Belfast – Capitol of Northern Ireland
Arrival Afternoon of Day 12
Exploring the City Center
We stayed at the elegant Europa Hotel. The hotel is famous for being the world's most bombed hotel, having been bombed 33 times during the Troubles. Built in 1971, it has been updated and continues to be a place where dignitaries stay when they visit Belfast.
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The hotel was conveniently located – just a 3 minute walk to the Europa Bus Station where we later caught the Aircoach to the Dublin Airport. And it was just an 8 minute walk to the central Belfast City Hall which we used as an orientation point as we wandered about the city.
Belfast City Hall
A statue of Queen Victoria and a Titanic Memorial statue dominated the surrounding park-like garden at the City Hall.
A Personal Connection
My father talked about being in Northern Ireland during WWII, before his army unit shipped into France. He said that the Irish people were very friendly, and he never wanted to eat another serving of lamb/mutton! It meant a lot to learn about this memorial to US soldiers, located outside City Hall – a special tribute to the Americans who fought in WWII!
We had a good, inexpensive lunch on Day 13 at the recommended Bobbin Coffee Shop
Bus Tour through the Belfast Sectarian Neighborhoods
Protestant Shankill Road
We knew we were in a Protestant neighborhood when our bus took us along the Loyalist Shankill Road. British flags were prominently displayed, and political murals adorned many of the buildings.
The Peace Wall – Built during the Troubles
The wall separates Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods. On the Protestant side, tourists write messages for hope and peace. The cement portion is 10 feet tall, and the metal section adds 15 feet of protection.
Catholic Falls Road
Tributes to Bobby Sands
Bobby Sands, a Republican and IRA officer, led a hunger strike in prison. His starvation death in 1981 helped to redirect the conflict and led to the rise of the Sinn Fein political party.
Sandy Row
This small Unionist area is located just behind the Hotel Europa.
Orange Hall – Headquarters of the Orange Order, a Fraternal Protestant Order
George Best – Northern Irish
Professional Football (Soccer) Player
European Footballer of the Year in 1968
William of Orange
Victor over Catholic King James II
in the 1690 Battle of the Boyne
A Snapshot in Time
It is common to reference a trip by a significant event.
Where were you when...?
And so, we will always remember the news in Great Britain during our visit to Ireland.
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Paul pointed out dated murals on the streets of Belfast featuring Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.
The Queen died on Day 12 of our tour. Paul and Mark drove us out to Northern Ireland's Parliament building where we gathered for our last group photo.
Paddington Bear sat on the fence in front of the Parliament steps. Interestingly, the Irish Parliament remained suspended at the time, unable to form a government.
