Victoria Street Belfast, Northern Ireland

               

                       The plan for the day was no plan at all.

                      

W really had no particular plan for Belfast. We traveled all over Ireland and then yesterday we headed for Northern Ireland (You ARE aware that Northern Ireland is an entirely different country from The Republic of Ireland....?) Anyway....we are turning in our rental car and catching a plane to Endinburgh on Monday. We had a day to spend in Belfast.

                

And...we're impressed. We love this place. I am not certain that you should put Belfast ahead of London and Amsterdam and Paris....but if you come through you will not be disappointed.
Makaila read about the St. George Marketplace...sort of a North Market (in Columbus) on steroids.

               

We got coffee and some T-shirts for Hazel and people-watched and generally soaked in the Belfast vibe. I'm old enough to recall when the name Belfast signified the Troubles and tremendous violence but that seems to be in the past. I had one Irishman speak very highly of an American President who's tremendous input helped put a peace process in place.
So...maybe American politicians CAN do something useful.....it's just that they need to leave our country to do so....I guess.
   
                 

We walked the city. They seem to have a lively main shopping Mall and countless coffee shops and pubs and restaurants. Hanging flowers baskets seem to be a thing in these parts.

                      

I even auditioned another guitarist for the Strummers at church....we'll see about picking up his airfare.

             

The big Irish Anglican Church...Church of Ireland....was letting out and so we walked in and  scoped out the huge cathedral. It was impressive. They were having coffee-hour in the narthex....and they had about a third of what we might have. It was a middle aged group.

                

Down the block was an old Congregational Church which now had some name like The Connection .....a modern type church. I walked in and went up to the sanctuary....it was filled with round tables and books and dozens of people sitting and talking....there was a coffee bar over on one side. I spied some cups of wine and bread....as if one could just come up to the counter and partake for communion. But it was a younger crowd.

              

Down the street a bit further, the neighborhood Roman Catholic Church was ending and the folks came out....no coffee hour....no bread and wine just sitting there for the taking. An older crowd.

               

                I'll leave you dear reader, to make of that what you will.

                          

The highways in Northern Ireland are completely different that those of the Republic of Ireland. This city of Belfast is nothing like Dublin which is a but 90 minutes south, I think. Of course, the makeup of the people and the government are different between the two Irelands and the history is intertwined though it has also diverged at some points.

                           

Lots and lots of brick and stone buildings and townhouses in Belfast. Many are being refurbished and many will be one day. There are still many empty storefronts. 
It's a process but it is one that we just might be hopeful for.
And that is a rarity these days.

                            

Peace,   Bob

                      






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