My Holiday Diary - Tupelo, Memphis, Hawaii & LA
August 2000
Wednesday 9th August
A group of us from The Elvis Touch (Glasgow) are off to Tupelo, Memphis, Hawaii and LA for a whole 3 weeks. The Holiday starts here! Our group consists of Jane, Margaret Nolan, Margaret Nolan (Jnr), May, Auntie Jean, Margaret, Isobelle, Anne and Lillian.
11.53 am, Glasgow Airport in the rain, aching to get to Memphis. Flight No UK2096 took off only 13 minutes late. Memphis here we come! Sitting in seat 16D beside Isobelle. We all cheered on take-off! Jane & Anne sitting opposite, May in row behind.
Arrived in Amsterdam after a nice short flight from Glasgow. Next is KL605 for MEMPHIS. After what seemed to be a 2 mile trek to Gate E (For Elvis) 22, found Lynn and Jensen. Just half an hour until check-in so nice time for a browse round duty-free (already bought my "bottle for the room"!)
4.14 pm Dutch time. Sitting in Row 32D beside Maggie listening to the first of many flight safety procedures. Hope we eat soon, absolutely starving! Wanted beef but got pasta, washed down with a wee red wine and a large brandy. Really smooth flight so far (8.30pm Dutch time) - quite a few hours yet until we get to Memphis. Tried to get interested in my magazine, no music to listen to, in-flight radio stations rubbish. Should try and get some sleep!
Thursday 10th August
4.40pm. First chance I've had to get out the diary! Landed in Memphis about 7.30pm and got on the coaches for the Ramada in Tupelo. We're all absolutely exhausted but can't describe how thrilled we are to be back in Memphis. Tupelo, 9.15pm, meet up to go to Waffle House for steak & eggs (by this time we'd have eaten anything, and tried not to think about it being 6am UK time!) Really enjoyed that meal!
Slept for about 5 hours. Met the lassies for breakfast at Shoneys, opposite direction from my usual haunt the Waffle House but you always get a good breakfast in Shoneys! This was to be more entertaining than even we expected! After our 3 course breakfast got serenaded by a nice, somewhat extrovert man in the next table who fancied himself as Elvis. We also got a quick Muhammed Ali impression thrown in for our sins! He just happened to have lots of photos of Elvis and others in about 6 albums. Coincidence? Maybe. Anyway, he was harmless and kept us amused through breakfast!
And so on to the Birthplace…….. Our first Elvis sight of the holiday. Really hot today, easily over 100. Had a lovely afternoon at the birthplace, sweltered through the welcome speeches given by the local dignitaries, checked out the gift shop. Crossed the read to the local church where they set up a hall with food and cold drinks - very welcome. Wee Jean won a 5-CD player. Should be fun getting it home but that's too far off to think about here! Filmed bits and pieces and got the girls saying the famous Glasgow phrase "Gonnae no dae that" while posing for photos at the plaque beside the birthplace! Glad to get back to the Ramada to cool off in the pool - even that was warm!
Tupelo Banquet later today went off well as always. Thunderstorms forecast later, so just as we ventured out of the room to cross over to the Convention Centre the heavens well and truly opened and we had the most incredible thunderstorm. Torrential rain, thunder, everything! Rain lasted most of the night. Good disco, Bob started as always playing smoochy records. Sent Wee Jean up to the podium to ask if he could start playing something a bit faster to get everybody dancing. Sure enough, it did the trick. By midnight everybody was ready for bed, and we ended up at a pool party with a crowd from London! It took a while to materialise, this pool party, I was ready for bed and there was Jane at the door with a "carry out" asking if I was ready! Grabbed some shorts and t-shirt and thought I should be sociable and join them!
Slept really, really well - until 5 am - friend phoned from England to wish me a Happy Birthday. Nice sentiments and enjoyed our chat - but, hey, not that early! Felt absolutely wrecked the next morning after just over 3 hours' sleep!
Friday 11th August
Found Shoneys and had some breakfast. Could only face cereal and fruit, unusual for me who's usually first to the pancakes and bacon! Walked back to the hotel ahead of the girls who were running a bit later than me and, as I was nearing the Ramada this guy shouted over from the car park, "Are you lost". Convinced myself it was one of these pervert Americans you read about, but it was only our friend Ian come down from Memphis to pick up Jane to take her to the Fan Club Presidents' Luncheon. Nice of him, since he himself had only arrived in Memphis early that morning. Meanwhile, Jane & co were still back at Shoneys having breakfast.
Jane duly arrived all set for the Luncheon in Elvis waistcoat and a wee touch of tartan (looking like a Bay City Roller, Ian said!) and they left for Memphis, heard later they made the Luncheon on time, got in OK and enjoyed it. Jane got introduced to lots of people and so much happened she couldn't take it all in! She enjoyed the experience though, which was the most important thing.
Meanwhile, back in Tupelo………. Those of us who didn't make the Luncheon stopped at Hickory Ridge Mall for lunch (en route to Memphis) and had lunch. Arrived at the Ramada about 3.30, there was an event with Lamar Fike going on in Dad's Place. Went down to meet up with Ian in the bar for a few drinks. 2 hours later we were still there, chatting to many people he knew whose names I can't remember, nice also seeing Rhea from Florida again, whom I met for the first time last year!
