"Winning" in Memphis
We spent the end of 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. We traveled there to cheer on our Iowa State Cyclones at the Liberty Bowl. We met sister Jess and Casey down there. This was our first time in Memphis and our first time attending an Iowa State bowl game. Both did not disappoint!
Here's some of the fun we had!
Liberty Bowl Game
We watched our Cyclones win the Liberty Bowl, beating the Memphis Tigers, 21-20. It was a close, exciting game. It was also a cold one (30-something degrees) ... but we bundled up and cheered a lot to stay warm! It has been a number of years since we've been to an ISU football game so it felt good to be back, especially at a bowl game. We are excited about what Coach Campbell has already done for the Iowa State football program.
Graceland
We knew while we were in Memphis we had to go to Graceland and take in all things Elvis. Even though I didn't grow up listening to Elvis' music and don't consider myself a "fan" ... I still appreciate the influence he had on the music industry and time period in which he lived.
What I found most interesting about the Graceland Mansion was that it looked exactly like it did the day he died in 1977. It felt as if time stopped at Graceland when he died. The electronics, the furniture, the decorations ... all very 70's! The rooms were very eccentric and very over-the-top, much like Elvis, himself. Beyond the mansion, there's a large museum with several exhibits. We saw Elvis' collection of vehicles, his "toys" (motorcycles, golf carts, snowmobiles, etc.), his rhinestone jumpsuits and records, and an exhibition featuring his time in the military. I learned a lot about Elvis and left Graceland wanting to know more!
Beale Street
A trip to Memphis would be incomplete without a stop to Beale Street. Beale Street is three blocks of nightclubs, restaurants and shops. Known as the "Home of the Blues", Beale Street is a melting pot of blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, R&B and gospel music. It reminded me of a smaller, older version of Broadway Street in Nashville. We went to Beale Street the night before the game to take in the parade and party with fellow Cyclone fans! We even ran into some people we knew ... from Remsen or college friends (of Ryan's). We ended up having a lot (maybe too much!) fun!
Southern Feels
Even though our trip was short, we still got a taste of what Memphis and the south were like. The people were so polite and hospitable. And those accents! The food was good, too, of course. Who doesn't like BBQ? Driving through areas of the city, we enjoyed seeing some of the older, historic homes. So pretty. It is always interesting traveling somewhere that's not like where we live, where we grew up. Traveling to Memphis and having this great experience makes me want to travel to the south again. Where to go to next?!
