What we did in Belfast in a weekend

[Belfast 12th-13th March 2005]

Well its taken almost 2 months but here it is... the eagerly awaited "What we did in Belfast in a weekend" blog entry. I really should have blogged this earlier because as I scratch my head about what to write I keep coming back to watching some home shopping network and being really impressed by the Magic Bullet Food Processor. Perhaps it is a sign of the times that my memory keeps returning to some infomercial about a food processor. Then again Wil probably would mention something about Denzil and Lulu "nesting". Anyhow I'm determined for this entry not to become a review on the Magic Bullet which has nothing to do with Belfast, let alone anything Irish, so onward Christian soldiers as we used to say in school...

Belfast. What has Belfast ever done for us you might say? News of us going to Belfast was received with mixed responses. Most notably were those of apprehension as people first thought of the IRA and comments of wearing flak jackets and getting caught in the cross fire soon followed.

Perhaps it was the luck of the Irish, but there is one export that the locals are proud of. A ship, a famous one, that sank on its maiden voyage. You all know the one, the Titanic. In its hey day, Belfast was a glorious industrial city and the Titanic was just one of its many fruits born from its labours.

As a young Denzil in the 80's I grew up enjoying the Back to the Future movies. If you too have seen these movies then you must remember the car.. the Delorean. Yes, the Delorean is another fruit of its loins. There is a Titanic exhibit and a Delorean on display at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.

We were told that the North Irish aren't particularly friendly compared to the southern brethren. Not true I say! Perhaps it was my dashingly good charm or devilishly good looks but the attendant at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum insisted we were students and charged us as such.

One particular aspect of Belfast I liked was the City Hall (webcam looking out from the building) at Donegall Square [the following is quoted from GotoBelfast.com]:

The home of Belfast City Council. A magnificent Edwardian “wedding cake”, built to reflect Belfast’s City status, ranted by Queen Victoria in 1888. The Dome is 53 metres (173 feet) high. Figures above the door are “Hibernia encouraging and promoting the Commerce and Arts of the City”. Go inside to find out about guided tours and to pick up a leaflet about the statues in the gardens.

Having seen the building I must agree. Photos are in the photo album if you haven't already seen them.