Belfast means mouth of the sandbanks and it is the capital city of Northern Ireland. It stands on the tranquil River Lagan and became a city in 1888 during the reign of Queen Victoria, who said she disliked the city. There are several references to Queen Victoria in the city.
Belfast was known for its linen, tobacco processing, rope-making and shipbuilding. RMS Titanic was built here in 1911 at Harland and Wolff. Belfast is sensibly using this link to Titanic to rebuild the city's fortunes and future.
The city suffered during the "The Troubles", but recently has lived in peace away from violence which had stunted economic growth. Belfast now is developing its tourism and what a great job it is doing of it.
I went for a weekend last month with some old school friends and had a wonderful time. We stayed at Europa Hotel, the most bombed in Europe during "The Troubles".
Don't let the troubled reputation put you off visiting Belfast. It is a beautiful, gentle, quiet city with so much to see and do.
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Comments
Derdriu.
The Nomadic was kept docked in Cherbourg harbour docks. The Titanic was too large to enter the harbour.
Is it known what the Nomadic did and where it stayed when it didn't pick up passengers from Cherbourg? It looks like it has aged nicely.
Frank
Yes ! You are strange ! But kid sisters are allowed to say that. Thanks; I never knew that about the channels. It does explain why the Irish Sea is so bad.
Derdriu
No none what so ever. It is stunning inside, beautifully rebuilt. Great question.
Am I strange in loving the ferry crossing over the Irish Sea, or am I just lucky? The trouble with the crossing is that the currents go North to South, as water sluices through the narrow St George's Channel between Ireland and Scotland, but the ferry has to go across the currents,which makes the route choppy.
Veronica, Is there any remaining evidence of Europa Hotel being so bombarded during "The Troubles"?
Northern Ireland has much to offer. Derry City. Giant's Causeway, Strangford Lough, Mount Stewart, Mountains of Mourne , Bushmills Irish whisky distillery, Lakes of Fermanagh, Belfast city and more ...
... but I would strongly recommend a 30 minutes flight to Belfast City Airport as opposed to th boat across the Irish Sea.
Tolovaj
The Irish Sea can be very very wild indeed ! :(
Yuk ..... The Irish Sea .... by ferry.... is not for the weak stomached.
Birkenhead, which is opposite Liverpool on the south bank of the Mersey, to Belfast is the ferry route. Another route runs from Cairnryan, near Stranraer in Scotland to Larne,north of Belfast. That is the shortest route, but there is a journey to Belfast to make.
But if you go to Northern Ireland, try to see some of the other sites. When I Iived on the border for a year I came to see that Northern Ireland is a beautiful country. The Fermanagh lake country is a lovely place, but that is some distance from Belfast.