The Day it Rained in Belfast

 

It rained in Belfast today but we accepted it with good humour and without surprise. After a short but solid sleep, we were all up by 8 and heading out the door, raincoats on and brolleys in hand, to walk the 800m to the nearest co-op to purchase breakfast supplies. 

As soon as we had eaten, we were picked up by Hugh from a black cab tour company, taken to a few significant spots around the city, and given a potted history as we went. I think I caught about every third word on average!  I managed to grasp enough to pad out my sketchy knowledge of the area and its past ‘troubles’, and it was great to hear it from the perspective of a local. We even got to sign the Peace Wall. 

By the end of the 2 hour tour my feet were sodden from standing at various sites in the light, but relentless morning rain, but it had definitely been worth it. 





Hugh dropped us in the city centre and following his advice, we wandered around the Cathedral precinct, seeing some interesting laneways as we did so. After a brief visit to the tourist information centre, where we armed ourselves with city maps, we made our way to The Morning Star Hotel (which Hugh had made mention of several times!), and here we enjoyed a tasty meal from their carvery, washed down with ciders, beers and bitters (not all together!)

We went to explore the City Hall; a magnificent building and popular spot for weddings, there being one wedding party leaving and the guests for another arriving in the short space of time we were there. 

The Hop on Hop Off Bus seemed like a good idea as a means of seeing a bit more of the city and, as the rain had stopped,  we were able to enjoy a birds-eye view from the upper deck. The commentary was a bit bombastic but we saw much and learnt some more. Our plan to stay on the bus to get a lift as far as the Queens University quarter, after the full 1 hour 20 circuit were thwarted by the fact that the buses were being stopped early and the city was beginning to shut down at 4 pm due to the rioting that has been going on over the past few evenings. There was a visible police presence moving into the CBD as workers prepared to leave. 





We walked instead, deciding not to loiter at the university, but choosing  to buy some dinner supplies and retreat to the safety of our apartment for the evening.  It’s been a fun and fulfilling day. 

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