Belfast

BELFAST

Truly, a Special City

This is Belfast. I broke it down and left the pictures from the Titanic exhibit for the next blog. 

Above is A public [pay] bathroom.  You have to wait in between uses as it gets hosed down automatically once you exit.  So if you are in a hurry you can either double up or stand with your legs crossed for 15 minutes! Right Ellen and David?

Tesco- It was beautiful and so clean.  Recognize that Tesco is a big grocery chain that also sells householdd goods.  Most of the time they look like Target in the U.S.  This location was spectacular!

This high rise residence is where the British Army and inteligence set up its headquarters and surveillance on the Catholic community during the years of conflict. It has now been converted back to use as apartment dwellings.  I also took this picture because of the fog in the background They called it angry mist.  If you look carefully, it looks angry.

We took a black taxi tour of the city rather than a hop-on -hop off bus this tour.  It is well worth it.  Here you will see the murals that depict the struggle of Ireland.

Our tour guide and his neat "Black Taxi".

Bobby Sands,first hunger striker to die in 1981 after 66 days of fasting.

The Clonard Martyrs Memorial garden.

 Citizens murdered by loyalists and British Forces during conflict.  This is on the Catholic side.  Many were IRA members.  The list goes back to the 1920s

The wall might never come down and the houses behind it still are keeping their protection up from rocks etc. being thrown over.  There was a petition to tear down the wall 3 years ago.  After a long debate it was decided to maintain the wall's presence for 20 years.  Although quiet at this time, it was felt that it would be safer to wait for a generation to pass...

You can look right and left as in these two pictures. It continues to tell stories.  What I didn't realize was that these get painted anew every 2 years.  Belfast has some wonderful artists!  This view is from the Protestant side of the wall.

Looking at the filled in area of Belfast.  We are standing at the Belfast castle.  Belfast, similar to Boston, has been built greatly on filled marsh land.

Belfast Castle was a residence in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The family who owned it fell on hard times and in the 1930s.  They sold off some nice lots on the lower part of the hill which is a desirable neighbourhood today.  They eventually transferred title of the Castle with gardens to the city.  It is beautifully maintained.  The view is breath-taking.

Castle gardens.

Our tour guide played in this area as a child and was so happy to bring us here.  He was explaining that his daughter was married here and how she came down the stairs.

The cat

The back of the castle where brides come down into the gardens.

Rooms in the castle.

Used for meetings and weddings.

The entrance of DublinCastle.  Built in 1870 for the third Marquess of Donegall..Renovated in 1978 to more modern interior.

Belfast City Hall which is known for its magnificent windows. Unfortunely we never got to see them. Who knows I haven't left Ireland yet!

Such pretty buildings everywhere.  I din't take a lot of pictures downtown this trip.  You can check out my 2011 pictures for additional scenes.

 The famous Crown Liquor Saloon. Refurbished by Patrick Flanagan in the late 19th century

 Inside the Crown (1898) is a mass of stained and cut glass, marble, ceramics, mirrors, brass and mahogany.  Every square foot from floor to ceiling is intricately ornate.  Undoubtedly the most magnificent bar we have ever encountered.

 Ellen is standing in from of a snug which has a metal plate for striking matches and bell pulls to call for their beers to be topped off without having to leave their seat.

 The Opera House, one of Belfast's great Victorian landmarks: 1895 and refurbished in 1970's.  It then suffered severe damage from the IRA bombs in 1991 and 1993.  It is now completely restored back to its original state.

 We are heading back to Limerick and stopped at a resturant called the Bank in Newry {NI}.  Here Ellen is seen warming up by the fire. We both did this a lot throughtout our travels.

Below is a blast form the past with milk in bottles!  David was disappointed it didn't have the usual cream floating on the top.  Further below is a sticky toffee pudding.  It is to die for and I hope to make it when I get home for guests.  I just need an excuse to make it.  The logo "Bank" on the serving board was created with powdered sugar.

I leave you with your mounths watering. Mine is.  Cheerio :-)