Note to Reader: This day was far longer in real life than it is in blog-time. We left at around 8:00 am and returned at 8:00 pm. Needless to say, we all got a good night's sleep afterwards.
Our first tour took place at Quarry Bank Mill. In the late 1700s, Samuel Greg employed children there to work 12 hour shifts, six days a week. And by "employed" I mean "made to work forcibly under penalty of a legal indentured servant contract." We were assured that life at the Mill would have been infinitely better than any workhouse elsewhere, which wasn't saying much.
At any rate, Samuel Greg and his wife ran an efficient business, and collected the salary equivalent of a doctor or lawyer today. Basically this mill epitomizes the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution in England. It was pretty spiffy, and much older than any structures we have in the States.
Mill and surrounding area.
Wheel of the mill: only a few centimeters of water were needed
to power hundreds of cotton pulling machines and looms.
So much thread!
Different styles of looms and fly shuttles...
This woman explained the intricacies of fabric-making. She
claimed to be from the 1700s, but her clever guide didn't fool me!
Next we hopped on a bus and headed over to Manchester United Football Stadium. Football in England, of course, is what we know as soccer: "Football as it should be!"
We were met by an angry tour guide, who had trouble comprehending the need for bathroom breaks. I must say, I didn't really enjoy this part of the trip. The tour proved to be more of a propaganda session rather than a history of the sports teams who played there. "Afterwards, everyone should visit the Mega-Store!" (The Stadium gift shop was full of pricey jerseys and other memorabilia.)
I did, however, quite appreciate the many views of the stadium boxed seats. We were also able to visit the changing rooms, as well as the entrance to the playing field.
North Entrance to the Stadium
Nike influences
They set up UV lights in order to make the grass greener.
(You don't get much sunlight in England as it is.)
That's right. I figured out the "Panoramic" feature on my camera.
(Click for a better view of the field and some guy's head.)
Changing room and respective jerseys.
Group heading onto the field.
So that was interesting, but overall, not my cup of tea. (Yes! I finally managed to use that expression.) Next we got on the bus again, and drove to the Trafford Centre: the mall to end all malls. Not really. But I think it is comparable to the Mall of America. Once inside, we were required to go to the Museum of Museums, which now houses Tutankhamen's remains. (In previous years, they had been at the Chicago Field Museum.) But we couldn't find the darned place, and we were told by the director to simply walk around and eat dinner. Yay!
Unsuspecting girlfriend/ground floor shot
Dolphin fountain? Yes please.
Oh yeah, and there was a talking Christmas tree.
Aaaaaand that's about it! Any questions? I hope you didn't have to pee while reading this, BECAUSE THEN I WOULD HAVE TO YELL AT YOU.
Anyway, more soon...ish. I'm off to write a philosophy paper!
Yours,
