Belfast, I was very envious! Much to my frustration when the first day of my visit it soon became apparent that I did not see him much ... The international airport is located 19 km from the city, a trifle. Moreover, it is small, and it comes out very quickly. Upon landing at 17:00 local time, I thought I had time to do a short tour in the city center, to get a first look. He had not reckoned on the labyrinth that is indescribable for a first visit to the streets whose name is not displayed !

I had just scanned my Google map printed map before you go (thank you to the website of Tara Lodge, which has managed to make it available to its customers), I had thought to transgress the etiquette most basic guarantee me a spot reserved for disabled people to jump on the first policeman who crossed there (so these young people smiling helpful!), and I was fine from twice to the North while I was aiming for the South j 'I was very sorry that this rental car had no compass on board: it took me 80 minutes to reach my hotel in a quiet street of a lively! ...

So, before arriving at the hotel around 19:00, I had time to turn around in the city center and take the pulse of the city. But I also understand that all businesses close their doors shortly before 18:00 and that the city does not wake up until 8:00 p.m. when then enter the Irish pubs and restaurants. Time to settle in the room, look for the Internet connection (in the other building ...) and I have come running to try to enjoy it a little, too early or too late!

A dinner and one hour later, I realized that traveling alone, woman, moreover, take the time to sit quietly and engage in conversation on your own. Otherwise, the contact is more difficult since the Irish are moving and have fun with your partner or group. Fiasco so for me this first day. I had seen the city, but I brought home a general impression, and no photo!

The sun invading my room at 7:00 the next morning, I opted for the flight to the North promising to return if possible. I need the sun to photograph my landscapes and a long day of waiting car if I wanted to complete this tour of Ireland in the time which I was allowed. The tourist office had left me free to decide my journey, it was my best to manage this freedom to see the maximum, enjoying the beautiful weather. So I headed to the north.

Only at the end of my trip I decided I needed all costs, free up some time to explore this city which all indicators are green: after decades of conflict ( "troubles" as they are called here), Catholics and Protestants have agreed to tolerate each other, political parties have subsided and the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland working together to restore calm in Belfast it deserves. But silence is probably not the appropriate term to describe the atmosphere of this city awake.

I managed to release two hours on the last day of my journey to find the heart of the city, two hours that include the circulation time and closing stores. It had to be done quickly to get to the essence. In this context, and playing the game thoroughly, I parked my car in a parking lot downtown and found myself in a bustling shopping malls. If I am chosen to enter into some interesting shops (Ireland is the place to find rain gear that is not sad!), I still have a crush on a bag of ice, especially to like the Irish to put me in unison with the good mood probably came from the first sunbeams of the week. And armed with creamy vanilla, I heard a few minutes a group of street musicians at the corner of two avenues in the most congested city, while watching the girls with white skin and raven black hair (and younger like piercings) or men with pink skin and strawberry blonde. Eyes peppermint water or wild hyacinth, all eyes are curious but timid. I did not dare to insist with the camera ...

Then I crossed the engaging smile of a seller of tickets for a tour of Belfast-decker buses, you know those red buses and homeless. Within a few seconds, I made my decision: play as many tourists to the bottom and see a maximum in minimum time. I know it will be a flyover, but at least I saw the principal for one day then return to basics. Is it to backpack or my accent Frenchy? Seller gratifies me the student rate: £ 10 for a round fifty-minute minimum, depending on traffic. It is not given, but Ireland is all a bit expensive.

Having already done this kind of tower in New York during my first visit to the "Big Apple", I go immediately to the floor where already waiting patiently two families with children. I sit on a comfortable benches and began to regret having removed the fleece jacket of my backpack just before going down to city car, thinking that I would not suffer from the cold: he is only 10 ° center (shown on an illuminated sign in front of me) and the blizzard sweeps in the streets with Victorian facades of the nineteenth century, while the sun plays hide and seek with the clouds of lead. For £ 10 I'll catch a burst that I'll be bedridden for weeks to come! ...

To while I watch the street activity and smiled before the watchful eyes of the young (and old) people who stop suddenly to observe with great attention a procession of Austin Mini painted in the colors of a famous mark local beer which is a promotional event in endless honking to attract attention on female drivers to be young and sexy wiggle to the sound of loud music (see photo at the top of the article). Success guaranteed! Admittedly, the girls are extremely pretty and have more of a profile box striptease as students of the last cycle. But the atmosphere is friendly, they are sent cheers and big hand gestures, which they respond very nicely. Obviously while Belfast is invited to find them in a box that seems familiar to local Native judging by the enthusiastic comments of Mr sitting behind me and commented to his friends in New Jersey.

