We're off on a roadtrip across the good, old US of A! Kicking off in Connecticut we drive through New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington DC, Delaware and Virginia and reach the beautifully restored 18th century town of Colonial Williamsburg at the end of a long, 490 mile day. This was the earliest permanent English settlement in North America and became the capital of the state of Virginia. Sandi stands in front of Governor's Palace—the residence and official headquarters of the English Governors of the New World from 1714 until America went to war to rid itself of its colonial masters in 1775.
Those were the days of REAL men.
We take the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville, North Carolina, one of America's most scenic drives that winds and twists along mountain crests. At Asheville we tour the largest private residence in the country - the Biltmore Estate built by George Vanderbilt in the 1890s. He journeyed through Europe and Asia purchasing paintings, porcelains, bronzes, carpets and antiques, along with artwork by Renoir, Sargent and Whistler, and furniture by Chippendale and Sheraton. It is in a word, stunning.
The main dining room at the Biltmore Estate ready for the Christmas feast.
Pausing in front of the estate Sandi dreams of being invited to Christmas dinner by the Vanderbilt family.
The unromantic side of life on the road... a major traffic jam enroute to Nashville, Tennessee.
There's no better relief for traffic stress than Bluegrass and Honky Tonk so we head straight for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. If you're a fan of country music, this is the museum to see. We thrill to such sights as Bob Dylan's barely legible inscription scrawled across a lyric sheet, Emmylou Harris's petite bejewelled cowboy boots, and Elvis's gold-leafed Cadillac (a gift from Priscilla).
Unfortunately the Grand Ole Opry is sold out but we stop for the token tourist photo in front of it (that's a teeny, tiny Sandi in black).
In Memphis our first priority was t' git us some mouth-watering, artery-cloggin' southern comfort food cuz in Memphis, if it ain't about Elvis, it's about the barbeque.
The reality is, it's all about Elvis and let's face it—the guy deserves it all and more. We're at Graceland (photo above) in Elvis's living room (photo below)—how cool is that?!! Graceland is the second most visited home in America—only the White House receives more visitors each year. Elvis purchased Graceland for less than $100,000 in the late '50s at the tender age of 22 and never felt the need to upgrade to anything grander despite his immense wealth. It's staggering to think about how much he achieved before his premature death at the young age of 42. If you can't get excited about Elvis, you can't get excited 'bout nuthin'.
One of The King's kabillion gold records...
...and sexy, studded, Elvis the Pelvis jumpsuits.
We HAD to stop here.
He's alive!!!
Sad to leave all things Elvis but our schedule is tight and we have to get to Oklahoma City (via Little Rock, Arkansas) by nightfall. We love you Elvis. Thank you, thank you very much.
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