I was in Belfast from the 28 – 30 July during Europe a la Carte Summer 09 UK Blogging Tour. It was my first trip to Belfast, for which I’d read a lot of positive things about being a great city break destination.

View over the city from the top of the Belfast Wheel

I stayed at the Malmaison Belfast, which was like being on a gothic film set. After checking in on the evening of 28 July, I ate at The Apartment, opposite the City Hall. Then it was on to the restored Victorian Crown Bar with its intricately carved wooden booths and stained glass windows. What a contrast between the glass fronted Apartment and the dark wooden cosiness of the Crown Bar, however I loved them both!

City Hall and the Belfast Wheel

The next morning I ventured out of the city for a visit to the Ulster Folk Museum where I spent most of my time in Ballycultra Town, a recreation of a typical Irish town from the beginning of the 20th centtury. I was keen to see the Botanic Gardens, so caught the train back in to the city. The Palm House and the flowerbeds were an absolute riot of colour. Next it was a sighseeing bus tour around the city which covered Stormont, the Murals, Queens University and the Cathedral District.

The International Wall murals, Belfast

I then had a ride on the Belfast Wheel before heading down to the River Lagan. I was amazed by how much construction in going on around Belfast, which led me to christen it “City of Cranes”. The whole area around the former dockyards is being regenerated into a mix of housing, retail and office accommodation.

Belfast, City of Cranes

There’s a Peace and Reconciliation sculpture at Laganside.

Peace and Reconciliation Sculpture

Futher along, close to the weir, is a giant blue fish sculpture named the Big Fish.

The Big Fish at Laganside

My favourite installation around Laganside was the water feature in Custom House Square, a water jet fountain powered by the River Farsett flowing beneath.

Water feature, Custom House Square, Belfast

On my final day in Belfast, I visited Victoria Square shopping centre, not necessarily to partake of some retail therapy but to admire the view from the observation platform in the dome. I then had a very tasty tapas lunch at La Tasca Spanish Restaurant.

La Tasca Spanish Tapas Restaurant, Victoria Square, Belfast