#39 - The Peabody Hotel

Memphis, on Day 2 
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​It was just the second of 22 nights, on our road trip.  

It seemed a shame to use up our most cushy night of all, when we weren't even weary yet. Oh well.
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Another Historic Hotel

Don and I like historic hotels. We like grand staircases and creaky elevators and we put up with peeling paint and drippy faucets because we like the history. 

 

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So many of the iconic and historic hotels we visit, are past their prime. That's okay, because we are too. Sometimes we like the prices that go along with that. But The Peabody is still hopping. And we paid $350. for this hotel experience. That is ten times more than what we paid for a night at Hotel Blessing, which is in Blessing, TX!

A Grand Lobby
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I had to take this photo at 7 in the morning, to get a photo without all the duck fans.

It's easier to imagine this hotel back when it first opened in 1925, without people reading iPads and gabbing on cell phones.

Ducks?

​The Peabody Ducks.  That's why I pushed for this stay. You can stay at nice hotels in any city, but The Peabody is the only hotel (as far as I know) that does "fancy" as well as "ducks". 

You see that fancy+duck combination, when you step out of one of the ritzy elevators and look down at your feet. It seems sinful, to step on such a lovely mallard image, on the floor.

Our Room

Before really enjoying the ducks, we dropped off our bags in the room. The door to Room 1106, had a door knocker. That's kind of fun. And in the morning, we got a special little black Peabody bag holding our newspaper.

Our room was purple and spacious and there were quite a few ducks to be found!

Relaxing a Moment
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​Before dashing to the lobby to get a good spot for watching the evening Duck March, we relaxed for a few minutes.

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Don did some reading and I headed for the bathroom.
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Going on a Duck Hunt

I moved to the bathroom in search of more ducks. In the guest room I had already spotted duck images on pillow cases and rugs.  

In the bathroom I a small but ritzy space, filled with more duck surprises. The tiny duck-shaped soap was my favorite. Of course I couldn't use it. But there were also ducks covering toilet paper and shampoo bottles... on boxes and wrappers! 

 

Real Ducks

By 4:15, the lobby was already filled with a buzz of anticipation. The 5 ducks who had been enjoying the marble fountain all day, were about ready to climb out of the water. 

At 5:00, the little swimmers would follow the command of the Duck Master and march down the red carpet. They would head up to the rooftop, in their private elevator and spend the night in their "Duck Palace", until the morning march the next day. I couldn't wait.

 

​Watching From Above
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Don and I gave up finding a spot in the crowded lobby and headed up to a terrace to await the Duck Procession!  ​

It soon became clear, that people watching was actually more entertaining than the ducks.  Then again, there was an amusing moment when 2 ducks (who should have gotten a room) amused the viewers with a little Duck Love. My people watching didn't include anything close to that.

Finally

The Duck Master eventually gave a short speech. He then invited a Little Tyke, who happened to be wearing a tie and vest, to join him on the carpet. 

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Suddenly there was lots of quacking and the ducks waddled down the stairs and out of sight and the whole thing was over.

Nearly 80 Years of Duck Marches!

That's it? That quick little parade is the thing that's been happening at the Peabody for 80 years?

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I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting, when I told Don months ago, "We REALLY need to stay at the Peabody! I MUST see the Duck March!"
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So Much More...

As one might guess, there is much more to do at The Peabody, than clap for ducks. We had the best time watching Laura, play Chopin and Honky Tonk on the lobby piano.

She was perched, pretty as a picture on her animal print pillow. It was a pleasure putting a tip in her golden tip satchel, before heading to the hotel's Corner Bar for Martinis. Check out the tiny duck, on the plastic toothpick!

Enjoying the Area

 Part of our room package included a carriage ride. Our driver, Bubba took our photo.

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You can't see his tiny puppy, but he was curled up under a blanket on the opposite seat. Dogs are a common addition to the carriages of Memphis.

Dinner and Blues

The Peabody Hotel would be a fun stay, even if it were located in a drab desert. But the location of the hotel added so much.

We were in walking distance to Beale Street, where we could wander in and have BBQ ribs at Blues City Cafe and then stroll on down to the Blues Hall Juke Joint, to hear this guy play harmonica! We took full advantage of our location.

Morning

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And in the morning, since I hadn't stayed up till 3 am, (like some might on Beale Street) I was able to head up to the rooftop for sunrise. ​

I had the roof to myself, with a nice view of the Mississippi River below. I wandered over to peek in on the ducks who were swimming in their own little fountain, outside their Duck Palace.  They have a pretty good life I must say.

What's Notable?

​Even though the whole duck thing was a little silly, I have to admit I will remember the ducks.

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I'm a big fan of themes and I appreciated every hint of a duck I saw.  I also like ducks, as an animal, not a theme. So I was pleased to note, the fancy restaurant does not serve duck.
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