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"To be a woman is something so strange, so confusing and so complicated that only a woman could put up with it." -- Kierkegaard

255--Northern Ireland: Belfast @ CherieSpotting     Nov 23 2004 - 09:42 PST cherie writes: The colorful houses of Belfast speak a history of political and religious strife. It's where people scribble their wishes for peace on the Shankill Peace Wall. But I wonder, if you need a wall to keep the "peace", do you really have peace? We explored both the Catholic and Protestant areas of Belfast. On Kent Street you can visit "the Tavern", an caged bar where IRA patrons have to be buzzed in. Click on each picture to see it full size. read comments (0) | write comment| views: 10019    | rated: 0.0    printer-friendly version   Cherie, Lindsay and Kat in front of "the Tavern", an IRA hangout on Kent St. in Belfast. You have to be buzzed into this caged bar. Many tourists haven't seen the beauty of Belfast in the past 30 years due to the violence. Now at peace, the city is waiting to be re-discovered. For such a religious city, they certainly have sexy window ads. Europa Hotel, the most bombed hotel in the world. (We didn't stay there.) We can fit one more person into the booth at "The Crown Saloon." Dave, Cherie and Mick. The tweed hat strikes again. A kiss for Dave! Is it Dave's charisma, or is it the Guinness? The ladies having a pint of the brown stuff. Friends always make room for each other. The Guinness goes down like butter. The Grand Opera House in Belfast, Northern Ireland. We've entered the Protestant part of town. We're definately in Northern Ireland now. Many houses are painted with political murals. There's a "no farting" sign in our taxi. What are you trying to say? The past is still very real in Belfast. Walking around the block is almost like reading a picture book. Some love him, some hate him. It depends on which side of the wall you were born on. The Shankill Peace Wall. Signing the wall; hoping for continued peace. Kat makes her mark. How can building a wall promote peace? (Notice the wall has been extended higher a number of times.) Craig looking at the wall. Sometimes there is just nothing to say. Cherie by the wall. I found it hard to smile. Rubber bullets used against Catholics by police. Our Catholic cab driver holding up the rubber bullets. Bombay St., Belfast. A mural dedicated to Irish hunger strikers who died in 1981, starving themselves to death in the name of freedom. IRA poster in town. The Sinn Fein office. Sinn Fein. More murals. Has the anger healed yet? Bobby Sands. Everywhere...politics. Lindsay, want a drink? Yup, that's petrol dripping all over Lindsay. Welcome to my little home-away-from-home. Friends around the Legananny Dolmen. I can only hold it up a few more minutes! Charlie's Angels strike again. Stone towers and massive celtic crosses. Cherie wraps her arms around the cross for a little perspective. Now that's a tombstone!