Sitting in the stylish lounge on the first floor of the Europa Hotel
that overlooks Great Victoria Street in Belfast, Northern Island, it was hard to believe
that until 1993, this establishment had acquired the ill reputation as "Europe's most bombed
hotel".
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Great Victoria Street is the start of the Golden Mile. Along this street are the Europa Hotel,
Grand Opera House, Presbyterian Headquarters, as well as a variety of shops, restaurants -
and of course, Irish pubs. Of all the great pubs along this street, the Crown Liquor Saloon
is the most famous, because it offers a glimpse of bygone years - and is today a National
Monument and a fabulous place to enjoy a nightcap!
Given Belfast's turbulent past, one of the most fascinating tours in the city is certainly a
visit to the working class neighbourhoods along the Falls and the Shankill Roads of West Belfast,
which at one time were in the very heart of the political tension in northern Ireland. Until 1993,
the Catholic area (centred on the Falls Road), and the Protestant neighbourhood (centred on the Shankill Road),
were separated by the 'peace line' wall. Both areas display an array of murals on the sides of the buildings
that face either the Falls or Shankill Roads, painted by the residents of the neighbourhoods, in support
of their political views.
Besides the many other Belfast tourist attractions from which one can choose, a day trip along the
north Antrim Coastal path to visit Giant's Causeway is always highly recommended. Advertised as the
eighth natural wonder of the world and classified as a World Heritage Site, Giant's Causeway is an
amazing honeycomb collection of 40 000 black hexagonal column rock formations extending off the coast.
Irish legend - of which there are a-plenty - holds that it is the path of the warrior giant Finn
MacCool, who inhabited the Antrim headlands. Finn fell in love with a female giant on Staffa Island,
off the Scottish coast, and built the causeway to bring her across to Ireland.
One of Ireland's greatest prides is embedded in their excellent whiskey and en route back to the city,
a visit to Bushmill's, the world's oldest distillery is a must. For centuries, visitors have stopped
off to sample the whiskey at the famous Bushmills Inn Hotel, situated nearby the distillery - which
has had many a Scotch drinker converting to Irish whiskey!
Slainte! (good health)
For information on Belfast and the Europa Hotel call TOURISM IRELAND Tel: (011) 339 4865
E-mail: tourismireland@dpgsa.co.za or visit the website www.tourismireland.com
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