Saturday, May 6:Crumlin Road Gaol, Titanic Museum, Walking around Belfast

Another beautiful day in Belfast!  The weather was sunny, with blue skies, few clouds, and in the lower 60's.

At daybreak, five team members (Pat, Mike, Rod, Terry, and Dennis) went over to the Sisters' house to paint the stucco the team repaired yesterday.  Wonderful hospitality by the Sisters of hot tea, delicious scones with rhubarb jam to thank them for a job well done.

After a yoga session at the hotel, led by Cheryl, and breakfast, Dennis led devotions with one of Father Gerry Reynolds' favorite prayers, the unity prayer.  Dennis added a meaningful stanza to the prayer to set the tone for the day.

Today was a full day of touring the Crumlin Road Jail, Titanic Museum, shopping in Belfast, and dinner at Robinson's Bar.

The Crumlin Road Jail first opened its gates to prisoners in 1846 and for 150 years was a fully operational prison, closing its doors in 1996.  Pierce led our tour there, taking us in the footsteps of prisoners from the time they stepped foot in the door through being booked, given prisoner clothes, and taken up to their cells.  We walked through the tunnel from the prison to the courthouse and saw types of cells in which they were housed.  It was a very eye-opening tour, to say the least. The facility today is used for tours as well as private functions such as weddings, concerts, and craft fairs.

We had a delicious lunch at Bistro 401 in the Titanic Museum.  The museum itself was a magnificent experience and described as world-class and awesome.  The self-guided tour took about two hours. Even 10 hours spent there wouldn't be enough time to see everything!

The team split up for many adventures in the afternoon to include shopping at the Wicker Man store (in a new location down the block), going to the top of Victoria Square to the viewing area overlooking Belfast, seeing the "big blue fish", walking across the footbridge to the city center area, trying on a leprechan disguise at a souvenir shop, seeing the ornate dome in Tesco supermarket, and more shopping.

Dinner at Robinsons Bistro Bar across from the Europa was another good meal with lots of fun conversation.  Back to the hostel for Uno and rest ended another glorious day!

At the Crumlin Road Jail

At the Titanic Museum

At the Top of Victoria Center

Shopping with Leprechans

By the Belfast Fish

At Dinner in Robinsons

At the Statue of Pat's Great Uncle