Belfast, Northern Ireland

 Again the weather isn't great.  The night was a bit rough, but not bad.  We docked around 9:00 am and since our scheduled tour wasn't until this afternoon, we spent a very quiet morning reading, etc.  We're docked a ways from town, so no real opportunity to wander on our own.  We were scheduled to do a Pub Tour, but decided that perhaps we didn't want to do that after all.  It's one thing to be around all of our fellow cruisers, but another to be around the general public in a crowded inside area without masks.  So we changed to a panoramic tour of the sights.  It turned out to be a fine change and we lucked out because there were only 12 people on the large bus.  Jennifer, the guide, gave a Reader's Digest version of the history of Northern Ireland and the whole time of the "Troubles" but kept emphasizing that since the signing of the agreement, it has been peaceful.  There are still walls around, and one gate outside a Catholic area that I swear she said is still closed at night but not manned during the day that we could see.  I thought she said the residents wanted it that way, but since we didn't go back out the same gate (or any other gate), I don't know if I understood her right.  Having just seen the movie "Belfast" it had more meaning to see the city now. I remember the gate(s) being closed at night from our trip here in 2010.  I actually have a picture from that trip of Sue and me riding on the top of a Hop On/Hop Off bus.  It was raining and windy as all get out then too.  

Sue and me in 2010.  Looks like a tricorner hat, but it was just the wind.

I don't recall the real name of this art piece (photographed through the rain-splattered window), but she is known by the locals as "Thing with the Ring" or "Lula with the Hula"

One of many Titanic articles in Belfast

Statue of Queen Victoria outside City Hall which was built while she was on the throne.

Inside City Hall

City Hall again

That seagull has no respect for this poor fellow.

Queen's University 

"Eco" sculpture outside of University Library.  It's odd, but I kind of like it.  Looks like a reflection in water.

Northern Ireland Parliament

Murals - typical of those seen all over

Michael and I had been here in 2010 on a cruise with my sister, Sue.  At that time, my impression was of a gray city (the weather was crummy then also) that seemed dirty and rather poor.  Unfortunately, my impression this time was the same.  At least this time we did see a nicer neighborhood with houses that had some greenery around them and a little space.  (The driver took us around the Belfast Golf Club and the house that golfer Rory McIlroy grew up in.)  It seemed all we saw before was endless row houses crammed in together and lots of walls with "murals" on them.  That is just sanctioned graffiti of a political nature, in my opinion.  It is part of the city, I know, but it just makes the whole place look sort of junky to me.  Sorry, Belfast.  I really wanted to like you better this time. 

When we got back to the ship, we decided to have room service for dinner and have a quiet evening in the cabin.