When the bus starts I wonder if the sky is not falling on our heads before the end of the walk and I decided to make a maximum number of photos in no time, even the frames that are not perfect. Soon, it becomes a bias as a challenge: how to show the city from atop a bus for tourists? ...

A charming guide simply sits down with us, so we can enjoy his smile and his jokes customized without losing the excellent acoustics of the bus. Contrary to what I thought, I perfectly understand every comment she makes on the buildings we passed and the streets we travel. And we spin immediately to the Titanic Quarter.

You have to come to Belfast to remember (or learn?) That the famous ship was built in the shipyards of the beautiful Irishwoman, for three long years. A boat that offered unwittingly beautiful celebrity in a disadvantaged area and has since learned to exploit. I pass over the data in the yard that does not fascinate me (I'm not a woman figures, did you understand? ...) But I am thoughtful to the dimensions that are available under our skeptical eyes and gaping . If I had the chance to see France many times (privileged kid from a part of his holidays at Le Havre and then mop random adult in the cruise port of Miami), the hold which housed the Titanic and the size Terminal Anchor leave me pensive ...

For memory I recall that an absolute luxury ship sailed from Southampton in England on her maiden voyage April 12, 1912, never arrived in New York. He came upon an iceberg down from Newfoundland leaving only 868 survivors and 1500 missing. To lighten the atmosphere, our guide tells the story of Irish Lady who told him a few days ago "you built Er, we Sank her" ("you have built, we have sunk") in connection with the fact that a Scot was flying and it is an iceberg that struck the Canadian ... I also note that in English we use a feminine pronoun to describe the boats. Tribute to the ladies ...

For now, the neighborhood has been redeveloped, and if I wanted to I could enjoy a visit to the museum dedicated or enter the nearby Imax planning the latest movies straight from the Hollywood mill.

Our city tour continues through the crossing of different neighborhoods and presentation of various historical buildings: City Hall, Tower Prince Albert (husband of Queen Victoria), the University, the Opera, a few pubs famous churches and cathedrals, ... But the high point of the visit, even if everyone on board would probably have the modesty to deny it access to the West Ward. When the streets with Victorian houses and brick red floral bow windows give way to more austere facades colored white and gray, the guide mentions very briefly for us the living conditions of the inhabitants of Belfast subject to the "troubles" which shook the city for nearly thirty years. Explosions, snipers sniping, continuing insecurity made travel hazardous. Thus were born the famous "black taxis" daring drivers who once agreed to take on board many customers at once to allow more people to go home at night, taxis are still at the city in an atmosphere much more relaxed.

And relaxed, the Irish in West Belfast are: whenever our bus passes or stops at the option of traffic in front of a pub, we are entitled to enthusiastic shouts and greetings are friendly laugh our guide, to the extent that I'm beginning to wonder if the government did not introduce a tax reduction for all citizens wishing to show a warm welcome to visitors of the area west ... I know it would be stretching the goodwill to its limits but it reduces significantly the atmosphere that permeates the walls scraped of some streets. In one corner we designate some portions of a wall tagged with graffiti, a symbol of segregation of neighborhoods in the past, vague recollection of another wall (above) in a city Germanic. Then we pass the Commission's smallest but most famous of Ireland , protected by a thick belt of barbed wire.

But what I will remember most of western quarter, with these good-cheers for beer drinkers and football fans in a T-shirt with the arms of their favorite club, this is precisely these facades painted by street artists that illustrate their how political events past and present. Where such an amusing reference to the policy of George W. Bush is expected in the coming days ...

When the bus dropped us to our starting point in the city center, all shops are closed already and I run to the mall with literally the fear they have cordoned off the parking lot! In fact, the car park closes at 19:00 but my car is immediately recognizable among three separate vehicles on the floor of the parking was just now full! From 18:00 all the inhabitants deserted the city, I remember, because I'll be back.

I will return to Belfast but together, because the string of pubs and restaurants that I have seen call for the warmth and friendliness. I am even convinced that the city deserves to be seen, consumed during a getaway for two or three days, enough for shopping and sample the Irish Stew and Irish beers, and try two or three boxes connected to seem to make the happiness of young Europeans who are here for the Nordic turbulent agitation of Barcelona ...

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This article was published June 16, 2008 at 8 h 30 min in the category Europe . Follow the RSS comments.