A long walk around central Belfast today. The city seems almost normal now unless you notice certain details, like the heavily fortified police stations. It has a rich and heavily conflicted history, with a peace process delicately moving forward. Wonderful pubs, many high-quality restaurants (c'mon, European food standards blow the US away), fascinating architecture and warm people. The locals say that if you can't have fun in Belfast, you can't have fun at all.
We went on a couple of fascinating walking tours. I particularly recommend Arthur Magee's Belfast Free Tours. Well, free in the sense that the price is left to your discretion but it's worth what's in your wallet - your generosity will be rewarded. It's about history, politics, religion, rich and poor, us and them, violence and peace and, most of all, a sense of humanity in a complex city. It's a must. We also enjoyed the tour of Belfast's city hall, comparable only to San Francisco's in terms neoclassical grandeur.
We went on a couple of fascinating walking tours. I particularly recommend Arthur Magee's Belfast Free Tours. Well, free in the sense that the price is left to your discretion but it's worth what's in your wallet - your generosity will be rewarded. It's about history, politics, religion, rich and poor, us and them, violence and peace and, most of all, a sense of humanity in a complex city. It's a must. We also enjoyed the tour of Belfast's city hall, comparable only to San Francisco's in terms neoclassical grandeur.
A bit more Belfast this morning, then on to the small town of Portrush via the Giants' Causeway. And by the way, there are lots more pictures from the trip going up on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobcrowe/sets/72157624797408770/.
Fine today to see this extraordinary collection of incredible stuff. Enjoy the Atlantic!
ReplyDeleteLove these, Bob.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you are having quite a time over there. My Dad's family is from Spittle.
ReplyDelete