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| Belfast City Hall |
One week ago hubby and I flew to Belfast for a three night stay. This was a package deal and one I've had on my list for a good few years. The only downside to this was leaving behind a sick pet (though technically it's not my pet but my son's, but I was heavily involved!). Sad to say that the pet (a rat) died the day after we returned home. He was at that stage staying at the vets (someone who deals with exotic pets). The X-rays and bloods came back negative but the vet thought a brain tumour was most likely. Anyway, while away I was in contact with my son regularly for updates and then of course the sadness of losing the pet, going to say our goodbyes and bringing his companion home (they were together most of the time) has kept me from posting here until now. Should you be interested, my son is in the process of finding Rizzo (the remaining male rat) companions, as they should not be kept alone. He is looking into adopting from a local animal rescue centre.
Now to Belfast. We arrived early evening and once we unpacked we ate in the hotel and then went for a walk to get our bearings. I forgot to take the map (though I'd have been hard pushed to read it in the dark), so we were careful about directions. Our hotel was in the heart of the city and we enjoyed seeing City Hall lit up. We wandered down to the river and admired the sculpture of Harmony.
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| Harmony |
Our first full day began at the
Titanic Experience, a walk through exhibition about the docks and life in Belfast, how Titanic came to be built right through to the aftermath of the disaster. We had two hours there but you could spend longer. Two highlights - the moving chairs taking you through the imaginary works with heat and noise built in, and the video that takes you from the boiler room through the floors of the ship to the top. Amazing.
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| The pillars represent the height and width of the Olympic and Titanic |
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| First Class Room |
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| Third Class Room |
It was pouring with rain when we came out but we braved it to get photos of the outside. You need to stand well back to get the whole building in. The outside represents the hull of the ship. Impressive. We went from there by coach to
Stormont for a photo opportunity and then back down into Belfast for a lunch break, by which time the rain had stopped. In the afternoon we headed back out in the coach to tour Belfast, taking in the Protest Walls and the Peace Walls. Our guide was born in Belfast and explained to us what it was like growing up there and how it wasn't until he came to London that he realised how abnormal that was. We drove past the
Crumlin Road Jail, now a tourist attraction, and up to
Belfast Castle. Wow! The views from there are wonderful. There was time to view a few rooms and the gardens.
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| The walls of Titantic Experience represent the hull of the ship |
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| The drive looking from Stormont building |
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| Stormont |
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| Part of the protest walls |
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| The peace walls run for 4 miles with gates that were locked at night |
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Words of hatred have been replaced by messages of peace and hope
from around the world |
The following day we set off
The Giant's Causeway, stopping at
Dunluce Castle for a photo opportunity. I have to say we were so lucky with the weather that day and really for the whole trip. Walking the stones at The Giants Causeway was a little scary. Going up was bad enough, coming down was worse. However, once up there it was lovely. There are guys there to help you find the safest way up and stop people going where they shouldn't. I spoke to one of them and he said they are there every day throughout the year, through all weathers doing stints of 45mins to an hour. He said sometimes that would drag. I bet it could! We walked around the bay to another series of rocks and a lookout point and then went back. What an incredible place. The coach then took us to a viewing point opposite a
rope bridge. There wasn't enough time to visit but we could see people walking across and in the distance we could see Scotland. Afterwards we set off to
Ballycastle for lunch and then drove to
Carnlough where you could spot Scotland again (the Isle of Islay) before driving back along the wonderful coast. (Do look up the links for all the myths and information to do with these places)
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| Belfast Castle |
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| Belfast Castle |
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| View looking towards Belfast from the castle |
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| Roap Bridge |
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| Ballycastle swans |
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| Ballycastle |
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| Carnlough |
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| Carnlough |
The day we came home was a 3pm pick up for the airport so we got the best part of another day to do our own thing. We booked on to a tour of
City Hall which took in the Council Chamber and Robing Room. What an amazing building. We also viewed the exhibition while there. Afterwards we walked to see the
Albert Clock (it leans slightly) and the
Victoria Square Shopping Centre with its viewing platform. We then had lunch in
Linen Hall Library, another amazing place. There was just time to pop into Waterstones and make a mental list of all the books I want to read! Then it was off back to the airport. I liked Belfast Airport. Small and more intimate and they had actual people at check-in (Gatwick is all automated. Must be my age. I hate it.
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Council Chambers, City Hall, Belfast
(the wood and furnishings were worked by the same men
who worked on Titanic. The doors have porthole windows) |
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| Robing Room |
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| Banqueting Room. Bombed in the war, this is a rebuild just as it was. |
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| The windows are original as they were taken out in the war to preserve tghem |
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| This sideboard was destined for Titanic but missed the sailing! |
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| Titanic Memorial, Gardens City Hall |
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| Victoria Square Shopping Centre |
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| Albert Clock (leaning!) |
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| Victoria Square Shopping Centre |
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| Viewing platform, Victoria Square Shopping Centre |
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| Linen Hall Library |
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| Lovely cafe inside were we have lunch |
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| Queen's Arcade |
My impression of Belfast - how safe it was, how beautiful, the weather, and the people. They are really friendly and helpful. We had a great guide and coach driver who sparked off one another and made the whole trip fun but also informative. We travelled with Newmarket Holidays and it was good value. Autumn is a good time to visit as the trees are stunning now.
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| Porthole doors, City Hall |
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