The Luggage Diaries: "She Was Alright When She Left Here"

I remember learning when we lived in Belfast that the Titanic had been built in Belfast Harbor. And I remember thinking, "that is some kinda claim to fame"--and yet, no one was really shouting it from the rooftops. No museum centered around it, no major attempts to draw attention to this huge part of one of the most fascinating world historical events in the last 100 years.... And then I got it--if you talk to enough people who are from Belfast, there's a little saying about the Titanic that goes, "Well, she was alright when she left here!"

It's always seemed that Belfast wanted just a little bit of distance between its name and the disaster, which makes enough sense. But shipbuilding is a huge part of Belfast's history and to not recognize and give it the respect that the Titanic undertaking alone deserves is....well, not giving a complete story, in my opinion. For that reason, I was really glad when I heard the Titanic Belfast Museum was opening in time for the 100th-year anniversary of the Titanic and we booked for tickets to go on Saturday. Really glad we did--it's very, very well done. It was great to be in the city center of Belfast and have the kids down there. Incidentally, had to stop in at Avoca--again--for lunch. Mm. And then got a snazzy night out with Al and Suz, just the four of us for dinner. Here's some pics from our day...

Before we headed down to the city center, I was so so thrilled to get to snag an hour and a cuppa with my friend, Lucia, who used to be my manager at the now-defunct Craftworks. Craftworks was a fabulous retail shop in the center of Belfast, which was full of the most gorgeous art and craft from all over the north and south of Ireland. It was such a special place--in addition to being a beautiful store in itself, it was a real lifeline for me because working there gave me a purpose and a community of my own in a foreign land. Lucia always made me feel welcome and we had a lot of good laughs with our friend, Michelle, another American girlfriend whose husband was in the same program for PT as Dean. Michelle, if you are reading this, we said at least four times how much we wished you were sitting right there with us! Lucia is an amazing woman of strength and grace and Irish wit--she is a wife, mother, nurse, artist (among others)--and I have a huge amount of respect for her....

Alright then, finally got down to the city center--kiddos in front of the magnificent city landmark, Belfast City Hall.

Well, you don't think I could really go to Avoca for lunch and not post a food pic? This is their charcuterie and cheese board--a thing of beauty worth beholding and savoring!

If you have never been to Ireland or Northern Ireland, odds are you have never had wheaten bread. It is a very dense, very grainy, very stick-to-your-bones bread--and smeared with fresh butter? LIP-SMACKING.

Done with lunch, onto the museum. Very, very impressive building.

Standing in front of the last photo that was taken of the Titanic before it left its last port...

A good quote makes me all tingly inside....

Loved seeing Truman get interested. Fabulous videos and learning centers for all ages.

The staterooms section was so fascinating for me. This room would've been for the wealthiest of the wealthy--very luxurious because there were electric lights.

Second class stateroom--bunks, wash sink, much smaller. there was also a third class room which was half the size of this one--very small. Very sobering imagining the families that would've made themselves at home and unpacked their things in rooms just like these....

Jack? Ohh, Jack?? It's Rose calling....where are you, Jack??

Kids with one of the big yellow H & W (Harland & Wolff) shipbuilding cranes in the background of Belfast Harbor. They are major Belfast landmarks. There are two named, "Samson" and "Goliath."