We got to Tunica around 10:30 am Central time, but check-in to the hotel wasn't until 4 pm so we just kind of hung out. And I lost some money. That's what you do at a casino right?...Give them all your money. When I checked in, it was a nice room. Not as nice as the last time we stayed at the Terrace, but it was nice to finally stay at the actual Grand Resort. At least this time I brought my laptop and paid for the wifi (it was $11 per day-which sucks!) Here's a few pics of the room...

Friday, we had to meet the Tour Company in the Lobby of the hotel at 9:00 am. Why that early I will never know since they didn't get there until 9:30! I was not happy. And neither was the bus-full of people that were waiting to start the tour in Memphis. (Tunica is approximately 30 minutes away). At 10:15-ish the tour was under way. We opted for the Memphis Platinum Tour which lasted 7 hours! Yes I know- we are crazy like that ! The tour included all of downtown Memphis, the famous Peabody Hotel, Beale Street and all options at Graceland.

We drove all throught downtown Memphis and saw the medical center complex which is owned by the University of Tennessee. I knew that they had one of the best medicine programs in the south, but I never knew that were sooo big. Over half of downtown Memphis is owned by UT! Who knew? We were supposed to tour the St. Jude's Danny Thomas Children's Hospital Museum but there was some event there so we just drove through. I would have liked to just spend some time visiting the children. We also drove by Sun Studios where artists like Elvis and Johnny Cash recorded their first records. We also got to see where Elvis used to buy all his Caddy's. Interesting fact- Elvis always bought his Cadillac's from the same downtown dealership ( I can't remember the name now-sorry) but when he came to the dealership during the day it caused a huge ruckus so they agreed to open the dealership just for him in the wee hours of the morning. Anyone that just happened to be at the dealership when he arrived to buy a car, receieved a brand new caddy from E himself. He purchased over 100 cadillacs for strangers during his lifetime. Cool huh?

Anyway~ we stopped and got out to see the famous duck march at the Peabody Hotel. Anyone know what the story is behind that? Wanna know? Two friends who owned the Peabody Hotel were avid hunters and were sitting around hunting and drinking Jack Daniels Whiskey. They got drunk and thought it would be funny to put ducks in the fountain of the hotel lobby...so they did and it stuck. They trained the ducks to march from the little house upstairs, ride down the elevator, walk through the lobby to the fountain and get in the fountain until it was time to go back upstairs. To this day, the ducks do this everyday at 11 am and 5 pm. There are 4 females and 1 male. When celebrities stay at the hotel they get to be the duck masters. I tried to get a good picture, but they went to fast for me. AM got a good one, so I'll try to add it to the post later.

After the Duck March, we shook hands with Mr. Lansky who was Elvis' personal tailor. He has a men's up-scale clothing store in the Peabody Hotel. We also bought lots of Duck Stuff, including a "Shut The Duck Up" Apron. I love it! haha

After the Duck March, we loaded back on the bus to visit Beale Street. Beale Street is a quaint little strip in the center of downtown Memphis where they say the Blues originated from. There are several blues bars and restaurants to include BB King's Blue's Club and a Hard Rock Cafe. We had lunch (included on the tour) at the Superior Club which was a few doors down from BB Kings. I had the fried catfish (yum!) and AM had the pulled pork BBQ (looked double yum!). I have to say that it was some of the best food I have eaten in a LONG time. Definately recommend! We spent two hours on Beale Street eating, shopping, and doing the tourist thing.

We also got to see the Memphis Museum, which is now the home of two famous statutes. One is of Elvis Pressley and one of BB King. The Elvis Pressley one used to be outside, near Mudd Island but tourist kept tearing off the tassels on his coat.

After 3.5 hous of downtown Memphis, we were ready to get the show on the road and were off to Graceland.

To be continued...