Continued from Planning Your Trip to Ireland Part 9
BELFAST

Heading south once more down the great glens of Antrim, you will reach Belfast, rich in history and museums. In Belfast near the University is the Ulster Museum, which has a wonderful collection of artefacts and art, and an excellent if small restaurant which overlooks an intriguing little ancient graveyard.

The folk museum at Cultra, about 7 miles away, is also well worth visiting, and the adorable town of Crawfordsburn with its sandy beaches, windmill and waterfall.

Also worth visiting in Belfast are the zoo, Cavehill, and Queen’s University Belfast and the Belfast City Hall. You can also walk along the great River Lagan, to visit quaint villages and ancient monuments just a stone’s throw away from the city center. Once again, for so large a city, pretty much everything is in walking distance, or a short bus or cab ride away.

Belfast has water on the east side, the Belfast lough, and mountains to the west. On the lough are the Harland and Wolff shipyards, where the great Titanic and its two other ill-fated sister ships were built. It has a museum and is located very near the small but busy Belfast City Airport. (The international airport is about 20 miles away to the west near the town of Antrim).

Belfast also has many fine Georgian buildings in the city center, and the Crown Saloon, an old pub which still retains its Victorian charm. There is also a opera house, fine theatres and dining, a good city center for shopping, and a very sophisticated area around the university.

Every autumn there is a fine arts festival which features top ballet, opera, and the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as classical musical ensembles from all over the world.

Continues in Planning Your Trip to Ireland Part 11