Belfast Last Days

Rain or Shine I want to go on the City Sightseeing Tour one more time before we leave.  Even if it is pouring rain.

Our wee hostel, Belfast International Youth Hostel.  Can't say enough about what a great place this was. Clean, safe, friendly staff and great Wifi in the living area.  15 minute walk to the downtown.  Oh yeah...and elevators.  Very important when you are travelling with too much stuff.

You can't come to Ireland and not try the Irish stew.  Yummy.  Very filling.

The Europa Hotel has the designation of being the number 2 most bombed hotel in Europe.  It was a target for the IRA as it represented wealth and prestige.  Between 1970 and 1995, 27 times it was estimated to have been bombed. It is also close to the bus and train station.....we ran through....just kidding.

The tour guide told us it hasn't been bombed in the last little while...he was kidding.

The view of Belfast mountains from our bedroom window.

Another view from our room, with a number of murals, and walls, right below us.

Queen's University is in the south end of the city of Belfast.  Majestic and very elegant.  Canada also has a Queen's University in Kingston where my oldest son, Rob, received his BA Honours Degree in Film.

They also have a film department.

Founded by Queen Victoria and opening in 1849.  This was the first university in Northern Ireland.

Our tour guides, Ed and Sam.  Ed made the tour by his humour and knowledge of the history of Belfast.

The abandoned Crumlin Road Courthouse in north Belfast.  It is a constant reminder of the violent conflicts this city has endured over the last 40 years.  It has been empty for several years.  It's future is unknown.

The road, Crumlin Road, that it is located on is also referred to as 'Murder Mile' as it's population was made up of many Catholics and Protestants.  During the Northern Ireland troubles it was the scene of many murders and attacks.

A security guard checking our tour bus when we crossed a check point going into the Parliament building, Stormont Estate.

Stormont Estate is the Northern Ireland's main government building.  Built in the 1830, it began as a private estate.  Located on 300 acres.  It's design is quite interesting and very specific.  It is 365 feet long.  It has 365 windows. Six pillars representing the 6 counties of Northern Ireland.

During World War II, fearing that it would be a target, to camouflage it, they painted it with supposedly removable paint mixed with cow manure.  It worked but it took 7 years to remove the 'paint' and it didn't regain the original colour.

'The Ring of Thanksgiving Statue' on the Queen's Bridge in Belfast.  Quite lovely.  Symbolic of the Renaissance of the City.  Known locally as 'Nuala with the hula' or 'Loop with the hoop' or 'The thing with the ring.'  Funny people of Belfast.

Below is the Campbell University where a famous student named C. S. Lewis went to school. He wrote the Narnia books.  As a matter of fact, the street lamp that is just inside the gate at this school is the same light you see in the movie 'The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.'

Titanic Studios is a huge film studio located in the Titanic Quarter.  Right now it is used by the producers of 'Game of Thrones' to film right here in Belfast and locations nearby.

This is a nod to my Irish cousins the McHugh family.  A pub that has been in the McHugh family for 300 years in downtown Belfast.

Cheers!!