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Belfast's Boom
At the turn of the 20th century, Belfast was booming. Factories were humming, turning out linen, rope, tobacco products... and ships.
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Shipbuilding
Turning out sea-worthy vessels was Belfast's stock and trade, and the Titanic represented the pinnacle of its achievement.
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Titanic Belfast
This glitzy multimedia experience reflecting on and celebrating the short life of the spectacular Titanic is symbolic of Belfast's new rise.
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An Experience to Remember
The Titanic Belfast museum is an engaging and captivating experience, and a story beautifully told.
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The "Granite Titanic"
That's the nickname given Belfast City Hall. Built at the turn of the 20th century, it occupies an entire city block and is itself a marvel.
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Take a Free Tour
of City Hall
It's worth it. This "Wedding Cake" of a building is beautiful, and the free tour will give you a good perspective of Belfast's evolution over the years.
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Everything Old Is New Again
Belfast had the good fortune to avoid the architectural atrocities that were visited on other capitals from the 1950s through the '80s in the name of modernity, and many of its stately older buildings have been repurposed. In this case, an old bank building is now the new 5-star Merchant Hotel.
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St. George Market
This sprawling market, covering a full city block, dates back to the late 1800s. From Friday through Sunday, it buzzes with activity.
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Catch of the Day
The array of fresh, locally caught fish is phenomenal . . . real candy eye for market aficionados.
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Creativity on Display
You'll find lots of ideas for souvenirs and presents to take back to friends at the St. George Market, like homespun woolens, knitted linens, woodcrafts, and more.
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Grab Some Lunch
Food vendors tempted us with local and international cuisine. Belfast's dining scene also is participating in the city's renaissance.
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Murals Reign
The citizens of Belfast City seem to have a love for outdoor art; this mural depicts various celebrities and local heros.
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Who's Real?
Some of the art work is quite fanciful and playful.
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Some Art Makes a Statement
Since peace has prevailed, Belfast actually has turned the murals and stories associated with the "Troubles"--the socio-economic rift that affected every aspect of Northern Irish life--into a tourist attraction. You definitely should take a "Black Taxi" tour of the conflict areas with a knowledgeable guide who will entertain you with tales of that---hopefully--bygone era.
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More Mural Politics
Many of the houses and roads in the Shankill area, Belfast's most divided quarter, still get fresh murals proclaiming some cause.
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The "Peace Wall"
Berlin's Wall may have fallen, but the "Peace Wall," covered with grafitti, still separates working-class Protestant and Catholic quarters in parts of Belfast. You can add your own sentiments to it if you like.
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The Bar Society
Belfast is home to a vibrant bar and nightlife scene. Many of its bars, like The Crown, pictured here, date back to the late 1800s.
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Everyone Knows Your Name
Well, maybe not when you first walk in, but by the time you leave a Belfast bar, you're sure to have made some good friends. There probably is no friendlier people than the Northern Irish.
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The Snug
Traditional Irish bars always had a "snug"--a discrete private area, usually with its own entrance--where women could drink. Now, they are simply a place for a little more privacy away from the din of the main bar scene.
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An Irish Jig
And, of course, there is alway music to enliven the scene. Slainte (good health)!