Destinations

Northern Ireland — not the first destination on many vacation travelers lists, but it is positioned to move up the list quickly.  I had the opportunity to go for a very short visit early in December 2008 but just to Belfast City and I certainly plan to return in the warmer months to see its verdant and beautiful countryside has to offer.

I wanted to share some of my impressions of this busy capital town.  Although war torn by sectarian violence for over 25 years and with a longer history of conflict between its English governance and the Irish residents, the most recent ten years have brought a true measure of calm.  The younger generation of Northern Ireland is showing all the creative energy for which the Irish are famous.
 
I was truly impressed by the artistry here:  print making, graphics, painting, hand-crafts and jewelry-making — I found all over town.  Galleries showing the lastest photograpy, the Central Library exhibiting beautifully illustrated 19th century nature prints, the hand-embroidered cushions in St. Anne’s Cathedral (lovingly done by the parishoners), and Craft Council hand-crafted pottery, weavings and more from all over the countryside.
 
I discovered the venerable Linen Hall Library (founded by the linen guild members back in 1788) which is open to the public and has one of the most extensive collections of historical documents on Ireland going back centuries.  It was just across from the Georgian-style City Hall whose grounds hosted a lively Christmas market with foodstuffs, cheeses, handcrafted items along with many stalls for Christmas mulled wine, hot Dutch pancakes and other yummy comestibles.
 
Belfast is undergoing a reconstruction revolution.  Across the River Lagan from downtown is the “Titanic Project”.  Here in the Belfast shipyards area this beautiful and ill-fated ship was built, and the entire old transportation, construction, and building district is being remade into an historic district surrounded by modern office/apartment building complexes.  A real revival.   In the downtown, brick 3-storey buildings sit in poximity to new shopping centers and one can feel the revival of this vital town going on.   Historic pubs, the olde Opera House, the “Spires” complex full of small restaurants and shops all point toward a positive and hopeful future.
 
I can’t wait to return to visit more in 2009!!