As the womenfolk were off to the Coronation Street Experience, I took young Charlie for his first ever ride on a tram. It was the first time I'd been on a British tram, or at least a full sized one operating on full city service. Dusseldorf in Germany had been my only other experience, so I was looking forward to this.
I did some research into the lines, where they went and how they work. The tram network in Manchester is quite recent, or at least this iteration of it is. Looking at a map of Manchester from 1914, there was a significantly larger network back then, but of course there were few, if any, cars on the road in those days.
I don't know if Metrolinx still run the trams, but they've been absorbed into the Bee Network, Manchester's answer to London's Transport for London (TfL), and an integrated public transport system is being born. Buses, overground trains, and the trams, all come under the umbrella of the Bee Network, which means prices are cheap and unified. It looks like it's all coming together, although inevitably buses and trams don't go from where we're staying to where we want to be, so any journey involves changes en-route. That's life, I suppose.
We dropped the womenfolk at the ITV Studios, parked the car in the Imperial War Museum's car park, and walked over to Museum Station, on the Red Line. We just missed a tram, but it looked very crowded as it passed us, so I was happy to wait ten minutes to get a later service that wasn't as busy. I hadn't known it, but there was the annual SoccerAid footie match happening later in the evening at Manchester United's Old Trafford Stadium just a few hundred yards away, so there were lots of people around, and one of the reasons the tram was full.
The following tram wasn't as crowded, as I thought it might not be, so we boarded and let the tram rattle and roll us to the Trafford Centre, the end of the line, and also a humongous shopping centre. I had intended to browse the air condition luxury of the place, but it was packed, and I mean packed. The Mall Manager in Chatham would be weeping at the sight of the tens of thousands of happy shoppers milling around the place; the mega-mall still rules in these here parts. We stood it for a while, had some Greggs goodies and a drink, then beat a hasty retreat to the tram station for a run back to Museum.
Charlie loved the ride, although he seemed very concerned that we get off again at Museum, especially after I suggested staying on board for a longer ride. Of course, as soon as we'd alighted, he wanted to go back on. Given the time, the growing crowds for the football match, and the fact that our womenfolk would be coming out of their tour fairly soon, we opted to explore Salford's Media City area instead, and the old Ship Canal dock area, now home to the BBC and ITV (hence Media City). Charlie's been watching the BBC's kids' output, CeeBeeBees, on TV, so was half expecting to meet Mr Tumble I think. (For a treat, Google Mr Tumble).
We ended up back at the Coronation Street studios and, as the ladies were running a bit late, went into wait in the little cafe and gift shop there. The tour had included meeting one of the "Street" actors, and I received an excited message that it had been pretty much the one actor they both wanted to meet. Both Mummy and Grandma were so starstruck when they finally emerged.
Gifts purchased, we wandered over to The Quays Centre, and supper at the Bella Italia restaurant. It was very busy, that football match again, but we'd booked ahead and were able to settle into some nice Italian style food as the restaurant began to get quieter as the football fans drifted away. The drive home was short, too, just a couple of minutes, and I didn't even balk at the £8 for parking - I must be getting soft in my old age.
It had been a fairly short day for us, at least by recent standards, but even so, I retired early as tomorrow is going to be a long one I think.
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