnb rates.  We used hotels as well and they were very nice.  We only had one that we would rate as sh---y.  That said, I'm just not a hotel person and it does vary differently from the Airbnb life.  Obviously, rving is still at the top of the list.

Off we went to Memphis not knowing what to expect.  The last time I remember being in Memphis was when I was about 12 years old.  We had taken a family trip (only four kids at home).  We were checking into a hotel and it was pouring rain.  Standing at the reception desk, a desperate man, soaking wet, came running in.  He had a rosary in his hand, tears running down his face and he needed help.   His mother was on her deathbed and he was lost.  My dad calmed him down and I assume prayed with him as he led him out to his car.  That was my first personal experience with desperation.  We'll never know the end of that story but I hope the man found peace.


I found a pretty cool hotel called Vitality.  It was previously a Hilton Suites.  It was a self-service hotel, our first ever.  Everything is done online similar to an Airbnb.  It's a huge hotel and the lobby is almost out a sci-fi film.  Not a soul in sight.  Before arrival you receive your key code via email or SMS message.  It's really that simple.  A luxurious room with all the amenities. 


 We drove over to Elvis' house but he wasn't home.  Kind of a sad sight to see.  It's a huge venue with several restaurants, a museum, gift shop, Elvis' two aircraft that are now 60 years old.  We wanted to see his house bur we didn't understand how it all worked.  The tour buses take you onto the grounds of his house and then you receive an indoor tour.  We weren't interested in that so we passed.  Not many people, may be less than 75 on both the grounds of the house and the venue.  Word is, they are going to shut it all down soon.  It's lost it's flavor and the neighborhood went downhill.

The graffitied wall in front of the mansion.


Tour bus leaving the mansion.  The grounds are very nice though and well-maintained.


After, we headed downtown to see the ducks at the Peabody Hotel.  A real thing that has gone on for more than 90 years.  The ducks live in a rooftop house made of glass and marble.  They come down the elevator in the morning and make their grand exit every evening at 5 p.m.  People come from all over just to see the event.  There is a ceremony with the duck master after which a red carpet is rolled out from the fountain in the lobby to the elevator.  The duck master has a staff that he sometimes uses to prod the ducks along. 

The Peabody Hotel built in 1869 



The fountain in the middle of the lounge and lobby.


Video of the duck walk to the elevator.


2 comments:

  1. Back in 1992 I went to an orthodontic convention in St. Louis Missouri. On the plane from Terrace BC to Vancouver BC I met some Americans going fishing in Alaska. I told them my co-worker and I were going to make a side trip to Memphis to go to Graceland. They insisted we go to the Peabody Hotel for the duck walk and eat at the Rendezvous for the best ribs. The argued about the best rib placešŸ¤£ We did both as well as a van tour to Graceland which was still pretty spiffy then. There was a rib competition going on on the river andhuge exhibit of "Sultans of the Ottoman Empire" at the Pyramid museum venue and we even got to see Beale street. Fabulous trip!! Great city.

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  2. We were also quite underwhelmed by Graceland, expecting it to be much larger and grandiose. Time changes everything. We also thought the Peabody Hotel and ducks were a highlight. Another great roadtrip with Chris and Juan in the record books!!

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