Heading South

After leaving St Louis we drove southbound, down to Springfield, Missouri. A town permeated by college students and fraternaty houses. We went to a piano bar which was a ‘requests’ type of thing. Luckily for us the pianists involved happily enough played ‘Walking in Memphis’ for us, Memphis being our next port of call this made us very happy-well that and the $2 drinks. A good experience all round and some much needed catching up with an old friend. Springfield was a nice escape from big cities, not being too overcrowded.

As I said our next port of call was Memphis. We got in touch with someone to stay with when we were literally an hour outside the city. Matt took us into his apartment for the best part of 5 days. What a character, he’s a journalist somewhat resembling a nomad looking for the right words, just desperate to find that ‘story’ that’s going to change it all for him.
We played Guitar Hero, Supermario and Poker as well as viewed the great city he lives in.

On one evening Matt took us out to a gig in a nearby venue. An interesting night for sure, a band that were well in to their psyche/blues, and a host that was mroe into it than anyone there. In a dive bar that was only illuminated by random fairy lights and the psychadelic screenplay this band had going for them. the night was punctuated by what i found to be a quite comedic happening, a poor desperate dominos delivery boy helplessly looking around this packed out bar looking for someone who had apparently ordered a pizza- the cheek!

Like true tourists we walked up to the gates of Graceland, for an obnoxious fee of $30 which as we all know goes straight into Lisa Marie’s back pocket. The King’s house is as tacky as to be expected. Excellent colours and cheesy pictures all over the walls. The place looks the the interior designer was on one major acid trip. But somehow, it works, and I LOVED it. Much to our disappointment though, the upstairs is closed off to the public due to the fact that ‘it was Elvis’ private space and has been left closed out of respect.’ Excuse me? I’ve just parted with $30 to see Graceland and I don’t even get to go upstairs to see his bedroom or the bathroom he famously ‘died on the toilet’ in?? What a rip off. The man has been dead for years, let us see the upstairs!

Whilst in Memphis, a city of many fames, we of course took a trip down Beale St and heard some voices sing the blues. Another tourist attraction was the very impressive Civil Rights Museum. Attached to the famous sight where Martin Luther King was assasinated.

Once in Nashville, a famous place not only for being the capitol of beautiful Tennessee, but for many musical greats including one of my favourite bands BYOP (be your own pet) This town buzzed with it’s musical theatrics and genuine ability to have sevral venues in one night hosting excellent bands with real talent, whether it be country, blues or rock. These people eat, breathe and sleep music-and it shows. In one quiet weekday night we witnessed bands with more talent than you’d see in the average London club displaying their most favoured talents.

On a day trip from Nashville we visited the famous Jack Daniel’s distillery. This unusual place is amazingly the only producer of JD whiskey in the whole world which is something of a marvel considering the place is in a notorious hurricane region and is still standing. What if something happened?? Another interesting fact is that the distillery is in a dry county, forbidding visitors to even taste the product-a first for any distillery I’ve been to.

So next port of call is the oh so fabulous New Orleans, for the even better Mardi Gras. This original Frech city, still with many French attributes-including its architechture, has a uniqueness which we have not yet seen in the States. Mardi Gras provides the atmosphere of Paddy’s Day in Dublin, with a slightly less drunk-and a slightly more naked vibe. It’s as gay as christmas and if I had a dollar for everytime I heard Journey being sung in Karaoke, well I’d be able to buy myself a drink or two. Beads are slung from roofs and floats (during parades) and joy is generally all round. The party never stops, bars are 24 hour and being there just gives the general feeling of never wanting to leave.

Unfortunately, New Orleans has been through more than a rough time recently. Hurricane Katrina hit all too recently and the evidence is still clear. I’ve already spoken to a handful of people who have been gravely affected and their stories would bring you to tears. Even last night our cab driver told us his own story. It was interesting finding myself in New Orleans, a broken city from it’s all too recent troubles. It’s not fair, these people fled a seasonal storm. Not out of the ordinary. After talking to people here, im happy they left, though the stubborn ones did not. They stuck by their land for fear of worse. Little did they know. Devistating stories of everyone I've known, coming back to their city and either findng their house is a parking lot or their home if full of up to 5 metres of water. everyone we’ve spoken to have lost everything they own. Only now three and a half years later are they getting their lives together. Some houses remain unfixed with the morbid scrawlings on the front door of the number of bodies found inside.

It makes you think; if you came home and your home was gone, everything you owned, possibly even a family member found dead in the attic like so many were. Luckily for these strong people their vibrant spirit has not been broken and they carry on stronger than before-which is more than I can say for myself, god forbid I was in the same situation.