Thought briefly about going to the Elvis Today Launch Party and Meet the Brits dance later that night but tiredness got the better of me and I opted for an early night instead. It was my birthday today and what better way to celebrate than just being in Memphis! Got out my birthday cards already, and the photo of my gorgeous wee nephew who's only 1, and they're all up there on the table.
Rather than be really boring and go bed too early, decide to go down to Graceland to soak up some Elvis Week atmosphere, met a couple of the lassies in the plaza opposite. Had a wee drink (or 2) in one of their rooms. So far it's been a nice birthday! Very nice! And so to bed………. Slept really well for the first time in 3 days.
Saturday 12th August
Didn't bother with the tour today, decided instead to have a well-deserved lie-in, a late breakfast and a dip in the pool. Was going to write postcards and do the Diary but got chatting to some people instead - the same family who were at the pool in Tupelo on the last night. Somehow managed to forget to eat dinner (again, what it is about Memphis!), so made do with a truly vile cheeseburger from Mapco next to the hotel.
Embarrassing moment of the holiday #1 in Graceland Plaza! Graceland, justifiably proud of their revamped website, have a bank of computers in the Plaza for fans to surf the new site. I in my wisdom thought it would be a good opportunity to discreetly check my email, I'm so glad the guy next to me tipped me off that my email list was appearing on 20 different monitors and being looked at by 20 different people! Clicked off before too many people noticed (I hope)!
TWWII Premiere tonight, absolutely brilliant! We were all stunned by it and can't wait to see it again. Fantastic work by the director. It's like watching a whole new film, seeing it afresh, for the first time. Rick Schmidlin (Director) and Todd Morgan were there, and Millie Kirkham was supposed to be putting in an appearance but was late. What can I say about this movie that hasn't been said already by those lucky enough to have been there - brilliant, fabulous, unmissable, fantastic!! Bumped into Ian and his brother afterwards in the foyer. He was rushing back to type up a report for the Web (took him 5 hours I heard later!) Meanwhile, the girls went back to the hotel but I wanted to stay on Beale Street because I was on too much of a high (still) to go back.
Took some photos of Beale St, then decided I needed a drink, bought the world's biggest beer which was served in something resembling a bucket, finished it eventually and weaved my way back up Beale to Elvis Presley's.
Spent the rest of the evening with Barbara, George, Helen and another couple from our tour and had a good night. Terry Mike Jeffrey was the main entertainer that night, excellent as usual. The DJ from the local oldies station, Oldies 95.7 getting the crowd going and chucking t-shirts into the audience! Me and George grabbed a t-shirt at the same time and I ended up with it (George doesn't wear white t-shirts - thanks George!) Closing time - piled into George's hire car and went back to the Ramada about 1.30. Another late night in Memphis.
Sunday 13th August
Gospel Brunch today, Met lassies outside EPs. They missed the bus - or rather it left without them - but they arrived eventually.
Imperials were brilliant! Nice meal too. I had fried chicken and chips with BBQ sauce. Too hot today, went for a drink in a bar half way down Beale and I left at 2.30 for bus back to the hotel. Left the girls in the bar, they were enjoying themselves! Dip in the pool for an hour, relaxing before the dance tonight. It's good to have an up to date diary again! Now for the postcards……….
Disco tonight, Elvis records and no band. Good idea by Graceland for a change! Better than last year but still the same carry-on with the stupid ticket system for drinks! Can't understand why they don't just take your money like anybody else! Table was miles from the dancefloor so some of the girls decided to start dancing on a carpeted area next to our table. Preferred the dancefloor, this was too much like dancing in your front room!
Saw Rhea at a table near the dancefloor sitting with friends. Ian came in after a while, decided the choice of music could be improved on, then got up onto the DJ's podium to pick out some other Elvis records (ones you could dance to). Oh well, it gave us a laugh anyway! Girls went out for a while to eat at nearby Taco Bell so I stayed behind to keep the table and watch the bags. The girls didn't make it back to the hotel from Beale, they didn't have time, so they just came straight to the dance. Trilogy came on near the end so out came the Elvis Touch flag, got them all on film doing their stuff!
Monday 14th August
Quick breakfast in the hotel before heading out to Graceland for a few hours. Went round the mansion today for the first time this holiday. Got lots of photos and sneaked a couple with the flash! Saw Jane and the others and we went round together. Got some beautiful t-shirts. Before the holiday I said to myself I'd buy one, ended up buying 5, so many nice ones this year! Had a meal (something between lunch and dinner) at the Diner out at Graceland. Very nice too. Back on 6.30 shuttle to get ready for tonight. Sun Studio Block Party featuring Billy Swan. Only I got there too late and missed it by minutes. Saw Ian and Megan, they arrived shortly after me hoping to catch the show too! Got a lift back to Elvis Presley's on Beale St to meet up with the girls………. (long story about what happened next!!) Fast forward to tomorrow………
Tuesday 15th August
6.55 am, friend from England phoned for a chat and that was me well and truly wide awake! Lay until 8 am. Breakfast downstairs again, first piece of fruit since I got here! Relaxed in the room awhile. Went to Memphis Mall for a few hours' shopping, it's my last chance to get those non-Elvis things for people at home which I've been meaning to get since I got here! Enjoyed a dip in the pool to cool off. Another really baking hot day - 102 degrees today and 76 forecast for tonight! Didn't spend long in the Mall, just got a couple of presents, grabbed a late lunch and jumped a taxi back to the hotel. Nice to see the old Mall of Memphis again, much prefer it to Hickory Ridge Mall which is where the shuttle buses are told to take us these days. Relaxed for a couple of hours before heading out to Graceland for the Candlelight Vigil.
