Belfast

To begin our 18 days in Ireland we took a bus from Edinburgh to Stranraer & then a ferry to Belfast. We noticed the number of families on the ferry – school holidays are about 6 weeks during July & August. We stayed in the city near these 2 buildings. The Grand Opera House was almost completely destroyed by a bomb in 1993 and the hotel opposite (the city's oldest) was damaged. Great restoration jobs!

The next morning, before catching the bus to Dublin, we took the opportunity to take the Black Taxi Tour around the Shankhill & Falls Rds area where much of the Troubles happened. The locals are proud of the many murals, and a 'peace' wall divides the community. Here are some of the murals.

The Republican/Catholic side.

The Unionist/Protestant side.

Murals for all.

Part of the wall, open weekdays.


Union Jacks fly in many Unionist streets.

The taxi driver believes peace will not be complete until provocative murals, flags, and marches are banned and the wall comes down. Needless to say the local mall is not divided – shopping can unite!