And they’ve left, the 125 cruise passengers on an extended 40-day stay in Northern Ireland… ship-shape but how to prolong your Belfast stay?
The windows of the world have been on the passengers on the Villa Vie Odyssey these past two months
As they enjoyed an unscheduled stay on the Foyle.
Or a marketing tool for our friends at Visit Belfast as the perfect PR gift.
To show the rest of us (and Belfastophiles like ourselves are already converts) how to spend 40 days here.
There was more than enough in our hosts’ presentation on their visit to the sumptuous The Dome in George Street, Edinburgh.
To keep us entertained for a couple of months.
As it goes I’m just back from Belfast where I’d made my way to the docks.
Where a ship even more renowned than the Villa Vie Odyssey is celebrated.
You know the cruise ship which sails around the world over 1301 days and 425 destinations.
Quarter Masters
The Titanic Quarter has transformed the Belfast tourist landscape.
With 3.6 million taking it in annually and 20,000 living, working, visiting and staying daily.
Standing at the boards on the slipway where Titanic was built it is truly an assault on the senses.
For all its scale we are reminded that the Villa Vie Odyssey and today’s cruise ships would dwarf the Titanic.
But in its appeal none will ever match the Titanic.
Which is why, of course, Belfast’s house guests became familiar visitors with the Titanic Quarter over their 40 days in town.
Now, while the Quarter is on the Villa Vie shipmates’ doorstep the rest of us access it along the Maritime Mile from the city.
Follow the Seahorse
The first thing that strikes visitors to Belfast city is its intimacy and that you double back on yourself.
We remember inside knowledge from past visits to use the Grand Central Hotel’s Seahorse on the side of the building as our compass.
It keeps even this accidental tourist straight and confident to explore further.
To the Cathedral Quarter, the Ulster Museum with its Game of Thrones tapestry when we visited.
The weavers at the Ulster Folk Museum and the Sandy Row we associate with Van Morrison.
For those who want to delve further into the city’s history and more recent the Glider bus is an easy way of getting around the city.
Black Taxi tips
The Belfast black taxis, of course, differ from those that proliferate in London.
The native and knowledgeable Belfastian drivers with their famous gallows wit take tourists around both sides of the divide.
From the 28 years of The Troubles.
And visit the imposing statue of Edward Carson, the defender of Ulster, at the expansive seat of government at Stormont.
A day in the life of a Belfastian
Today, Belfastians go about their lives unhurried and untroubled.
Starting their day with a ‘wee’ (huge) Ulster Fry breakfast.
And while it’s not obligatory to stop for lunch at the Italianate architecture Crown Liquor Saloon with the best Guinness in Belfast.
It is recommended to tarry a while in one of its booth snugs and get late back from lunch.
And maybe grab a cocktail at the Europa Hotel opposite on your way home from work and if you’re lucky enough and Van is doing one of his jazz cabaret acts then take that in.
Belfast, in truth, throbs to the sounds of traditional music, it is slated to hold the Fleadh next year.
Samhain folk
It was, of course, at the vanguard of many other genres over the years from its punk days to today’s multi-cultural sounds.
The city is readying itself now for the Irish festival Samhain, which the rest of the world sabotaged and calls Halloween.
It is safe to say that should you be lucky enough to be delayed for 40 days in Belfast then you will never run out of things to do.
And the locals will make you more than welcome.
So there will be no need to ask: Ship-shape but how to prolong your Belfast stay?
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