Seem to be a lot of fans around Graceland this week, definitely more than the 5000 estimated on TV. Got there in nice time for some shopping(!) and something to eat. Met the girls briefly then went off to take some film and photos. A lot of people came up to say Hello to our group, must have been something to do with all the tartan on show and the Elvis Touch Glasgow flag and t-shirts! Everybody is so nice here!
Opening Ceremony was nice - the theme this year was "There's Always Me". We sat for a while soaking up the atmosphere opposite the gates, then made our way to the line and waited about 3 hours. Not bad compared to previous years. People were still coming up and talking to us in line. My candle kept going out! Stayed on at Graceland until about 3 then got a cab back to the Ramada. Another early start tomorrow for the early morning visit to Graceland. No rest at all on this holiday but we wouldn't have it any other way!
Wednesday 16th August
3 hours' sleep and time to get up. What a life! Hope we can recharge our batteries in Hawaii! Graceland was crazy today - the busiest day of the year, 23 years since Elvis died. Had to leave the line to put my camcorder in a locker - rules are rules I suppose! At least it saves me carrying it around for the next few hours. Mansion tour is mad - queues everywhere. Feel somewhat disrespectful being in Elvis's house, especially today with hundreds of other people jostling for position to take photos!
Had another look at the floral tribute which Jane got on behalf of the club. She spent a lot of time and effort getting this tribute organised and we all really appreciated it! A real labour of love on her part. We first saw it last night at the Vigil, on the left as you walk up to the Meditation Garden. Today is the hottest yet which I found out to my cost when I decided to walk to the supermarket for some fruit! It was less than a 10 minute walk and I gave up, the heat was exhausting! Found out later that day it was equal to the hottest day on record in Memphis since 1956 - 111 degrees including the heat index, officially 102. 45 minutes by the pool today was enough, all the sunbeds were taken anyway. Even Memphis can't escape the Germans!
Went out to Graceland again later on, queued at the Post Office and posted my cards, which ran out of stamps a minute after I bought mine! Poor old Isobelle didn't get any.
After meeting up with the girls we went for lunch at the Rockabilly Diner. Thoroughly enjoyed my cheeseburger, fries, onion rings and iced tea. Went back by cab (nice driver, chatted about Memphis, as much as he could considering it's a 3 minute trip to the Ramada!) Relaxed for an hour before packing and back out to Graceland on the 8pm shuttle. Can't get enough of the place!
Weather guy on TV advising people not to venture out in this heat unless absolutely necessary, but by now the sun is down and the temperature has dropped to the high 70s - just about bearable.
Time for some last minute shopping (got the FTD Jungle Room Sessions CD) and some photos, and one last chance to get some film of the gates which were now closed. Did the evening walk-up tonight. Guard spotted my camcorder and wouldn't let me up unless I put it in a locker. Asked if he would watch it for me but he wasn't having it! Oh well. Got my photo taken at the gates. One thing I found bizarre while on the subject of the gates - why is there a fake, obviously painted backdrop of the Graceland gates set up in the Plaza where people pay to have their photographs taken, when the real thing is right across the street (just a thought)!
Back at 10.30 tonight to go bed early. Met Jane and her mum on the shuttle back to the hotel. They had to make a very quick visit to Beale St for some things then straight back on the bus again. Nae luck! Not looking forward to this 5 am start tomorrow!
Thursday 17th August
5 am - middle of the night! Had a banana muffin and orange juice for breakfast! Had to sit on my case to close it and my dodgy lock is playing up again. If I buy so much as a bar of soap in Hawaii I'm in trouble!! Having said that, met the girls on the bus and saw their hand luggage. Mine doesn't seem too bad now!
First flight today is 9.10 am (NW7 to Seattle). Lovely smooth flight with very little turbulence. Nice breakfastt - raisin bran, bacon & egg roll, orange juice and coffee. Never enjoyed a breakfast so much! By the time they served up we were absolutely ravenous. Sitting on Row 16, Seat F on the plane, an exit row so plenty of leg room to stretch out! Just now it's 12.28 local time (as in Memphis time), we've just flown over the Rockies and Jackson Hole and there are some great views from the window here - from plains to desert to mountains. None of us are together on this flight. Just spotted Jane 3 rows in front absolutely fast asleep, can't sleep when I travel so I just relax by writing this! Only about an hour to go until we arrive in Seattle. The pilot has just announced it's 68 degrees in Seattle - about 40 cooler than Memphis! Not long now until we land.
