We were up early and made the relatively short walk to Connolly train station, still a chore laden as we were with our bags. Once situated, we grabbed some coffees and used a machine to print our pre-purchased train tickets bound for Belfast.
Once we boarded the train, we enjoyed a pleasant and scenic two-hour train ride up the east coast of Ireland towards Northern Ireland. We met a nice couple from Hamilton, and confirmed the election results - Mark Carney and the Liberals had made an unlikely comeback to secure a near-majority against Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives.
Arriving at Grand Central Station in Belfast, we eventually found the taxi area (a little awkward due to renovations at the station) and a friendly cabbie took us to our lodgings at the Dream Apartments, aka Obel 64. Once we checked in and dropped our bags, we set out to explore the city with limited time - ultimately we only had a little more than a half-day to see Belfast.
Our apartment was a very short walk to the pedestrian shopping area. After a great lunch at Bootleggers, our friends left to shop while we walked over to City Hall and hired a black taxi to take us on a tour of the city's more dangerous areas. What followed was a sobering exploration of religious hatred and "The Troubles" as our driver Al took us to see both Protestant and Catholic neighbourhoods and the Peace Walls that still divide them. There is still a gate that closes at 6pm and you'd better be on the right side.
Al was very good at offering both points of view, though he clearly identified with one side. We toured the Shankill Road and Falls Road areas, as he educated us with stories of the atrocities committed by both sides in the name of religion. He also encouraged us to sign a mural along a section of one of the many Peace Walls. The entire tour was truly a memorable and eye-opening experience.
Later, we rejoined our friends at the Morningstar pub, and decided for an easy dinner of pizza, and three of us crossed over the Laggan to walk to the SSE Arena. Home of the Belfast Giants hockey team, the arena also housed several restaurants, including our pizza joint (Zizzi) and shockingly an MB (Mary Brown's) Chicken! We did pass near the Titanic exhibit, though unfortunately it was too late to check it out. Next time.
We spent a relaxing evening in our apartment overlooking the Laggan and preparing to head across the water to Scotland on the morrow.
Dublin Connolly train station
Irish Rail train from Dublin to Belfast
End of the line in Belfast
The Big Fish on Donegall Quay
Albert Memorial Clock
Sculpture in the pedestrian zone
Belfast City Hall
Hiring a black taxi to tour the city
Apartment building and British military outpost during The Troubles
The wall/gate between the Protestant and Catholic neighbourhoods
Protestant murals
Peace Wall between Protestant and Catholic areas
Catholic memorial mural
Bobby Sands mural on the Sinn Fein headquarters
Peace Wall
Elbows Up!
Pub blown up by the IRA
Shankill Road
Peace Wall and cages protecting the back yards
Bridge over the River Laggan
Our apartment - the Obel tower on the left
Walking the Laggan in search of pizza
Mary Brown's (aka MB Chicken) in Belfast!
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