Belfast 28 June - 1July.

We arrived in Belfast on a cool gloomy afternoon after a good flight from Leeds/Bradford- a tiny propeller Aer Lingus plane which was quite smooth and comfortable. Our apartment/BnB was found in a large new apartment block in the former warehouse area near the Port, across the river from the Titanic Quarter. Our accommodation was a room in a two room apartment with shared sitting/dining room and kitchen. There was a very generous breakfast tray and snacks provided by our hosts and when we returned in the afternoon found a cheese platter and quiche in the fridge. Having been used to our own private apartments to date we were not sure what to make of this arrangement but it was so good as we did not see the occupants of the second room, they were gone the next day so we had the whole place to ourselves until late on the last day when another couple arrived.

Once we settled in after arrival we walked along the river walk to the centre of town noting how the area has been developed with modern buildings- offices, hotels and bars. The centre ofvtiwn was buzzing with shoppers and young people in groups for obvious stag and hen weekends. There're so many bars and clubs all advertising the 'craic' which means 'fun' ! We visited the tourist office to get our tickets for the bus to Dublin on Tuesday and collected maps and information about the hop on hop off bus. All done (and we were almost 'all done') we decided to look for a good place for early dinner. We found Fish City which was a superb restaurant, lower floor full but they took us upstairs and were apologising, explaining that there were a few groups to arrive shortly. We thought that they were concerned that it would possibly be noisy, but no, it was the fact that we were the only diners in the room and they thought that we would be disappointed that the place lacked atmosphere!! That's Belfast,  everyone wants a party whereas we welcomed the peace and quiet! 

The route tobthe city centre along the river.

Our fish dinner - so good!

On Sunday we took the city sightseeing hop on hop off bus which we both enjoyed - interesting information about the sights and no overloaded. We stopped at the University and adjacent Botanic Gardens and Ulster Museum. The museum presented lots of story boards and tableaux on the history ; we concentrated on the 1500s to the present,  much of it familiar to me from school history and the newspaper and TV coverage of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. It was good to see it all in perspective with both sides of the story presented. A walk around the gardens followe - such beautiful flowers and shrubs.

Queens University. 

Part of the gardens.

Does this look like my new business!? 

The rest of the bus tour took us through the Falls Road and Shankill Road where there are still the 'peace walls' two stories high to prevent interaction between the two sides. The Catholic side looked normal with no symbols of what it was, except a few colourful murals. but the Shankhill Rd was festooned with union jacks. bunting and huge murals on the side of buildings of 'Our dear Queen' and 'Our magnificent King'! Apparently,  they are tarting up for the marching season which is about to start. In other parts of the city there were murals of leaders of the Trade Union movement both north and south over the last century,

When we left the bus we visited the City Hall, a magnificent building built in Victorian era.

City Hall which has a well documented city history on the ground floor.

The entrance hallway. 

We visited the Georges market on the way back to the flat.  Lots of craft and food stalls, but itcwas time for a relax.