Landed about an hour ago and "it's a couple of degrees cooler"! Went for a wander and bought a couple of magazines.
NW945 took off right on time. Hawaii here we come!
Got chatting to Katie from Detroit who was sitting beside me on the plane, who's filing her toenails at the moment! Typical laidback West-Coaster! Don't feel tired just now, just want to get there (Hawaii), get a bath and get unpacked! Landed OK and got our suitcases together (eventually), got Lei'd and boarded the coach for the Pacific Beach Hotel. Really lovely hotel, we're all over the place, in the two wings of the hotel - but we all have an ocean view - if you look out of your window and look to your left there it is! The beautiful blue Pacific Ocean!
We're all too tired to go out tonight, we've just freshened up, unpacked and decided to eat in the Oceanarium in the hotel. Had a gorgeous meal and sampled our first Mai-Tais and Pina Coladas. Meal worked out about $40 each tonight including drinks - our first splurge of the holiday, and long overdue! Probably more than I spent on food during our week in Memphis. Well not quite, but it seems that way when I think back! Slept like the proverbial log tonight and had a lie-in.
Thursday 18th August
Couldn't get through to Jane this morning - blamed the temperamental hotel phones! Found out later I shouldn't have dialled the 7 before the room number. Duh! I'll know next time. Everybody finishes serving breakfast here at 10 or 10.30 so if you're not an early bird you've got nae chance! All I could find to eat was an egg sandwich in ABC. Better than nothing I guess! Found an internet café so took the opportunity to check my email, really handy location, just round the corner from the hotel and only cost $1 for 10 minutes. Meant to look up Ian's TTWII review on the newsgroup but forgot. Idiot.
Met up with the girls in the foyer for our excursion to the Polynesian Cultural Centre. This was great, really interesting. Jane and I kept seats for the Canoe Pageant while the others checked out the Samoan Show. Got massive bright pink ice-creams in a half-pineapple with fruit at the bottom. Absolutely delicious, Isobelle dropped hers all down her front and walked about all day with pink shorts which used to be white!
I split up with them for a while to take some photos and do some shopping, met up with them again for dinner. Another delicious buffet meal. Sweet and sour ribs, chicken, rice, steamed vegs, salad, dessert. We all ate far too much as always. Odyssey Show next - this was really colourful, with Polynesian dancing and fire displays. Very well done indeed. Nice to see where the "Drums of the Islands" scene in Paradise Hawaiian Style was filmed and also to hear them play it. I could just picture Elvis up there doing his thing with the drums. I got a kick from that. Fitted in a spot of shopping before this show and treated myself to a sarong!
Back on the bus after the show, the driver was good, really entertaining. He kept us going with his patter and stories on the journey out but kept reasonably quiet on the return journey so that we could dose off (which we did). Another early(ish) night after buying some "essentials" for the room - diet coke and crisps in ABC. Handy shop, they're everywhere here on the island, and there's even one in the hotel! Good night's sleep once again. Must be all this fresh air!
Friday 19th August
Up quite early this morning. Popped in to see Jane and May in the room after breakfast (the works, lovely) and a check of my email. We spent a couple of hours on the beach just relaxing, enjoying the sun and generally chilling out. Some of us overdid the sunbathing and suffered for it later on!
Catamaran Sunset Cruise tonight, enjoyed it. Got dragged up to join in the Hula and the Macarena. Somebody filmed it I think! Margaret was dancing all night, put the rest of us to shame. Sailed alongside the shore at Waikiki and saw the hotel where Elvis stayed when he was in Oahu (the one with the rainbow design on the front), saw my first Hawaiian Sunset. Left the ship to see a show featuring a desparately boring world famous(!) illusionist. Anne wasn't too well but picked up in time for the show. Made sure the waiter kept us going on Chi Chis and Mai Tais to make it more bearable. Hotel only a short walk away so we nipped into the International Marketplace for yet more souvenir shopping. Got Alison & Stuart a tasteful (not) Hula doll for the car dashboard, bright luminous pink, couldn't resist it. The girls all bought full size dolls for presents which play a tune when turned on. Tiring day today, it's 12.07 am as I'm writing this and I'll have to sign off now before I nod off mid-sentence. Night night diary!
Saturday 20th August
Decided to take a trip on my own into Honolulu today. Got a nice breakfast in Smorgy's on Kuhio Avenue then caught The Bus into Chinatown. Wandered about for a while (today is overcast), took photos of royal palaces and buildings. It started drizzling with rain but it was still warm and the sun shone through late afternoon. Decided to get back in plenty time to get ready for Germaines Luau later tonight. Really good night! Weather turned stormy and it rained a bit but dried off later. Meal was a bit of a scrum but at least the drinks were half decent - no half measures here! Had a good old Glasgow sing song on the way home, everything ranging from Blue Hawaii to I Belong To Glasgow and everything in between.
Room Party in 805. Feeling slightly drunk but still did my packing. Left Jane, Isobelle (fast asleep), May, Anne and Margaret to contemplate their packing! 12.34 am and I'm exhausted, time to sleep. Tomorrow Kauai.
