The next city we stayed in was Belfast (david- that's in northern ireland). Belfast was very different from Dublin. Dublin was very much a welcoming tourist town where as Belfast has had a rough time in recent years and is more of a historical place of interest.
and on that note- here's me with a fish
UK's Strongest Man competition was going on while we were there. The men in this picture are pulling a rope that is weighted down on the other side.
we got a tour of a Catholic neighborhood by a guy who used to be in the IRA (irish republican army- they fought against British rule). murals are EVERYWHERE; they are used as a medium of communication mostly about political issues.
then we got a tour of a Protestant neighborhood. i should mentioned that neighborhoods are either 90% Catholic or 90% Protestant and most neighborhoods have huge walls around them and you have to enter through a gate. the neighborhoods also have murals literally painted on the side of every row.
some of the murals are pretty graphic. this one on a corner and it is celebrating a UFF (british fighter) soldier.
on one 'peace wall' that surrounded a Protestant neighborhood a mural calling for peace was painted. we all signed it.
then we got a tour of a Protestant neighborhood. i should mentioned that neighborhoods are either 90% Catholic or 90% Protestant and most neighborhoods have huge walls around them and you have to enter through a gate. the neighborhoods also have murals literally painted on the side of every row.
some of the murals are pretty graphic. this one on a corner and it is celebrating a UFF (british fighter) soldier.
on one 'peace wall' that surrounded a Protestant neighborhood a mural calling for peace was painted. we all signed it.we also toured the city hall and i got to sit in the lord mayorship's chair.
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