Glasgow to Ayr by train – bus to Cairnryan, Scotland and…

ferry to Belfast.

Today trendy, touristy and hip but filled with a tumultuous past.  Often referred to as “the troubles” the Catholics and Protestants fought hard from 1969 to 1998 (with sporadic turmoil until 2015).

In 1998 there were only 4 hotels – the Europa was and is the most bombed building in Europe – today a mighty 45 hotels stand proud and Belfast is touted as the 2nd safest city in the world next to Tokyo.

Still today 48 peace walls separate Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods – 25′ high up – some up to 3 miles long stretching a total of 21 miles.

Although peace is in the air the embers still are smoldering…