Sunday 21st August
Our flight isn't until 3.25pm but got to be at the airport about an hour before. Backtracking to this morning - had rice crispies from a cup and ate them with a stolen plastic spoon! Hand luggage is a joke, bag bulging at the seams and stuff falling out of the top. My Presley Place bear seems to have doubled in size since I left Tupelo! Keep having to push him back in. He just keeps jumping right back out again! Anyway, sitting in the lobby of the Pacific Beach with about 25 bags, our combined hand luggage. Saw Anne and Isobelle in ABC trying to accumulate enough receipts to qualify for 5 mugs. They managed it and I got one for myself. Feel ravenous now, so bought myself a tuna salad sandwich to keep me going. Jane's feeling light-headed. Can't think why! We're blaming it on a hangover from last night combined with the beat of the day, although it is a couple of degrees cooler than Memphis!
Got to the airport just over an hour before take-off so we relaxed with a monster bag of Cheetos and cold drinks (of the non-alcoholic kind). Nice flight - only half an hour - just enough time for a quick fruit punch and already we're coming into land at Lihue Airport. Short ride to the hotel which is OK, just OK, not as nice as Coco Palms but then what is. Ocean just steps away and we're 5 minutes either direction from shops and restaurants. Got our cases, checked out the beach (cloudy day today), unpacked and met up for dinner at 7. Thought we might eat in the Flying Lobster in the hotel but they panicked when we told them how many were in our party and couldn't (wouldn't) take a reservation!
On the way along the road, the lassies pointed out where they stayed in '97, Islander on the Beach next door. They know where they're going better than me, so I followed them to the Coconut Marketplace to find a place to eat. Lots of lovely shops, Isobelle went a bit mad, got nice cod and chips for dinner. Linda - our new friend from the Isle of Man who's hilarious - she came along with us. Did some more shopping (worry about getting it home later!) Really nice place to talk around, then ambled back to the hotel for a chat by the pool before bed.
Monday 22nd August
Couldn't sleep late yet again so got up at 8 for a walk along the beach to blow away the cobwebs before breakfast. Good buffet, all you can eat type breakfast in the Flying Lobster restaurant. At least we got in this morning! Had raisin bran, juice, fruit, pancakes, bacon, egg and hash browns. Needed another look at the beach afterwards to walk off that breakfast! Saw the girls on the way back upstairs (they came down at 9). Helicopter trip at 10.50. Our coach driver, Leo told us about it then 5 of us got into the helicopter (another couple and Isobelle in front and me, May and Margaret in the back). Isobelle thought Nicholas, our pilot, was cute and she kept grabbing his arm at every opportunity (often) and couldn't keep her eyes off him! Spectacular scenery ranging from mountains, valleys, ancient volcanoes, plains, miles of coastline. Filmed loads on the camcorder. When we got back to the office Leo told us our video didn't turn out, but we all got complimentary video tapes from the company instead which was nice. Hopefully the bits will be on there that I didn't manage to capture on my tape.
Girls in their room as I write this having a few drinks. I walked into Kauai village - opposite direction from Coconut Marketplace. Not far, only about a 5 minute walk. Met Linda coming back from Safeway and met Lynn (our courier) further along the road. She was sent out by the other couriers to try and find a place to eat tonight! Did some shopping, tasted some delicious home-made Hawaiian salsa made from mangoes and other nice things and checked my email - one from Ian asking me to pass on kisses to the Glasgow lassies. Typical! Typed a quick reply and sent one to my sister to let her know I was still alive!
It's nearly 5pm now, I'm sitting at the pool writing this, the sun is trying its best to come out. Don't know what's happening tonight. This isn't the place to run about fitting everything in, like Memphis, this is the part of the holiday for "hanging loose" and being laid back!
Phoned 165, Wee Jean answered. Party going on since 1 pm, bring a bottle! Go along with my bottle of Whyte & Mackay which has travelled with me since Glasgow, 2 cans of diet coke and a bar of macademia nut chocolate in case anybody's feeling peckish! Haven't had anything to eat since breakfast, and I've got a bit of catching up to do. After a few whiskies and cokes I'm well and truly caught up and next thing I know I'm drinking this pink concoction containing vodka, martini and just about everything else! Had a couple then felt the need to lie down and then make a hasty visit to the loo, I leave you to imagine the rest! What a night - ended up in the pool until late, then the jacuzzi which was lovely. Couple of others joined us beside the pool, Lou, Elaine and Barry who we first got to know towards the end of the week in Memphis. Stayed there until 10.30 (late for Kauai - well past our bed time). Can't remember even lying down on the bed, next thing I know I've wakened up at 1 am still wearing my swimsuit! Finally got to sleep about 3 hours later.
