After an early start and a relatively uneventful flight from LAX to DFW then DFW (after a 1 hour delay) to Memphis we arrived at our hotel. I was really happy about using points and a few dollars to stay at the Hilton Doubletree Hotel. We are saving a lot of money but we are not at the Peabody (our home for two of our last three visits to this fine city). Hilton advertised all the amenities one would expect of a class hotel but apparently they have a little trouble following up on the hype. It is very hot and humid in Memphis but looks like we won’t be swimming (see below). We are across the street from the baseball stadium but I won’t push my luck (no minor league baseball this trip).
We arrived in the city too late to pick up our BBQ credentials but we did get here in time to walk around the city and have a wonderful dinner at Gus’s Famous Fried Chicken. Gus’s didn’t look like much but they had people waiting outside and we were given an estimated wait time of 25 minutes. When seated we felt that the place lacked some of the things we have come to expect at a fine dining restaurant. The table was set with plastic forks and knives, paper napkins and water in plastic cups. As they say looks can be deceiving (see below). The fried chicken was amazing with very good side dishes of fried okra and macaroni and cheese (I ate mine before I thought of taking a picture so below is someone else’s dinner). For dessert we shared sweet potato pie which was delicious beyond description.
After dinner we had to do some serious walking to burn some calories. We headed to Beale Street where every Wednesday night they close off the street and let it remain open only to motorcycles. There were at least 200 motorcycles parked along the street (see me next to a Harley). Of course the streets were also lined with people in spite of it being very early (late for us, after all it is almost 6 pm in Los Angeles). Enough said, we need sleep.
See you tomorrow.
Robert Reiss Travel Blog and Other Ramblings 