Given Northern Ireland’s reputation for brutal violence and bitter division, it may strike you as odd that the first thing I noticed on my way from Belfast International Airport to the city centre was an apparent absence of conspicuous borders. Instead of being sliced into a patchwork by obvious fences, the resplendent green fields that rolled gently away from the highway were sectioned into squares by dark green hedgerows in a seemingly natural division. Only upon a closer look did I notice glinting barbs of wire poking out of the hedges in places, revealing a man-made grid of wire fencing betrayed by the sun. In my experience, this sums up the current political situation in Northern Ireland – flashes of violence committed by a minuscule proportion of the population puncture an otherwise stunningly beautiful, vibrant corner of the world. That said, it is best not to visit during Marching Season, which runs from July 4-12, as tension does tend to increase during this time. A good starting point upon arrival in Belfast is the Tourist Information. Located in the heart of the city at 59 North Street, this facility offers free city maps and friendly, expert advice on all aspects of travel and cultural events in Northern Ireland. If you prefer to plan ahead, check out the official home page of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board at www.interknowledge.com/northern-ireland. Armed with a fistful of brochures, I walked straight from the Information Centre to the Great Victoria bus and rail station to catch a train up to Portrush on the northern coast, and from there a bus to the eighth natural wonder of the world – the Giant’s Causeway. Designated a World Heritage site in 1986, this geological phenomenon definitely needs to be seen to be appreciated as the subtleties of its full splendour are impossible to capture on film. The Causeway is a range of 4- to 8-sided stone columns tucked into a series of spectacular bays backed by sheer 90-metre cliffs. The area is utterly unspoiled although a tourist information kiosk, souvenir shop and small café are housed in a couple of low-lying cabins that provide refuge from sudden rain and rest after a long hike without detracting from the natural scene. Bus tours to the Giant’s Causeway are also available. They depart from The Belfast International Youth Hostel and include stops at Dunluce Castle and the heart-stopping Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. Visit www.minicoachni.co.uk for photographs and further information. Tranquility can equally be found in the midst of Belfast’s bustle. The Botanic Gardens, an oasis of meandering paths and greenery situated beside Queen’s University, includes a greenhouse and tropical ravine and the Ulster Museum (www.ulstermuseum.org.uk). Cave Hill Country Park, a vast expanse of rugged terrain that overlooks the city, boasts, among other things, the Belfast Castle, Belfast Zoo, a nature reserve and an ancient fort. A brochure containing information about the various landmarks and a map of the park’s marked hiking trails can be collected at the Information Centre. Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to descend upon the city centre and it’s eclectic mix of shops, pedestrian streets and cafés serving the essential Ulster Fry. A stroll along the River Lagan, where evidence of heavy industry sits side by side with fancy new developments such as Waterfront Hall, will give you a sense of Belfast’s glorious past and hope for the future. The City Hall Grounds, located at the very heart of the city in Donegall Square, are packed with monuments including Titanic and War Memorials. You may also wish to catch a glimpse of the infamous murals relating to the Troubles. The best way to do this is to take a guided tour of the city. A bus tour designed by local historians departs from Belfast International Youth Hostel and covers Belfast Castle, St. Anne’s Cathedral, the Falls and Shankhill areas, a number of political murals, the Laganside Area, Waterfront Hall and City Hall. Visit www.minicoachni.co.uk for further details. I finished my time in Belfast with a visit to the wood-panelled café in the Linen Hall Library, home to the non-partisan Definitive Archive of the Troubles. As I sat in a leather-backed chair, sipping my tea, trouble seemed as far away as it did on the beach at the Giant’s Causeway, on my quiet wander through the Botanical Gardens and from the Cave Hill lookout where I stopped to look down on the fascinating city seemingly defined by contradiction. Travel Tips: Beds in the Linen House Backpackers Hosel can be booked via www.hostelworld.com Information about the Belfast International Youth Hostel can be found at www.iyhf.org Freedom of Northern Ireland rail/bus tickets can be purchased at main bus and train stations and allow unlimited travel on Citybus, NI Railways, Ulsterbus and Airbus services. One-day, three-out-of-eight-day and seven-consecutive-day cards are available. An Airbus service runs regularly from Belfast International Airport to the city centre. Return fares are £6.80 with an ISIC and £8 without. International Student Identity Card (ISIC): In order to obtain ISIC discounts on Citybus, NI Railways and Ulsterbus services you must purchase a £6 Travelsave stamp. In Belfast, application forms are available at the USIT NOW Queen’s University Students Union and Fountain Centre branches. For more information about ISIC benefits visit the International Student Travel Confederation’s web site at www.istc.org Warning: file_get_contents(http://www.aboutmytalk.com/getcommenthtml.php?defaultforum=34&text=Click+here+for+the+Story+from+AboutMyTravel.Com&subject=Travel+Story%3A+Belfast+and+the+Eighth+Natural+Wonder+of+the+World&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aboutmytravel.com%2Fmain.php3%3Faction%3Ddisplayarticle%26artid%3D382) [function.file-get-contents]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 403 Forbidden in /home/aboutmyt/public_html/codebase/articleclass.php3 on line 264 Related Articles: Stolen car? hitching in Ireland Articles by the same contributor: |
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