Northern Ireland > Back to the Titanic Era

The narrow bed is not easy at night. Every movement wakes us both. The bed squeaks and creaks. Strange that they rent this out as a double room. I struggle to fall asleep. In the morning, we walk into the city for breakfast. Yesterday we had spotted a nice bakery. Surely they have some sandwiches. Besides the usual bread display, breakfast can also be prepared. Shortly after, I am sitting down with bread, scrambled eggs, and bacon. The seagulls also find the bread tasty. Several times they snatch pieces from the display and fly away. The saleswoman looks on helplessly. Through the Castle Court shopping center, we reach the northern part of the city center. We walk down Chapel Lane. At St. Mary’s Church, an older lady tells us that this is the oldest Catholic church in Belfast, originally built in 1784. I also learn from her that the church raised funds during the religious conflicts. She walks in with us to give a short explanation. Opposite the church, there are some pleasant terraces—good to remember. We cross the River Lagan and arrive at the Titanic Quarter. Modern apartments now line the quay. Once, impressive ocean liners were built here.

Northern Ireland - The Titanic Experience center in Belfast

The most famous was the Titanic. In 1911, the 269-meter-long ship was launched. Unfortunately, it only made one voyage. After colliding with an iceberg, the ship sank on its maiden journey to America. At the site where the ship was built now stands the Titanic Experience Center. A modern museum showing the construction, launch, and sinking of the ship. It’s busy inside. Very busy. Probably everyone chose to visit the Experience today because of the rain outside. Lines form inside the museum to enter the next room. Even the most popular attraction has a queue. Signs indicate a waiting time of at least twenty minutes. In small carts, we move over the old shipyard and return via the stern of the ship. Builders are working on the ship. A fun and beautiful attraction. On a circular screen, the different decks of the Titanic are shown as they once looked. You feel as if you are in the middle of it. For a moment, I imagine being on board the historic ship. At the end of the tour, a film shows how the ship was found on the ocean floor—3,800 meters deep. The ship had broken in two. Outside the museum, it is still raining, giving the city a somber appearance. With my umbrella, I walk to the ship SS Nomadic. This ship transported passengers from France who later boarded the Titanic. It is interesting to see how the Titanic’s smaller sister ship was built. After lunch, it is practically dry, with occasional drizzle. Puddles lie on the street, and water splashes from passing buses. City Hall is one of the most distinctive and striking buildings in Belfast. Inside, Jane explains that the design was chosen in 1898 through a competition. The dome is 53 meters high, and the pillars are made of Greek marble. During the tour, Jane shows the mayor’s reception room, the council chamber, and the Great Hall.

Northern Ireland - The city hall of Belfast

The last one lives up to its name. During World War II, this hall was destroyed by German bombings. Belfast, with its shipyards, was an important target. The building has been restored in its original style. Between the wide shopping streets lie narrow alleys. One of them is Joy’s Entry, less than two meters wide. At the end lies The Jailhouse Café, a cozy-looking pub housed in a former prison. A perfect place to end the afternoon. In the evening, we search for a typical Irish restaurant. We skip the fish and chips. Soon we are sitting down to stew, pie, and steak. Nearby, there are lively pubs, some with music on the street. We are drawn to the sound of Irish music. In the Sitting Room pub on Castle Street, two boys are playing. Although the Irish music soon shifts to other styles, it is fun to see how everyone gets into the music. A group of young people dances, an older couple quietly enjoys themselves on the sofa. When the man goes to get drinks, he returns with a cola for his wife and four bottles of beer for himself. She is not surprised—it’s part of a special offer. At half past nine, the band plays the final song. The entire pub sings along at the top of their lungs.