crazy giant mall (the trafford centre)
to celebrate being done with classes and zeke’s birthday we decided to take a trip to a giant mall on the other side of manchester. we’ve heard the place is ridiculously over the top and although we had a little shopping to do, we mainly just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. we had planned to be fully engrossed in the spectacle and go to a movie, play putt-putt and laser-quest, but after wendy woke up with a migraine, we got a late start and had to cut some things (meaning, maybe we’ll go back to play and maybe even visit LEGOLAND).
the trafford centre was a huge complex of stores including a Krispy Kreme, LegoLand, and a Museum of Museums (really what the sign said). Inside the building looked like a cross between Las Vegas and Disneyworld.
some of our british friends said we might not be impressed by the mall, since we’re probably used to malls like these in america (i wonder where the heck this conception of america comes from). the gaudy decor was astonishing. the center skylight dome had fake frescoes, faux marble, and golden ornamentation.
it was a neo-baroque spectacle. we also got plenty of looks for taking pictures… of the mall.
it wasn’t long before we headed to the food court- which was designed as a cruise ship! (see wendy’s “WHAHTTTTT?” face below)
and zeke’s “i’m on a boat” face
notice the giant tv screen in the photo below- it was like the cruise ship in the beginning of Wall-E.
we had food court classics: zeke had chinese and wendy had pizza.
by the bathroom we saw copies of statues we had actually just seen at the pergamon museum in berlin.
the front of selfridges (a department store) had a giant food hall where they sell very american products, almost the way at home southern season sells european goods. (can you spot the Fluff, JIFF, Lucky Charms, Quaker Oats, Hershey’s syrup, and Aunt Jemima?) of course all of these things cost about 50% more than in the states. the price for the Lucky Charms, converted to dollars, is about $12 here.
the mall also had a new orleans-themed area, complete with stage sets of bourbon street windows, american flags, and clothes lines with sheets.
after making our purchases we ended the day back at the food court for burritos. this chain restaurant called Barburrito, is the only place we’ve found burritos in manchester. mexican food is something we really miss, so even this version of it is welcomed.
zeke gives his giant burrito (“the ultimate”) a thumbs-up.
so yes, the final verdict is that the trafford centre mall is quite a spectacle, but since there is so much shopping in the nearby city centre, it’s probably only worth returning to for laser-quest or putt-putt.
