1990 - Music Tour With Iris Brumwell 1

June Sunday 10th – Monday 25th

Music tour with Iris Brumwell

Sunday 10th June - 8:40

good coach trip to London arrive 2:30
Shuttle to Victoria Rail Station put luggage in lockers.
Went on a tour of London on off-on tour bus guide was blotto, complained and got our £7 back. went into Victoria Place had meal.
Shuttle to Gatwick met by Susan and Richard

Monday 11th.

Breakfast. taxi to airport.
Flight left 12:45. very good flight. FILM Iris & Stanley. All drinks free - good lunch - free ice cream - afternoon tea. Not too bad immigration. Van to Edison Hotel. 100m 1D16. Arrive 5:30 America Line. Walked to Empire State Building. Elevator to top 86 floors. Marvellous views. 25 miles. called in bar for meal (chicken). walked along to Central Park.

Tuesday 12th
Breakfast. Coach left New York, saw 42nd St. Statue of Liberty into Brooklyn. into longest tunnel in world ?lottery? to Statten Island. very different to New York more Rural.
On through New Jersey - Baltimore - Delaware. Stopped in Philidelphia. Museum of art (ROCKY). Steeped in history - Big Georgian Buidings - Liberty Bell. Maryland Cookies. arrive Washington 5:30. Went Union Street on Metro to China Town. Not for tourists. Very steep Metro. Slept well.

Wednesday 13th
Left hotel 8:45.
Had tour of Washington.
Lincoln Statue. one side hand clenched, foot down firm, eye hard and steely.
other half father figure, hand relaxed, eye smiling
tour of cemetery Arlington
Eternal flame of JF Kennedy's grave ?bafield? Building. Robert Kennedys.
over blue ridge mountains.

New York
New Jersey
Maryland
Baltimore
Delaware
Virginia
Tennessee

Thursday 14th
Left Roanoke 9 am climbed up thro Blue Ridge Pathway to 3,000 ft.
Stopped Pine Spur Outloook.
Mabry Mill for coffe stop.
"Bonanza Grill" for lunch $6.90. ate and ate.
crossed over into Tennessee. four hour ride to Knoxville. Stayed at "Comfort Inn". swimming pool very nice. Ate at "Denny's"

Friday 15th
Breakfast at 'Denny's'. Left at 8:45. 3/4 hour drive to "Dollywood" Pigeon forge. about 6 miles of rides and motels. "Dollywood" a theme park rides, theatre shows, and music.
Saw Dolly Parton making a commerical for T.V. Had ride on 'Blazing Fury', 'Flooded Mine', and 'Thunder Express'.
Went to Gaslight Theatre and saw James Rogers (great) and 'Smokey Mountain Song' history of smokey mountain music.
Four hour ride to Nashville
Arrived at Day Inn Nashville 6pm. watches put back one hour to mid south time (6 hours behind Britain!). Had lovely meal in Day Inn and watched Ghost Busters II on TV.

Saturday 16th
Left 8:45 drove to OPRYLAND THEME PARK. Rides and side shows/
Country Music - was history of country music with ?copy? of some stars
Cowboy Country - re-enactment of western street scene with music, 'Seven Brides' 'Oklahoma' and more
2:30 Spirit of America concert with Brenda Lee. 4'9" 45 years old and great
Back to theme park. ate Hamburger and fries 1/2 & into grand old opry
Grandad Jones. 82 years old and great. many artists we hadn't heard of but were popular with Americans. Very good.
Back into Nashville. PARK PLAZA HOTEL. Very big and posh.
Music in lounge.
Bed 11:30

Sunday 17th
Tour of Nashville
Local guide Thelma Petty
Ryman Auditorium which was original Grand Old Opry.
Stood on Stage.
Sun recording studios.

arrived Memphis 1/2 5 Ramada Inn.
Gospel meeting in Square.
went to Police museum.
Great atmosphere along Beal Street.
Blues played in bar.
Puppet show in square. all blacks. certain areas we were wary about walking.
ate great chicken in seedy looking bar.

Monday 18th
Left hotel 8:45
trip to Gracelands
Smaller than expected
Museum of cars
2 Planes

Swim in pool. temp in 90's.
7 pm. walked to Lou's Place for barbeque dinner.
Eddie Brook and group. very good. bought record. Home at 12 midnight.

Tues 19th
Left 8:30. temp 85'.
Stopped at Stuckey's for lunch.

Arrived in New Orleans 5:30 LANDMARK HOTEL
Hotel in French Quarter facing Armstrong Park
Lovely pool open all of the time. atmosphere was great (similar to San Francisco). went for walk along Barbour Street.
Jazz played in most bars.
?? tap dancing
Brothels and girlie bars.
actions goes on to 5 am
Ate in bar good steak
swam in pool till 12:30

Wednesday 20th
Up at 8 am. breakfast in hotel. 10 am went on tour of New Orleans
saw cemetery where bodies are put into tombs because all of New Orleans below sea level water all around.
Levees built at strategic points.
Beautiful parks.
Went for walk 2:30 to French Market. Iris got hair cut $15. caught in rain and thunder storm back to hotel 5:30
7 pm picked up taken to river for cruise meal very good temp 90's
went for walk along Barbour street
Bed 12 midnight

Thurs 21st
Left hotel 8:45. Stopped in truck park in Alabama for morning break. took picture of line of trucks.
Pensacola for lunch in Morrisons in shopping mall. maggot in fresh strawberries.

stopped at Stuckeys for afternoon break.

Arrived at Holiday Inn Tallahassi at 6 pm after clock put on 1 hour
red carpet put out. wine and cheese reception. Had swim in pool. went for meal to Steak Sizzler. watched Charles Bronson film till 1pm.

Fri 22nd
Left Tallahassi 8:45.
Stopped for break at Stuckeys.

Arrived Comfort Inn International on International Drive 4pm went for walk to shops.
Picked up at 7pm to go to Rosie O'Grady's
Church Street shop and bars
Bought glass at Rosie O'Grady's, watched show, Western Saloon, great dancing.
Back to hotel 12 midnight

Sat 23rd
Picked up at 9 am to Magic Kingdom.
Rained most of the day but great.

Sun 24th
Picked up at 9am. Taken to MGM Studios. stayed till 12 noon. took shuttle to Epcot Centre. It was great. Stayed for fireworks and illuminations 10:30

Mon 25th
Picked up at hotel 10 am. Stopped in shopping mall for lunch and shopping and at airport 3:30.
flight delayed by 4 hours. $25 given for 2 meals.
flight delayed till 12:30
flight delay till 11 am Tuesday. Stayed at Marriott Hotel.
Arrived back at Gatwick 1 am taken to Penta Hotel.