Belfast

On Saturday, we were treated to an afternoon in Belfast. We rode the ferry for two hours each way from Stranraer right into the Northern Ireland city. As soon as we arrived, we jumped on a city sight-seeing bus (sitting on the top deck, of course) and took in the first part of the tour which included a view of the docks where the Titanic was constructed and made its departure, as well as Campbell College where C.S. Lewis attended school. Probably the most interesting (and eerie) part of the tour was venturing into the northern part of the city where "the troubles" had their greatest impact. Murals have been painted to give memory of the time and there is still evidence of the destruction that happened from all the fighting. Construction and rebuilding is happening all over Belfast, from what we could see.

Close to the centre of the city, we hopped off to get a late lunch and did some shopping and wandering around before catching the ferry again back to Stranraer. That night, most of the team took in a unique 21st birthday party that was supposed to be an Audrey Hepburn theme. Somehow kilts go with everything, though, so that's what quite a few of our hosts wore :o) We did our best to learn some of the traditional Scottish dances.