Tuesday 23rd August
Up bright and early this morning (don't know about the bright part though). Felt hungry. Had a huge breakfast - same as yesterday more or less. Must have been half-asleep because Lou & Elaine were at the next table waving over to attract my attention and I didn't see them! Saw them again at a wee jewellery stall in the hotel foyer buying rings. Nice walk along the beach (love that beach), paddle in the ocean - it's not safe to swim on this part of the beach. Saw Wee Jean and Margaret throwing their leis into the water. Tide must have been coming in because they kept coming back (that's the idea, if you're superstitious it means you come back)! Sunbathed for a while then went up to the pool for a dip. Water was freezing but good once I got in. Margaret eventually got a chance to write those postcards! Jane chilling out on a sun lounger on the beach, listening to Elvis on her headphones. I miss Elvis so much here, from seeing and hearing nothing by Elvis in Memphis to no evidence of him at all in Hawaii! Only "fix" so far was the Helicopter Trip commentary which had the whole Blue Hawaii soundtrack on it.
Had enough sun for one day, so decided to walk along to Kauai Village and get lunch in Taco Bell (can't recommend the combo #7 highly enough!) Went into Longs Drug Store, some great bargains, then thought I'd check my email but couldn't get on the computer - the only computer for miles! Never mind, maybe tomorrow….
Had a rest in the room and met the girls at 7, thought we'd check out the Torch Ceremony at the hotel while we get the chance! On the way to the restaurant for dinner (near Coco Palms - came recommended!) some of the girls wanted a photo at the Wedding Arch on the beach, so a poor unsuspecting guy minding his own business, taking his evening stroll, was dragged into the photos! He couldn't get away fast enough! Nice restaurant - can't remember the name now - cute waiter called Stan (very Hawaiian!) Isobelle and Margaret wanted to take him home! Got back about 10.30, we're all tired so we went back to our rooms to relax a while before bed. Nothing much happening at the hotel - everything closes early in Kauai.
Thursday 24th August
Another nice day dawns in beautiful Kauai! Apart from a torrential rain shower in the middle of breakfast which lasted about 20 minutes, then the sun came out and it was glorious. Another massive breakfast. Went for a walk along past Coconut Marketplace to Coco Palms to see what it's like now, and hopefully take a few photos and some film. Nice wee man in a buggy drove up while I was hovering next to the "Private, Do Not Enter" signs and I asked if it was OK if I went for a walk round. OK, he said, and gave me a lift past Elvis's cottage, then up to the lagoon where I got out to take some photos. It brought back some lovely memories of when we stayed there in '92, only a few weeks before Iniki inflicted some serious damage to Kauai.
Met a couple from our tour from Dundee and we filmed each other on the Blue Hawaii raft. Walked about for ages, saw the chapel - still so tranquil and relaxing - it all seems to be trapped in a time warp. Nothing has changed for years it seems. Even the room furnishings are still intact from the day the hurricane hit. The area around the lagoon is as it was, the worst damage was on the other side from what I saw when we passed it on the coach the first night of the holiday. Absolutely thrilled I got to see it all again, probably for the last time before the property developers move in.
Did some last-minute shopping before returning to the hotel and attempted to send 2 emails via WebTV which took me about an hour! Anyway - the service was free so I can't complain! Relaxed in the room when I got back then went for a paddle in the ocean and a swim in the pool. Got a touch of sun today so need to be really careful.
Met up with the lassies for dinner. Walked along towards Kauai Village, fancied a meal in Taco Bell. Jane, Margaret, Linda and I had nice Mexican combos and Anne, Jean, Isobelle and May ate in the TNT Diner next door. What a nice place - it looks like a dive from the outside but it's very very nice inside. A nice man kept offering Margaret glasses of water while we were waiting for the others. Went into Longs Drug Store - love this shop - on the way back. Linda bought an Elvis magazine (a "Life" magazine publication, $10) but it was the only copy in the shop. Not to be outdone, we went along the road to Safeway (all the while keeping a lookout for Harrison Ford who's in Kauai as I write this)! Found enough copies for all of us in Safeway, on the very top shelf. Getting worried about how we're going to get all this stuff home! Went up to pack, having first of all read my new Elvis book. Eventually got my suitcase closed. Our time in Kauai is almost at an end.
Friday 25th August
Saw Linda in the breakfast queue so joined her for breakfast. Finished packing, had a really hard time getting my case to close. Had to sit on it! Hand luggage is 3 times what it was when I left Glasgow, twice what it was when I left Memphis! Still got my 2 teddy bears but added to that there's the macademia nuts, Elvis Week souvenir cup, you name it ...... I had it in my bags!
Relaxed for a while in the foyer, chatted to Helen & George and Irma & John from Rotterdam, shared a seat with Barbara P. Half an hour until we leave this lovely idyllic island - don't want to go to LA, want to go back to Memphis! Time to throw my lei into the ocean in the hope that one day I'll come back.
10 minutes until we board the coach for Lihue Airport. Just enough time to buy some jewellery from the man in the foyer. Nice pair of blue coral and hematite earrings caught my eye, only $5! Asked if he had another pair, one for me and one for my sister, he didn't but offered to make me a pair on the spot. Said I had to leave in less than 10 minutes, no problem he said, I'll make you a pair in 1 - and he did - impressive! Also bought a couple of other things from him. Amazing what you can buy in 5 minutes if you put your mind to it!
