- Graceland
Standing outside the front gates of Elvis' house? Well not really, this is just a large poster for tourists, but it is what it actually looks like, only the real one's a bit bigger.
The front of Elvis' house. I imagined it to be really big and grand, but I was quite surprised at how small it looked from the front.
This is the aptly named piano room. The house seemed much larger on the inside than it looked on the outside. I thought I had walked into Doctor Who's Tardis. Every room was carefully planned, with each having its own theme and colour schemes. My favourite was the Jungle room, though unfortunately I don't have a photo of it, as it was too dark, and flash photography was not allowed. I'm sure that anyone who has visited Graceland will remember how beautiful that room is.
This is the back of the house. It by no means portrays the grandness of the interior.
The famous leather jacket he used in one of his concerts.
Elvis was quite fond of motorbikes. Here are a few of them.
He had some very nice looking cars as well.
The famous Pink Cadillac.
The 'Lisa Marie'. The private plane he named after his daughter.
The interior of the Lisa Marie. This housed the conference room, the study, and the bedroom. Everything was suede, wood and gold. Even the wash basin and taps in the bathroom were gold plated.
This is his grave. He now resides beside his mother Gladys, father Vincent, grandmother Minnie Mae and his little known twin brother Jesse, who died at birth. By the time the visitors have finished the tour of the house, seen his hundreds of gold records on display, listened (via casette) to Elvis' life story, learned of his love for his family and friends, his triumphs, and his loneliness, and arrive here and read the final inscription on the tombstone written by his father, there are many who shead a tear or two for this great man who came from a poor family, achieved so much, and gave so much in such a short lifetime.
The following is an exert from the Epilogue of Priscilla Beaulieu Presley's book 'Elvis and Me':
"I don't think anyone can begin to capture the magic, sensitivity, vulnerability, charm, generosity, and greatness of this man who influenced and contributed so much to our culture through his art and music"