Today we got a late start after sleeping in from the long ferry ride of yesterday. We took a walk along the river and had a great lunch. Belfast has done a great deal to heal the wounds inflicted during the 30 years of conflict known locally as, The Troubles. People who grew up in the era have some amazing stories about being unable to travel, being search before they could enter a store and not being able to visit anyone living in the opposite enclave if you were Catholic or Protestant.
Below is the angel of peace. The figure is modeled after “Thanksgiving Square” in Dallas, Texas. The peace angel is meant to commemorate the peace agreement that ended, for the most part, the hostilities between the Catholics and Protestants.
Below, one of the modern apartment buildings now being built in Belfast.
On Donegal Quay there is a giant fish with each scale telling some of the story of Belfast history.
Above, a custom built ice cream truck, a 1972 Citroen.
The Albert Clock Tower also known as the Leaning Tower of Belfast. When the clock was built to honor Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, it was built on a wooden base. Apparently the designer did not know that Belfast is actually built on a spot where the river has silted in. So, like Venice, Italy, it has subsidence problems. The clock tower at one point matched the lean of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but the foundation has been rebuilt to leave only a 7 degree lean.
The old customs house in Belfast.
The base of the Prince Albert Clock Tower.
We stopped for lunch at a great restaurant called Le Coop. Edward has the ribs which he said matched any BBQ ribs he could get at home. Elaine had the Croque Madame French sandwich.
The Belfast Anglican Cathedral of St Anne.
Below, a picture meant for our friend Diane Malone who loves IPA beers. This is a triple hopped beer that she would probably love.
Given the present monetary and unemployment conditions in Spain, there are some incredible travel bargains to Spain. How about airfare, 7 nights hotel and breakfast each day for 259 pounds (about $388.00). Amazing price for a 7 day trip from Belfast.
The area around St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast is known as The Cathedral Quarter and has most of the live music night clubs and pubs. The narrow alleyways in Belfast are called “Entries.”
A giant TV screen on the City Hall grounds that kept switching back and forth between the Gaelic Football championship match and the British Open Golf Tournament. Two days later, it was all Royal Baby all the time.
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