Sunday August 4
Well today wasn’t enormously eventful.
After the obligatory buffet breakfast, we all pile into the bus for a quick lap around the town. Without the middle of town blocked off, things are much more civilized.
We see some (non-red-brick) rather grand buildings. The Belfast City Hall and The Queen’s University are certainly impressive.
We then drive to the epicentre of the aforementioned Troubles. Two working class streets, Falls Rd and Shankill Rd, back to back. One Catholic, one Protestant.
To keep the warring factions apart, a tall fence was built the length of these roads. After the violence ended, this fence has become the Peace Wall. To be fair, The Peace Fence just does have the same gravitas. Today, visitors are asked to stop and sign the wall. Like a giant get well card for the community.
After the tour, it was off to the wharf, and wait to board the ferry to Scotland.
This is a big ferry. The bus drives on, and we all get out and go upstairs for the trip. There are bars, restaurants, lounges, gaming arcades and movie theatre. They must be short movies, because the crossing is about 2 hrs.
Just before docking, all vehicled passengers are asked to mount their vehicles, in readiness for the green flag. Gentlemen, start your engines.
Like some large, cavernous ark, the ferry unceremoniously expels a disparate collection of vehicles, two by two. Then it’s a two+ hr drive to Glasgow, where we are staying for two nights.
On the way, we passed two rather pointless objects.
The first is an island called Ailsa Craig. It a great lump of granite, which is apparently the best granite to quarry for making 🥌 curling stones.
The other one is a golf course belonging to some guy called Trump.
Well today wasn’t enormously eventful.
After the obligatory buffet breakfast, we all pile into the bus for a quick lap around the town. Without the middle of town blocked off, things are much more civilized.
We see some (non-red-brick) rather grand buildings. The Belfast City Hall and The Queen’s University are certainly impressive.
We then drive to the epicentre of the aforementioned Troubles. Two working class streets, Falls Rd and Shankill Rd, back to back. One Catholic, one Protestant.
To keep the warring factions apart, a tall fence was built the length of these roads. After the violence ended, this fence has become the Peace Wall. To be fair, The Peace Fence just does have the same gravitas. Today, visitors are asked to stop and sign the wall. Like a giant get well card for the community.
After the tour, it was off to the wharf, and wait to board the ferry to Scotland.
This is a big ferry. The bus drives on, and we all get out and go upstairs for the trip. There are bars, restaurants, lounges, gaming arcades and movie theatre. They must be short movies, because the crossing is about 2 hrs.
Just before docking, all vehicled passengers are asked to mount their vehicles, in readiness for the green flag. Gentlemen, start your engines.
Like some large, cavernous ark, the ferry unceremoniously expels a disparate collection of vehicles, two by two. Then it’s a two+ hr drive to Glasgow, where we are staying for two nights.
On the way, we passed two rather pointless objects.
The first is an island called Ailsa Craig. It a great lump of granite, which is apparently the best granite to quarry for making 🥌 curling stones.
The other one is a golf course belonging to some guy called Trump.
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