Northern Ireland Trip (2) Belfast Downtown Walking Tour

Belfast

Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. It is located on the northeastern coast of the island of Ireland and has significant port status. The city is known for its rich history and culture and was an important industrial and shipbuilding center during the Industrial Revolution. With its mild climate and diverse cultural life, it is an ideal place to explore Northern Ireland’s history and scenery.

Belfast City Hall

After the day tour from yesterday, we decided to stroll around downtown Belfast today. I observed the architecture in the city, noting how Belfast’s unique geographical location results in a style that combines both Irish and British influences.

Our first stop was Belfast City Hall. The building is majestic, with its notable features including a central dome and staircases made of Italian marble. The green dome atop the building adds a touch of color to the gray sky.

St George’s Market

This is a traditional English market offering a variety of local foods, crafts, and live music. The vendors and people here are friendly and gentle, leading a laid-back life that puts you at ease. Even just buying strawberries, the vendor had a joke with me. 😤

Titanic Belfast

Although the museum does not feature the movie “Titanic” characters Jack and Rose, it immerses you in the real world of the Titanic. We initially planned to visit but decided to explore the gift shop instead after seeing the £24 ticket fee. The souvenirs are beautifully designed and creative, making them well worth a look!

In addition to the Titanic Belfast, there are also Titanic-related sights outside the Titanic Belfast. Even if you don’t visit the Titanic Belfast, walking around nearby when the weather is nice is quite pleasant.

Victoria Square

We slowly walked back to the downtown along the River Lagan and found a distinctive sculpture by the riverbank that beautifully reflected the sky, offering a sense of tranquility.

We arrived at Victoria Square, a pedestrian street with a lot of shops. However, since we were there early and the weather was poor, there weren’t many people, and most stores were not yet open.

In Victoria Square, there is a unique clock tower, the Albert Memorial Clock, which combines French and Italian Gothic architectural styles. Built in 1867, it was erected to commemorate Queen Victoria’s husband. However, due to foundation issues, the clock tower was tilted shortly after its construction.

Victoria Square is quite large. As the afternoon brought some sunshine, people who had been indoors started coming out to enjoy the sun, and street performers began to sing, giving the city a lively vibe.

Donegall Pass

This is the closest “Peace Wall” to Belfast, where graffiti depicts stories from the front lines of clashes between opposing sides during the conflict years.

Now that the smoke has cleared, standing in front of the graffiti wall, seeing soldiers, skulls, and blood-stained doves vividly painted, hearing children playing soccer near the terraced houses nearby, the major human themes of war and peace, death, and everyday life unfold silently and gravely in the slightly desolate air of Belfast’s western side.

Belfast’s Bars and Beer

After walking around downtown the whole day, we went to a local bar to relax. The bartender recommended HARP beer, a local specialty with rich foam and a soda-like refreshing taste, which even I, who typically don’t like drinking, found quite tasty.

Because it was continuously raining outside, we hopped from one bar to another, enjoying a few pints before finally heading back to the hostel.

Belfast, due to its unique location, presents itself in a special way. However, it cannot be denied that the people here live leisurely and comfortably, without the coldness of big cities, yet enjoying urban conveniences. If you are visiting Dublin, consider spending a few days here! 🚍

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