Memphis

Woke up in Memphis. Last night we tried to set out for Wild Bill's but the staff in the hotel more or less forbade it. I don't think tourists who venture to the 'North Side' must ever come back. At least, not with their wallets. R was a bit miffed; it had been a Guardian recommendation.

We ended up on Beale Street for honkytonk pianos. Memphis has a much edgier scene than Nashville, which woke us up a little bit.

Today we went to mass (with an oratorically florid homily from the priest) and brunch with the blues at Bosco's Squared (I was very much appreciating the jazz flute).

This afternoon we visited the Civil Rights Museum. The location is a painful one and, in the end, we didn't cross the road to see the final exhibit; the displays and films are extraordinary - it's an essential visit.

On the way back to the hotel we stopped by the Sun Studio and took this picture. I like Rich Hall's analogy for that famous photo of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins jamming together:

"If you were a religious scholar, that would be the equivalent of Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed and Carl Perkins in the same picture".

Tomorrow, we go to Graceland....!