As a child born in the mid 60s, I was raised on the music of Elvis Presley. I love the songs, watched the movies, and yearned to see a concert. Unfortunately, this was to be denied to me when the King was laid to rest in August 1977. Years later, when planning a trip to the USA, I knew that an excursion to Graceland was a must. Many people I spoke to said that it would be waste of money; it wasn't as if I was going to see Elvis. In their opinion it would just be a way for the Presley estate to make money from fans like me. I reasoned that they may well be right, but I couldn't go to Memphis and not enter the inner sanctum of the King to see for myself why this place was so special.
Despite my determination that I really wanted to see Graceland for myself, it was with some trepidation that I started the day. Would it live up to my expectations? Would I come away inspired or disappointed? Would I find myself in the position of wishing it had remained an unfulfilled dream, or would it be a visit to remember for the rest of my life? As the coach came to a stop close to the mansion I gave a sigh and hoped that it would be something to remember.
The first surprise was that vehicles belonging to the public are not allowed through the Graceland gates. The parking for cars and coaches is on the opposite side of the road. This is also where they have the major proportion of the Elvis money-making machine. From the cars Elvis drove, to his "Lisa Marie" plane; and from the memorabilia with his name or trademark on it, to a diner selling soda in a commemorative cup, it can be found in this area. Tourists can even send mail from here which will be franked with a Graceland mark. All of it costing many dollars, and showing that adulation for the King is as very much alive today as it was all those years ago. Another surprise was that lockers were provided for the use of tourists going across the road to the Graceland mansion. These were for the use of those who had video cameras which are not permitted on the Graceland grounds.