Went through the luggage x-ray for about the 50th time on this trip! I dread to think what state the photos will be after being zapped so many times! Starving by now, went off to find something to eat. After a long trek, found an eating place and got Teriyaki Chicken and chips. Lovely grub! Ate quickly and got back to let the others get something too.
Check-in prompt at 4pm for NW936, scheduled to take off at 4.39pm. We all sat together this time over 2 rows in 34 and 35, middle section. Nice smooth flight so far, should take 4 hours 45 minutes to get to LA. Better than we thought. Drinking a tomato juice at the moment, think I smell food to we should be getting dinner soon I think. Had meatloaf, potatoes and veg and the almond thing we had going out. Girls enjoyed their chicken kiev, I took their word for it! Cute steward. Chatted to Lou while stretching my legs. In flight movie this flight was "28 Days", quite good but struggled to stay awake for the end. We're about 20 minutes from landing at LAX, and we started our descent about 20 minutes ago. It's 65 degrees outside at the moment - few degrees cooler than Honolulu. City tour tomorrow at 9.30 am, hope I don't sleep in!
Saturday 26th August
Wakened up before the alarm at 8.15. Too tired to go out for breakfast so ordered some from room service. Wee man appeared 10 minutes later, followed 5 minutes later by the maid, then 5 minutes after that by the aforementioned wee man to remind me that I didn't have credit arranged with the front desk! That's rich, considering we didn't check in until 3 am! I should say that getting credit organised wasn't top of my list of priorities at that time of the morning. Got it sorted out later though. Found my way to the lobby at 9.30 for the tour of LA. Quite good, not many on the bus, probably didn't fancy the early start. Met May outside the foyer when I was waiting with Linda for the coach. They got up early too but were going to Disneyland instead.
Saw Downtown LA, stopped at LA Music Centre, wanted to go in and see if Plácido Domingo (my favourite tenor and Director of the Music Centre) was in town, but not enough time unfortunately! Wanted to look around the Mexican area/Union Station part of town but the driver didn't stop there, only drove past and pointed it out. Disappointing. Also saw Mann's Chinese Theatre, Elvis's star outside the Wax Museum, a lot of Hollywood history, all we could see in 30 minutes basically. 2 minutes until the bus leaves, just enough time to buy a hold-all for my extra luggage. Lynn the courier worried me last night when she said LA were really strict about check-in luggage regulations! After Mann's we drove past Bel Air and Beverly Hills, passed a sign for Hillcrest where Elvis had a house but no time to photograph or film it. Drat! Only got a few sightings of the famous "Hollywood" sign in between the buildings and the smog. Drove slowly down Rodeo Drive on the way to the Farmers Market, a really interesting place to walk through but, again, nae time. Linda & I couldn't resist the strawberries which were on sale. Biggest ones I ever seen! Couldn't finish them there were so many. My eyes are bigger than my stomach, that's my problem!
Got back to hotel about 3. Girls spending the day and most of the evening at Disneyland so didn't see much of them at all. Went down to check out the shops with Linda . Bought some bits and pieces and then went down to the pool for a while to relax. Sat next to Irma and John. Left after half an hour to get changed for dinner. Thought about going to the Chinese place down the street but the food they let us try was on the cold side, so that put us off a bit! Instead we went to Hansa House Family Restaurant right next door to the hotel - had a lovely buffet dinner for $10.95 - soup, salad, main course, dessert, all we could eat! Met a few people from our tour who obviously sussed it out like we did. Still haven't seen the girls yet - guess they must still be at Disneyland making the most of it. Had a bit of an early night after eating a few more of my strawberries. Only about 150 still to eat! Early rise next morning for Universal Studios, set alarm for 7.
Sunday 27th August
Up bright and early, met up with Linda and go over to Hansa for breakfast. $5.50 all you can eat. Girls only had a coffee and some biscuits. They were shattered after staying at Disneyland until midnight the night before. Got to Universal after about an hour on the bus, everybody trying to get a photo/video of that elusive "Hollywood" sign which keeps disappearing and re-appearing for a fraction of a second at a time! Lovely day at Universal, sunny but not unbearably hot. Went to Rugrats show first, never seen them before, great for the kids! Adults enjoyed it too (at least our lot did!) Girls went to Wild West Show next. I saw it last year at Orlando so opted to give it a miss and forced myself to do some more shopping instead. Silver Screen Collectibles had some nice Elvis stuff, assistant noticed my postcards and deduced I was a fan, then proceeded to show me all the stuff they had on Elvis (posters, trinket boxes, pictures etc).
Met the girls after the WW show and we all went to Mels (50s style) Diner for lunch. Cool place. Had cheeseburger with fries and massive basket of onion rings which the others helped me to finish! Joined the line for the Waterworld Show after getting our photos taken with Charlie Chaplin and talking to him. He answered us in a wee squeaks! It was really hot standing in line, the only relief came from the water mist. Great show, lots of action, missed the big climax where a plane comes from nowhere, over the rooftops then crash lands in the water right in front of us. Trust me to have my camcorder switched off at the crucial moment! Jane got it all on hers though.
