A few years back I had a pretty interesting trip to the UK. I sometimes jot down small notes. Came across one such recently.
Day 1 Belfast
Reached Belfast from London. Train from
Orpington to London Bridge, from London Bridge to Gatwick. Reached Belfast
around 10. Took the Europa Bus from the Airport. Driver couldn’t understand
where I needed to be dropped and dropped me somewhere quite far from the Radisson Blu and the city
centre. In the meanwhile my neighbor in the Bus, a lovely old lady about 75
insisted with him (rightly) that I was being dropped at the wrong place and was
on the verge of accompanying me to my destination (The Radission Blu). I
managed to convince her that it was actually not necessary, my case was not
heavy and I will manage! She had got down the steps of the Bus too! This was one
of the many instances of kindness and love I was shown during my trip. I
enquired and finally took a cab to the Hotel!
Freshened and took directions to the City
Centre and Titanic Belfast. Belfast was the first European City after London
that I was seeing. It was a wonder to walk around and see castles, turrets and
spires springing up at you from all corners. I ended up taking a huge detour of
the city on my way to the Titanic Museum. The area is a new development that
will be complete in a few years – with quarters, malls other than the Titanic
Museum and dockyard. The place where the Titanic was built and launched has been converted to a Museum with a commemorative building shaped like a pair of
wings about to fly off. Now that is more a memory to Kate Winslet in the movie
than the original Titanic, I guess!
Returned walking the right way and ended up
at a Pub near the Clock Tower. Had my first taste of Magnus Cider Ale. Sweet! Stick to normal and black beer next
time I guess. Walked back to the hotel through an eerily quiet city. Everything
closes at six (except the pubs). It was a long long walk back through a
beautiful city. There are few signs of past ravage except a missing exuberance,
closed doors at six and some warning signs.
Had a dinner of pasta at the hotel restaurant.
Distance walked - 20 kms?
Penned sometime in Augustt 2014
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