Our shore excursion included a tour of Belfast on the way to the Titanic Museum
Our shore excursion included a tour of Belfast on the way to the Titanic Museum
Our shore excursion included a tour of Belfast on the way to the Titanic Museum
City Hall, cinoketed ub 1906, is a tribute to the thriving industrial economy of the time
City Hall, cinoketed ub 1906, is a tribute to the thriving industrial economy of the time
City Hall, cinoketed ub 1906, is a tribute to the thriving industrial economy of the time
Surrounding the base of Queen Victoria’s statue are sculptures depicting the industries and scholarship of Belfast.
Surrounding the base of Queen Victoria’s statue are sculptures depicting the industries and scholarship of Belfast.
Surrounding the base of Queen Victoria’s statue are sculptures depicting the industries and scholarship of Belfast.
One of many statues in front of City Hall, Mary Ann McCracken was a philanthropist and activist .
One of many statues in front of City Hall, Mary Ann McCracken was a philanthropist and activist .
One of many statues in front of City Hall, Mary Ann McCracken was a philanthropist and activist .
The dome over the entry hall is extraordinary
The dome over the entry hall is extraordinary
The dome over the entry hall is extraordinary
The amazing architecture is a tribute to the wealth of the city at the time
The amazing architecture is a tribute to the wealth of the city at the time
The amazing architecture is a tribute to the wealth of the city at the time
Beautiful stained glass everywhere
Beautiful stained glass everywhere
Beautiful stained glass everywhere
Queen’s University since 1845
Queen’s University since 1845
Queen’s University since 1845
We were intrigued with the residential architecture. Notice the chimneys.
We were intrigued with the residential architecture. Notice the chimneys.
We were intrigued with the residential architecture. Notice the chimneys.
One of many walls dividing this city into sectors
One of many walls dividing this city into sectors
One of many walls dividing this city into sectors
The Titanic Belfast Museum building designed to represent the prows of four ships
The Titanic Belfast Museum building designed to represent the prows of four ships
The Titanic Belfast Museum building designed to represent the prows of four ships
In the early Twentieth Century linen, tobacco, and shipbuilding were the major industries here
In the early Twentieth Century linen, tobacco, and shipbuilding were the major industries here
In the early Twentieth Century linen, tobacco, and shipbuilding were the major industries here
A ride that simulates a tour of the shipbuilding yard was fascinating
A ride that simulates a tour of the shipbuilding yard was fascinating
A ride that simulates a tour of the shipbuilding yard was fascinating
The engine room
The engine room
The engine room
First Class accommodations were very luxurious
First Class accommodations were very luxurious
First Class accommodations were very luxurious
In fact luxury was one of the emphases
In fact luxury was one of the emphases
In fact luxury was one of the emphases
A graphic of the shipyard where Titanic was built
A graphic of the shipyard where Titanic was built
A graphic of the shipyard where Titanic was built
CQD was the prevailing distress call prior to widespread adoption of SOS
Icebergs all around
Icebergs all around
Icebergs all around
The icebergs were in fact an unusual occurrence
The icebergs were in fact an unusual occurrence
The icebergs were in fact an unusual occurrence
Just one of myriad factors that came together to create the Titanic disaster
Just one of myriad factors that came together to create the Titanic disaster
Just one of myriad factors that came together to create the Titanic disaster
A Luncheon menu from earlier that day survived
A Luncheon menu from earlier that day survived
A Luncheon menu from earlier that day survived
But an incredible number of people did not survive
But an incredible number of people did not survive
But an incredible number of people did not survive
This time we opted for the official ship’s shore excursion to visit Titanic Belfast, an amazing museum located at the Harlan & Wolff shipyards in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The museum which opened in 2012, the centenary of that fated maiden voyage, is an amazing multimedia experience. Prior to arriving at the museum we got a bus ride around this capital city that in the early Twentieth Century epitomized the industrial age, including a visit to City Hall. Our tour guide Susie Millar is the Belfast Titanic Society and author of Two Pennies: A True Story of the Titanic, which tells the story of her family’s connection to the Titanic. Her great-grandfather was one of the few residents of Belfast who lost their lives in the sinking. The museum itself does an incredible job of telling the Titanic story from the Belfast point of view. This is where the great ship was designed, built, and launched. As you make your way through the museum you learn about the economy and the industries thriving in Belfast in the first decade of the 1900’s, the rise of interest in luxury transatlantic vessels, then into a sense of what was involved in the design and building of the ship. You stand beneath a gantry, ride a lift up to the next level, and hitch a ride through the factory. We learned about the great fanfare of her launch in 1911 and the ten months of outfitting her in grand style. We took a virtual tour of the vessel from the engine rooms to the luxurious first class accommodations. Then there was the discussion of the night of April 14th and the early hours of the 15th, of the icebergs and the wireless messages, of the sinking, of the rescuing of survivors, and recovery of those who did not survive as well as the establishment of SOLAS – Safety of Life at Sea – international standards of safety of merchant ships to help assure our safety at sea. It’s always a bit sobering to remember the Titanic as we make our way through the same waters she sailed. We’re finding it fascinating to see the story from so many different angles. Tomorrow we’ll have another opportunity to learn more. Life is an adventure!
Guys, I plan to look up Susie Millar’s book you referenced. Another fascinating book I bought in Liverpool last Fall was “And The Band Played On”. A true story by the grandson of a violin player who went down with the Titanic. A great read!. J & S
Ever since its debut on Broadway the two of us have wanted to see “Wicked the Musical”. Today we realized that dream. In the Apollo Victoria Theater in London’s West End we were witness to the incredible prequel to The Wizard of Oz, the story of the Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
London’s National Portrait Gallery’s temporary exhibition, “Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens” presents an amazing collection of portraits, jewelry, personal effects, books, costumes, and more to illustrate not only the lives of the six women who married the second Tudor king, but the effort across five centuries to keep their memory alive.
The purpose of our trek to Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham in the southwest of London was to see a recently recovered bronze bust of the Emperor Caligula but we discovered so much more in the recently restored 18th Century “little Gothic castle” built by Horace Walpole.
Guys, I plan to look up Susie Millar’s book you referenced. Another fascinating book I bought in Liverpool last Fall was “And The Band Played On”. A true story by the grandson of a violin player who went down with the Titanic. A great read!. J & S