Our hotel was quite close to this city hall
-- and in the very heart of Belfast
Driving on the left was a test of Mireilles
nerves! -- but it got better as time went along.
Simple hotelrum .. but very central in
Belfast. Just across the street from a very well known
pub.
Checking out the town -
Fish and chips
Our breakfast spot -- we chose to find our
own breakfast instead of the hotel breakfast (that wasn't
included in the price) We found that the "Irish breakfast"
or the "Full Irish breakfast" was a good way to start the
day..
Tourist bus ... the salesperson was
diplomatic -- looked at us and said "One senior and one
student! (Mireille liked that!)
The bus took us through some of the more
uneasy districts .. with lots of fences to keep folks apart
High fences arround all government buildings
-- so bombs can't be easily thrown in!
Thought this was interesting name for a thai
restaurant
NorthernIrish Parliment
The Titanic museum was fantastic -- Built in
the shape of a star. The company that owned Titanic
was "White Star Line" built by "Harland and Wolff" a major
ship builder of its day.
Contrary to what I had believed Belfast was
a very thriving ecconomy the period my grandpa emmigrated to
Canada. Belfast was one of the worlds busiest ship
building cities of its time .... and this was a prosperous
time in Belfasts history.
But I guess this kind of advertisement did
its work -- Likely our grandfather read this before he
came!!
William and Mavis Allen met us in Belfast ..
we had lunch together and made plans to drive out to their
lovely home in Cerrickfergus the next day ... just 20km
away.
We had never met them before .. but have corresponded, and
share some very personal common bonds of principle and basic
moral value.
It is amazing how sometimes life history
can bring us together, and can be the basis of a deep
respect and admiration for a common purpose of finding
fullfillment and decency in a world with quite other
agendas.
