Belfast

Our day began with a driving tour of Belfast, including the city hall, queens college, 

and the neighborhoods predominantly Irish and those of the unionists. The guide pointed out the political graffiti about the "troubles," what they call the 1970s and 1980s unrest in West Belfast. 

(Peace line--wall that divided Protestant and Catholic communities)

(Stormont, Parliament buildings)

The driving tour ended near Belfast's former shipbuilding yards.

This is the location of  the Titanic museum.

 It was a very well done interactive museum. There was even a ride to explain the building process...Which is, of course, the tie in to Belfast.  

One of the most interesting part of the museum to me was the recreations of the staterooms to give some small taste of how people lived on the ship, including first class

Second class

and third.

Even an exhibit of the china used on board.

The way the museum portrayed the sinking was very well done, with panels describing the ship's last messages

and a lifeboat.

The last exhibit described portrayals of the titanic in pop culture.

The tour group went back to the hotel for a break, but Katherine and i immediately headed out to sightsee. We went by Ulster Hall where led zeppelin first performed Stairway to Heaven for a pic 

before heading to City hall. 

We stepped inside for pictures (gorgeous inside!)

and to see the colorful modern stained glass windows.

once back outside we swung by the Titanic memorial right outside. 

Our next stop was St. Anne's cathedral, which is relatively new since it was started in 1899 and wasn't finished until 1981. 

On our way back to the hotel to meet up with the group, 

we stopped at St. Malachy's church (built 1841-1844), which looked like a castle, complete with turrets! 

Its ceiling mimics Westminster Abbey.

Once back at the hotel, we joined up with the tour to head to one of the scheduled events I had most been looking forward to--seeing Hillsborough Castle, the residence of the Queen in Northern Ireland.   

It was so intimate!  In addition to the tour, we were scheduled for afternoon tea at the palace.  It was just our tour group and afternoon tea was served in the ballroom. 

 

The tiered trays were waiting for us on the tables.

I had ham and butter, egg mayonnaise, and roast beef with English mustard. Katherine had tuna with corn, Cajun chicken salad, and pickle with cheese. 

 There were cute small scones, served with cream piped onto of jam, 

and two desserts. 

After tea the dishes were all whisked away, and I was able to get a couple of additional ballroom pictures with fewer people.

We were able to tour a few more rooms in the palace.

There was also a lovely garden. It also stopped raining while we were in the house so we could see a bit of the garden. 

On the way back to Belfast we saw a rainbow.

For dinner, Katherine and went to the crown liquor salon, a Victorian fancy pub. 

 We had a slightly early night tonight so we will have more energy tomorrow--back to the hotel!