Belfast

We had an afternoon excursion today so we were able to participate in the axe throwing activity on board the ship in the morning. Even though they are foam axes, it is a little hard to get them to stick to the board.

Our first stop in Belfast was the Titanic Memorial. The statue was originally in the middle of the road but it caused so many accidents, it was moved nearby to the City Hall grounds. To mark the 100 years since the sinking, a memorial garden was added. This is the only memorial that includes the names of all that died in this tragedy and the names are listed alphabetically, not separated by rank or class status.

The statue personifies death with the female representing death or fate, holding a black laurel wreath and below her are two mermaids holding a drowned male sailor up out of the water. The statue is made of Carrara marble and stands 22 feet high. The Titanic was made in Belfast and launched from Belfast on March 31, 1912 then headed to Southampton, England to begin it's maiden ocean voyage on April 10, 1912 from London to New York City. It carried 2,240 people initially but hit an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912. The last of the 700 or so survivors passed away in 2009.

A few of the stained glass windows in the City Hall building. The first window here is in memory of the Belfast contribution to the Spanish Civil War in 1936-1939.

The Dock Workers Strike in 1907

The Famine Window for all those who died between 1846-1848 and laid to rest in a mass common grave because of Cholera and Typhus.

The Centennial Window celebrates the many past achievements and hope for the future. The many colored leaves represent the varied cultures and traditions in Belfast and the white dots ("lights") represent the hope for the future.