Memphis to New Orleans 5th October 2015

It felt like we had taken root in Memphis. We were at the Holiday Inn Downtown Memphis for 3 nights and even had a day off yesterday from the pre-arranged trips. Which means we were able to have a lie-in, a leisurely breakfast at the Peabody Hotel across the street,  (See other page for the Ducks) and make our own way across town to The Civil Rights Museum at The Lorraine Motel; where Martin Luther King was assassinated. (See other page)
Today it was time to say goodbye and leave Memphis. Oh! We had a really early start. The cases had to be outside our room by 5.30 am and we had to be assembled and on the coach by 6 am. It was far too early for the Holiday Inn Downtown Memphis or anyone else to be serving us breakfast so we were all hoping the Amtrak train would have enough food on board. Meals are served on a first come first served basis so like the Aldi ad "Once it's gone it's gone."
The train left Memphis at 6.50 am and breakfast service starts at 7 am so it couldn't have worked out better for us. Our seats in the train coaches were roomy similar to first class seats on BA flights but in comparison the dining car was quite small and cramped. None of the food was prepared in the galley 'kitchen' meaning they were warmed up and served. The continental breakfast seemed the safest bet; not requiring cooking. However, Alan, bravely chose the omelette, which he said wasn't too bad considering.
The train bumps and grinds it way from Memphis Tennessee through the Mississippi State Line on to the State Capitalof Jackson  through the Louisanna State Line onto New Orleans at a steady 50 mph. Each town we pass is steeped in Civil War history. General Sherman is thought to have used the burning of Jackson as a practise for the burning of Atlanta. Atlanta is where we go after our 3 night stay in New Orleans.