RECAP – STEAM BOATING ON THE MISSISIPPI -Sept 25 – Oct 5, 2022
Our journey began in New Orleans with a local guide guiding us through the “Big Easy.” Seeing the historic Jackson Square and the French Quarter were just a few of the highlights. A trip to a cemetery was interesting as they bury their dead above ground. Yes, you purchase the land and crypt just as you would a burial plot here in PA. We enjoyed lunch at the New Orleans School of Cooking with a demonstration by a chef showing us how to make Corn and Crab Bisque, Chicken Creole, Bananas Foster and Pralines with the best part enjoying everything he made. It was a lot of fun and very informative.
Then onboard the American Queen (built in 1995 and is the largest steamship in the world). This is a beautiful ship which was very comfortable with great food, all your drinks and live entertainment every night. The singers, musicians and entertainers were exceptional. We had two big winners in bingo $240 and $220 – not bad at all.
One downside to the trip was that the Mississippi was at a very low point. Actually the river is at its lowest level in 18 years. This proved to be a problem in getting to some of the stops. As a result, we spent a little more time on the ship. We did make stops to the Nottoway Plantation, Pointe Coupee and Natchez, Mississippi. However, we missed Vicksburg and Greenville, Mississippi.
Once we arrived in Memphis, we enjoyed a three hour tour around all parts of the area. During our lunch break, our tour guide took some to the famous ducks at the Peabody Hotel. This tradition began in 1930’s and continues to this day. Check it out on goggle – The Peabody Ducks. Then we enjoyed a tour of the Elvis Mansion and car and plane museums. We overnighted at the beautiful Graceland Guesthouse with Elvis memoranda and music playing everywhere. There is even a Founders Garden where you can have your ashes interred for all eternity.
We stayed an extra night at the Hampton Inn and Suites hotel which was centrally located and close to our tour departure point. We thoroughly enjoyed the Mojo Music Bus Tour where we were entertained by a very good singer and guitar player. He had us singing along while he told numerous stories about the area as we passed by. I believe we all had fun. Then we went to the Sun Studios for a good tour of the studio where Elvis recorded his first song. It costs him $4 to record and took him several weeks to save that $4 which changed his life immediately. I believe the title of the recording was That’s All Right Mama. We returned to our hotel and freshened up for dinner, which was one block away on Beale Street – a place called Alfred’s.
All in all, it was a fantastic experience!