Next stop the Studio Tour. This was great - a tour on the train through the sets of Universal Studios, re-enactments of King Kong, Jaws, Earthquake, Backdraft, The Mummy etc. Excellent special effects. Tour took about an hour so had a little time for shopping on Universal Citywalk at the entrance, just beside where the coach park is. Went on ahead of the girls because I was anxious to pick up a cuddly toy or something along those lines for my nephew. Got Curious George for him, well I thought he was cute! Took a few photos before getting on the bus back to the hotel. Didn't feel hungry yet so wondered down to the shops and got a roll from Subway.
Dance tonight, with this being the last night of the holiday. Girls decide not to go but I wanted to spend the last night of my holiday dancing to and listening to The King. Haven't heard any Elvis since Memphis - apart from during the Helicopter trip in Kauai that is. I'm getting twitchy! Go downstairs at 8.10. 4 people in so far, come straight out again, back to the room to see if Linda's going. She's not going either, can't believe it! She's got an earlier start than us tomorrow so she's packing and having an early night. So…….. I'm on my own! Meet Irma at reception and she's not happy at all about having to go the long way to Amsterdam, via Minneapolis, when we get to fly direct and leave later too.
Go along to the dance again, and there's a few more in now. Sit beside George and Helen. Bob starts off the evening by playing Christmas songs then the dancing finally gets underway with I Can Help and the usual dance routine. Trilogy gets played early for the benefit of those having an early night (the ones who have to leave their cases outside the door at 7.45 am!) End up sitting with Lou, Elaine and Barry. Not drinking much tonight, couple of whiskies and cokes. Dance finishes at 12.15 with Good Time Charlie then the wee Hawaiian tune whose title I can never remember. Bob always ends the dances with it. Swap addresses with Lou. She's on Bloody Marys and she's early tomorrow, nae luck!
So to bed……… Sit down with my box of mini ritz crackers and decaff and play some of my holiday video back. Out like a light as they say and didn't waken until 10.30 the next morning! Really needed that sleep.
Monday 28th August
Breakfast at Hansa's. Had to rush over because breakfast only gets served until 11! Popped into the tee-shirt shop on way back for some last minute purchases. Back to the hotel at 11.45 then rush to get hand luggage and suitcase ready. Great fun! Worried about slightly excessive amount of luggage I need to check in but there were no problems at all. Girls make it through OK too (just!)
Full flight today. Our group are checking in separately which was just as well - the line for the flight went on for miles! Quick scoot round duty free then onto the plane. Take off about an hour late, but pilot seems to think we'll land on schedule. Bumpy flight tonight, off and on, nice meal of salad, chicken, lemon sponge for dessert, washed down with a cheeky wee white wine. We all pass around dollar bills which we sign for each other - nice idea! Turbulence has started again with a vengeance (by now it's 8.45 LA time) Amsterdam time approx 9 hours later. Just under 7 hours' flying time to go.
As I write this (a few hours later), we have about 90 minutes before arriving in Amsterdam. It's been a long flight with a few bouts of turbulence along the way. Hardly slept at all while all around me the others have (it seems) been fast asleep at some point, even if only for an hour. Watched a good movie called "Return To Me" with David Duchovny. Nice way to kill 2 hours! Captain came on half-way through the movie to warn of severe turbulence 20 minutes ahead. Another flight in front of us radioed a warning - but thankfully it must have passed over. It was a nerve-wracking half hour.
Think I smell coffee - breakfast is just about to be served. Margaret beside me is having a dose, Anne is fast asleep, Jane's nodding off and May, Jean and Isobelle are looking as shattered as I feel right now! Just want to get home, and hope my luggage makes it home with me onto the Glasgow flight! We're on schedule for landing at Schiphol on time. Incredible, considering we left LA about an hour late. UK2095 to Glasgow (if on time) doesn't leave until 1.50pm, so we have just over 2 hours to wait. Not long now until we're home.
We landed at Schiphol right on time at 11.40am. Had to walk about 4 miles to gate D23 to get our connecting flight to Glasgow. Spent a relaxing hour or so at the gate before boarding. Hazel from our tour got us all on her camcorder, we all had to introduce ourselves (embarrassing or what!) She was leaving for Newcastle around the same time as us. Girls had to check in most of their hand luggage. Got mine through OK thank goodness.
Just about to take off, it's 2.05pm. Flight to Glasgow takes 1 hr 10 minutes. Just had nice cup of tea and 2 pieces of shortbread. Margaret's sitting on the opposite aisle seat and she's fast asleep, absolutely exhausted. We're about 100 miles from Glasgow now, can't see anything for cloud, should arrive more or less on time at 2.40pm.
Well, the holiday is just about over. It's been a fabulous 3 weeks, meeting up with old friends and making lots of new ones. We've been half-way round the world and back. Memphis was fantastic, highlight without a doubt was the première of the new version of That's The Way It Is. Wouldn't have missed it for anything! Everywhere we went the Southern hospitality overwhelmed us, such nice people, nothing is too much trouble for them. The same can be said for all the other Americans and Hawaiians we encountered on our travels.
Here's to my next trip to Memphis ~ hopefully next year, God willing.
Adíos, and Hang Loose.
Lillian Cumming, The Elvis Touch, Glasgow
29 August 2000