For those unaware, Memphis is a nationwide transportation hub even if you subtract Fed Ex. More cargo and raw material moves in, out and through here than just about anywhere along the Mississippi. Fed Ex (and even a small UPS Air Freight base) makes Memphis International airport the world's busiest cargo airport.
Memphis has an extensive trolley system complete with overhead wires. The trolley runs right past the vintage Orpheum Theater, which sits at the corner of Beale and Main. It's an area of intense partying for those who do such things, unlike me.
But unlike the trolley, which was well-designed, the road system here is horrible. I-40 goes all the way from Wilmington, NC to California but when it gets to Memphis it makes a huge detour to the north. This was due to the old "cotton money" NIMBYS. Thanks to them we all suffer daily with 12 mph commutes to work.
This last picture was actually taken in Italy by a close relative and has nothing to do with Tennessee, well, unless it's Al Gore's new invention to cut global warming. In order for it to be accepted in Memphis they'd need to make those spinning rims small enough to fit. But unless that sucker flies the average motorist wouldn't last one day based on the relative driving skills found round here.
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