My OperaDay 5 - Going to Graceland and beer-land
Monday, September 14, 2009 12:54:15 AM
Started the day with proper American breakfast (or so I assume?) from IHOP. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns. The works.
The hotel (another econolodge, next to the IHOP) promised that it was "Minutes from Graceland". I guess even the minutes are bigger in America, as it was closer to 45 of our European minutes.
Pulled up at Graceland and paid our parking blood money, was greeted by a pretty awesome poster.
Another handful of dollars and we were allowed to enter.
The bad: Graceland is probably the most "Tourist machine" event I've ever been to. Lots of people directing, pointing, and making sure we were going the right place and not lingering. The good though was that the tour was really well put together. Came with a pre-recorded tour guide that was informative without going into mad Elvis fanboy territory.
Poor Elvis though. Having your home preserved in the state it was during one of the ugliest decades in modern times. Green shag carpeting on ceiling and floors? Really?
Cultural observations
The hotel (another econolodge, next to the IHOP) promised that it was "Minutes from Graceland". I guess even the minutes are bigger in America, as it was closer to 45 of our European minutes.
Pulled up at Graceland and paid our parking blood money, was greeted by a pretty awesome poster.
Another handful of dollars and we were allowed to enter.
The bad: Graceland is probably the most "Tourist machine" event I've ever been to. Lots of people directing, pointing, and making sure we were going the right place and not lingering. The good though was that the tour was really well put together. Came with a pre-recorded tour guide that was informative without going into mad Elvis fanboy territory.
Poor Elvis though. Having your home preserved in the state it was during one of the ugliest decades in modern times. Green shag carpeting on ceiling and floors? Really?
Cultural observations
- Pretty much everywhere we've been, the coffee has been great. Seems like the Americans also like strong filter coffee, like us, even if they ruin it with cream and sugar
- What's the deal with shower heads in hotels here? They're screwed in to the wall. How are you supposed to clean those hard to reach places without acrobatics.
