Blog 4- Past meets Present in Belfast

 

hop on and hop off belfast bus - Bing images

Buckle up and get on board Belfast's hop-on-hop-off bus with city sightseeing tours. Travel back in time on the 75-minute tour, driving you through the heart of Belfast. As you hop on and off you will visit all the must-see attractions and learn more about the city’s history from the commentary of the local tour guide. The adventure begins at the infamous city hall and ends at Clifton Street where you can hop off and do a tour of Clifton Street Poor House, one of Belfast's hidden gems. As you journey through Belfast on this bright red bus you will have the opportunity to hop off at any iconic stop you desire to see such as Titanic Quarter where HMS Caroline, Titanic Belfast, SS Nomadic, and the Titanic Distillery are located. Belfast's hop-on-hop-off bus is a captivating journey through time and allows you to engage with the city's history.  

Crumlin road gaol then and now - Bing images

Let's travel back in time to 1846 when Crumlin Road gaol was first opened and continued to operate for 150 years. Behind the cold Victorian stone walls, women and children were imprisoned along with Republican and Loyalist prisoners in times of the troubles. During your tour of the old Victorian gaol, you will be guided through the underground tunnel that back in the day was connected to the courthouse where prisoners would've been led through after being convicted to ensure there was no chance of escape.  

Belfast skyline- Katie Ireland (katieirelanddesigns.co.uk)

Personally, when I visit a new city, I enjoy visiting the historical attractions because they enrich our understanding of a particular historical event such as the troubles. A lot of the tourists I spoke with over the summer had only ever heard of the troubles and did not know much about it. Visiting these attractions allows us to engage in history in a way that provides greater local context.