Belfast — Our Next Big Thing

10 to 14 September 2024

Wednesday, Julie and Anthony drove down to the Titanic Museum in the Belfast Harbor.

The Titanic was famous for Luxury. Even the third class cabins were comfortable for ships of that time. There was electricity and hot water, a big deal.

Violin owned by Wallace Hartley, who played while the Titanic sank.

Deck chair from the Titanic. Was it rearranged?

After the Titanic Museum we went on a quest to find the Game of Thrones stain glass art. The studio where much of the series was filmed was adjacent to the museum.

Belfast harbour

Titanic Studios, where Game of Thrones was filmed.

Albert Memorial Clock

Belfast Spike

On Thursday Julie and Anthony were back in central Belfast for the Belfast Troubles Tour. The tour guided us through the events of the troubles, visiting locations where bombings and murders happened. The conflict between the catholic and protestant militias (with the English army) started in the sixties continuing through to the 90s. Years of negotiation lead to the Good Friday Agreement (10 April 1998) which ended much of the violence. People may not remember, but the U.S. played an important role in brokering the agreement.

A Wall memorializing those killed in the troubles. The tiles contain numbers representing individuals killed.

The one thing that Anthony and Julie took away from the tour was that, even though the violence had stopped, the ill feelings were still there. So much mistreatment (both sides), so much death, it is part of their social DNA. Belfast and Derry are still segregated, and there is still very much a us vs them mentality.

After the tour and lunch (we were so excited because the restaurant had bottomless soft drinks!!! our American cells rejoiced) we visited Belfast Castle. The castle is now a hotel.