Jamon Jamon
********** ****
hoping to take a trip in the new year, anyone been, just as a weekend tourist? thanks in advance
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usual "anyone been to...?" thread, this time, Belfast
- Thread starter Jamon Jamon
- Start date
Cian
Well-known member
Don't stay in the Europa, whatever you do.
Some very nice bits to the city, Ulster Museum has recently reopened if you want to take a poke around. Not really anywhere unsafe by day anymore (I even got a photo of my IRL reg car on Sandy Row; admittedly I did it on Boxing Day when there was nobody about, but still...).
Try to avoid going down towards Central Station unless you want to see how ugly bits of the city can be, though.
Some very nice bits to the city, Ulster Museum has recently reopened if you want to take a poke around. Not really anywhere unsafe by day anymore (I even got a photo of my IRL reg car on Sandy Row; admittedly I did it on Boxing Day when there was nobody about, but still...).
Try to avoid going down towards Central Station unless you want to see how ugly bits of the city can be, though.
Franks Wild Years
New member
Go to The Crown, opposite The Europa.
Get a taxi driver to take you the scenic route to and from the airport.
Get a taxi driver to take you the scenic route to and from the airport.
Went last year for the weekend still a scary place, we hired a car and drove North for the day up along the coast to the Giants Causeway which was really nice. Belfast zoo was also ok and we did the sightseeing bus tour which shows just how close the two areas are, our guide was a former taxi driver who had been hijacked five times and shot three times
Stayed at the Days Hotel, cheap, good location and free parking if you have the hire car.
Enjoy
Stayed at the Days Hotel, cheap, good location and free parking if you have the hire car.
Enjoy
cannedheat
Banned
Me and the girlfriend have been and we enjoyed it even though it pissed down, stayed in a guest house called Marantha in Ravenhill Rd a cracking good full breakfast served there, also went to Drumbo park dog track and lost me dosh, all in all a good weekend.
PS The murals are an eye opener.
PS The murals are an eye opener.
seagullwedgee
Well-known member
- Aug 9, 2005
- 3,072
yes def have some G in the crown liquor saloon opposite the europa.
have a taxi guided tour of the falls road, murals etc, incredible.
if you can afford it stay at Ten Square Hotel, opposite donegal square.
eat at Deane's, great local produce, done well, great evening atmosphere, missus would love it.
have a taxi guided tour of the falls road, murals etc, incredible.
if you can afford it stay at Ten Square Hotel, opposite donegal square.
eat at Deane's, great local produce, done well, great evening atmosphere, missus would love it.
Cian
Well-known member
Never been in the original Belfast one but I've had lunch in the Banbridge one, well worth it - even if they did ask me for ID to buy a Becks NA! (driving, its in a shopping centre)
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
Not been to Belfast since 1987.
driller
my life my word
Yes went for the Friday before tranmere game then flew to Liverpool Saturday for the game-. Belfast is shit scary many people said oh your English, but iwill not hold it against you! We went to a few bars- all backwards and dead scary. Quickly retreated to our hotel for a couple of safe beers before bed. Saturday morning got a cab to the airport via falls road and murals bomb sites . This was best bit. Cabby was good tout guide. But was glad to leave to be honest . If I was you avoid!
Jamon Jamon
********** ****
- Thread starter
- #10
Thanks everyone, keep em coming
bet it was fun in them days? didn't go when we got beat then?
bet it was fun in them days? didn't go when we got beat then?
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
Londonderry was interesting.
Jamon Jamon
********** ****
- Thread starter
- #13
probably now, it's on the open top bus route
(although it doesn't say if the bus company chose to remove the roof itself)
Cian
Well-known member
Yes. In summer time there's coach loads of Japanese tourists trying to photograph them. They've become rather the tourist attraction, weirdly.
I had no idea. That would be kind of surreal and would be a great photo opportunity in itself.
cannedheat
Banned
They did not like you then.
Tristram Fourmile
Member
Went 2 years ago with the missus...to see Take That...shhh. Anyway stayed at the Hilton on the riverside. Got 2 nights for the price of 1 as was midweek + a free dinner in the posh restaurant. Also very cheap flights at the time from Gatwick. So first night was seeing Take That (good), then tried to get a drink in hotel bar which was shit to be honest. Full of idiots in suits. 2nd day and night was brilliant. Walked around the old ship yards (Titanic built there so some history) and the town, then just went out around 3.00 pm to the first pub we found, and went in many more after that. The one opposite the Europa mentioned earlier is great, Its on 4 floors with different things happening in each. Anywhere around there was perfectly safe for us. Although we were probably too drunk to notice if there was a threat. Look out for Cash machines. Irish notes dispensed, legal tender over here but look funny. I'd go back at the drop of a hat.
Freddie Goodwin.
Well-known member
I went there about 15 years ago when I suspect things were much different.
We went there for a wedding so were well looked after by brides people who were from the Shankill area. found the locals treated us 'tourists' ok but they always had to ask among the locals as to who 'their people' were people would go back through names until a 'known' family would come up and they would be accepted. otherwise, they were very suspisious of their own.
Among the delights was a visit to a working mans type club (of which their seemed many) with a boxing ring below and bar upstairs. As guests, we were plied with drinks although the choice was low and there's only so much of the black stuff you can drink. Shitch to shorts and you find the measures are huge!
I also went to see Linfield play, about the standard that we are at, and the area around Windsor park with the re, white & blue kerbstones, portraits of the Queen and Union flags from most lamp posts. not far away you would see the nationalist areas with their tricolours flying.
I spoke to a few young lads, they all know their history as in how many Ulstermen died on a certain day at the Somme and the role of the south during WW2 These aspects of history are passed down through the generations which is why grudges on both sides are never allowed to rest.
My lads both support celtic as their Scottish team but there's no way you could wear a celtic shirt in the 'wrong' area and likewise for Rangers too.
All in all, i think you'll enjoy the experience of a visit to Belfast. The recent history means it's different to any mainland city yet I found the locals to bemore friendly than, say, a visit to some parts of Wales.
We went there for a wedding so were well looked after by brides people who were from the Shankill area. found the locals treated us 'tourists' ok but they always had to ask among the locals as to who 'their people' were people would go back through names until a 'known' family would come up and they would be accepted. otherwise, they were very suspisious of their own.
Among the delights was a visit to a working mans type club (of which their seemed many) with a boxing ring below and bar upstairs. As guests, we were plied with drinks although the choice was low and there's only so much of the black stuff you can drink. Shitch to shorts and you find the measures are huge!
I also went to see Linfield play, about the standard that we are at, and the area around Windsor park with the re, white & blue kerbstones, portraits of the Queen and Union flags from most lamp posts. not far away you would see the nationalist areas with their tricolours flying.
I spoke to a few young lads, they all know their history as in how many Ulstermen died on a certain day at the Somme and the role of the south during WW2 These aspects of history are passed down through the generations which is why grudges on both sides are never allowed to rest.
My lads both support celtic as their Scottish team but there's no way you could wear a celtic shirt in the 'wrong' area and likewise for Rangers too.
All in all, i think you'll enjoy the experience of a visit to Belfast. The recent history means it's different to any mainland city yet I found the locals to bemore friendly than, say, a visit to some parts of Wales.