Belfast

 Welcome to Belfast

 We started off at the welcome centre and picked up a wee little mascot that will travel with us from one corner to the other corner of our round little world.

 Who would have believed  that the first major building we saw in Belfast would be the 8300 seat Odyssey Arena, home of The Belfast Giants of the British Elite  hockey league.

 This is one of the supply/tender boats for Titanic on its ill fated first and last voyage.

 HMS Caroline was used in the first and second world wars and now is permanently birthed in Belfast.

 The new Titanic Museum in Belfast, just recently opened for 5 months.

 These light standards represent where Titanic was built in it's dry dock. Our ship which you can see in the background is docked precisely where Titanic would have been first launched. The land here was back filled because of  the contamination of the soil.

 The huge cranes Samson and Goliath cranes owned by Harland and Wolf Shipbuilding, can each lift 840 tonnes.

 One of the fine British pubs in Belfast.

 One of the many murals in Belfast that show the great separation of faith/politics of the past and present.

 More murals.

 Lady with the ring represents peace for all.

 These two pictures are of the Royal Courts Of justice. During the past troubles a 12 foot wall surrounding them was built in order to protect them against bombings.

 A fine Irish Pub.

 Loyalist neighbourhood.

 The divide between Loyalist and Nationalist Belfast.

 If you cannot see me over the wall you cannot shoot me philosophy. Sad but true as it still stands today.

 Loyalist neighbourhoods are not hard to distinguish.

 As you can see by the Union Jacks flying this is still a loyalist area.

 There are murals all over town, never defaced or graffiti applied. They are painted to tell the many stories of Belfast, if only the walls could talk. 

 The many religious and political differences through out the city is quite evident.

 Murals and flags decorate different areas for different reasons such as the first world war.

 The houses are all well kept and no litter strewn around.

 These next few photos are obviously in Nationalist neighbourhoods.

 I just had to add this wee picture.

 Obviously someone has a sense of humour who named this restaurant.

 Our Hop On Hop Off bus driver of Belfast.

Our commentator for the tour around the city.

 After a hard day touring and learning it was time to sit back and relax with a wee (half pint) Guinness.

 Even wee Shaemus took in the action at a local Irish pub.

 This fine bartender is hoping to arrive in Canada in the next year or so to practice physiotherapy.

He is also a very good sport and has no idea where to buy fine Irish linen because he is only 24.

This is the last view of the Irish coast we had as the ship was headed to Scotland.