Graceland

Graceland

Elvis's Living Room

Meditation Garden

How can you leave Memphis and not visit Graceland? That's what we said. Off to Elvis's mansion and the surrounding "exhibits". I liked Elvis as a teenager, and actually saw him perform live in Vegas on his comeback tour in 1969. But Terry and I cannot be counted among those that are rabid fans - and there were thousands visiting Graceland today. Case in point: the couple we met at breakfast, Janet and Raymond, from Alberta. She turned 50 a week ago and a visit to Graceland was on her bucket list. So, there were lines to get on the buses at the visitor center to ride to the mansion. Lines to go through the home which is decorated in what you may expect to be late 60's - early 70's kitsch. In the Jungle Room there is shag rug on the floor and the ceiling! I found little time to stop and take in any of the items in the home since there were dozens of people behind me waiting their turn to get a peek at the King's rooms. We bought the Platinum Tickets, giving us access to the mansion, his planes and his extensive car collection as well as several other exhibits (which we passed on since we were moving on to Texas). The property includes restaurants, gift shops (many, many gift shops) where you can buy anything Elvis - clothing, items for the home, kid stuff, mugs, magnets, to name a few. There is even lodging at the Heartbreak Hotel.The Meditation Garden is supposed to be a place for reflection and holds the graves of his parents, his grandmother and himself.

At the entrance to the Car Museum

I found the history of Elvis's personal story, his talent, his musical achievements and his devotion to his daughter the most compelling part of the tour. To see it all in its authentic form was quite something. It would have taken a good day, at least,  to absorb it all - if you could manage the crowds. Priscilla Presley left no stone unturned in developing this tribute to Elvis and establishing a very profitable enterprise. It has, by the way, been named a National Historic Landmark.

 So - I've been to Graceland.