IRELAND: Belfast Days

Belfast is my first taste of Ireland, but because of political reasons it is actually a part of the United Kingdom. For this reason I am not able to claim my 65 countries visited status until I enter the Republic of Ireland when I am in Donegal. At this point I will go from pounds to euros, and from a rabid friction with the British to a ho hum who cares attitude.

THE LADS – Three Generations and Nationalities – Benny, Chetan, John

Our Irish Tour Guide for the afternoon.

The Oldest Pub in Belfast with the worst Irish stew in Ireland.

A mural on the wall promoting the taxi tour we were taking.

The mural depicting the IRA members who have died in hunger strikes, starting with Bobby Seal on the bottom left.

This mural depicts the new younger IRA and shows five youths killed in the struggle.

This is where he lost me – The IRA is cozied up with the PLO! What’s next Hezbollah?

The mural in the neutral zone calling for peace.

The British Side – Calling Belfast Shankhill Rd. the heart of the Empire!

Quite a contrast showing solidarity with Israel.

The flag of Belfast bereft of any reference to Ireland.

Fences separate the sides in this residential neighborhood.

Gates closed in the evening.

 

 

 

THE TITANIC MUSEUM

THE NOMADIC

TITANIC MODEL

RIVETERS – The man on the left pushes the hammer against the head of the rivet while the two men hammer the red hot straight end into a flat surface that holds the two sheets of metal together creating the appropriate seal. The riveters were usually comprised of teams of right/left handers so they could get a good swing at the rivet intermittently from both sides.

1st Class Cabin

S.S. Titanic Lifeboat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHETAN

THE BUSHMILLS DISTILLERY

 

 

 

THE GIANT’S CAUSEWAY – Basalt Rock Formation

 

 

 

One of my favorite shots

 

 

 

The next morning I’m bound for Donegal.