‘Home of the Blues’ to ‘Music City’
I started my day in Memphis with a big breakfast at the city's oldest cafe. The Arcade Restaurant was first established in 1919 by a Greek immigrant and continues to be run by the fourth generation of the family. I sat at the counter and had a first-hand look at how busy and efficient they were. Based on the number of people who were waiting outside, the restaurant continues to be one of the most popular eateries in the city.
Just a short walk from the restaurant is the National Civil Rights Museum, the main reason I had Memphis on my list of places to visit on my journey. The museum is located at the hotel where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in 1968. The story of slavery and resistance is told beginning in the 1600s and up to the events of the late 20th century. The very powerful and moving exhibits show how people from around the world stood up for equality. It is definitely worth a visit to Memphis. I also spend some time on Beale Street where there was lots of lively entertainment on the street and in the pubs. Another spot worthy of a return.
After a few hours at the museum and on Beale Street, I began my transit toward Nashville. The winding secondary roads took me through rolling hills, forests, farmland, and small towns. It was a spectacular drive which I enjoyed very much. Tennessee is beautiful!
Sunday morning started early with a delicious breakfast at Another Broken Egg Cafe - at the counter of course. Being Mother's Day, it became very busy, very quickly and I was glad that I arrived before the crowd. With a full belly, I began a long day of walking around the ‘District,’ an area filled with bars, restaurants and touristy shops. I passed Johnny Cash's Bar at 9:30 a.m. and a band was already playing! By noon, almost all the bars had entertainment on the go so I popped into a few of them over the course of the day to soak up some culture. Broadway St is known as the Honky Tonk Highway and it progressively became crazier as the day went on. Many times while walking along the street, I could hear several different bands all competing for my ears. The music, the sounds on the street, the people, and the cars gave me a severe case of sensory overload. I would wander away from the chaos occasionally and find a quiet spot to take a break.
Overall, my visits to these two musical cities were very enjoyable. I can see myself coming back one day to spend a bit more time. Tomorrow, spelunking is in my vision.
