Belfast (from Irish: Beal Feirste, meaning "mouth of the sandbanks") is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland.  Most of Belfast is in County Antrim, but parts of East and South Belfast are in County Down.  It is on the flood plain of the River Lagan.
  By population, it is the fourteenth largest city in the United Kingdom and second largest on the island of Ireland.  It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly.  The city of Belfast has a population of 286,000 and lies at the heart of the Belfast urban area, which has a population of 579,276.   The Larger Urban Zone, as defined by the European Union, has a total population 641,638.  Belfast was granted city status in 1888.
  Historically, Belfast has been a centre for the Irish linen industry (earning the nickname "Linenopolis"), tobacco production, rope-making and shipbuilding: the city's main shipbuilders, Harland and Wolff, which built the well-known RMS Titanic, propelled Belfast on to the global stage in the early 20th century as the biggest and most productive shipyard in the world.  Belfast played a key role in the Industrial Revolution, establishing its place as a global industrial centre until the latter half of the 20th century.  Industrialisation and the inward migration it brought made Belfast, if briefly, the biggest city in Ireland at the turn of the 20th century and the city's industrial and economic success was cited by Ulster unionist opponents of Home Rule as a reason why Ireland should shun devolution and later why Ulster in particular would fight to resist it.  
  Today, with the population of 641,638 (Metropolitan area; cf. City of Belfast: 286,000; Urban area: 483,418; according to "Demography". NISRA. Retrieved 2012-12-18), Belfast remains a centre for industry, as well as the arts, higher education and business, a legal centre, and is the economic engine of Northern Ireland.  The city suffered greatly during the period of conflict called the Troubles, but latterly has undergone a sustained period of calm, free from the intense political violence of former years, and substantial economic and commercial growth.  Belfast city centre has undergone considerable expansion and regeneration in recent years, notably around Victoria Square.  Belfast is served by two airports: George Best Belfast City Airport in the city, and Belfast International Airport 15 miles (24 km) west of the city.  Belfast is also a major port, with commercial and industrial docks dominating the Belfast Lough shoreline, including the famous Harland and Wolff shipyard. Belfast is a constituent city of the Dublin-Belfast corridor, which has a population of three million, or half the total population of the island of Ireland.  (Referred to the site of "Wikipedia")

IMAGE	IMAGE NO.	DATA
Grand Opera House		The Grand Opera House, Great Victoria St.   This typical Victorian theatre, built in 1895, retains its original, richly decorated auditorium, where heavy gilt moldings, ornamental plasterwork, and frescoes depict Asian themes.  It reopened in 1980.
	blf2013-015	(Monday 22 July) The Grand Opera House, 2-4 Great Victoria St Belfast, County Antrim BT2 7HR
Albert Memorial Clock		The Albert Memorial Clock is a clock tower situated at Queen's Square in Belfast, Northern Ireland.  It was completed in 1869 and is one of the best known landmarks of Belfast.   In 1865 a competition for the design of a memorial to Queen Victoria's late Prince Consort, Prince Albert, was won by W. J. Barre, who had earlier designed Belfast's Ulster Hall. Initially Barre was not awarded his prize and the contract was secretly given to Lanyon, Lynn, and Lanyon, who had come second.  Following public outcry the contract was eventually awarded to Barre.  The construction cost of £2,500 (2011: £196,000) was raised by public subscription.   The sandstone memorial was constructed between 1865 and 1869 by Fitzpatrick Brothers builders and stands 113 feet tall in a mix of French and Italian Gothic styles.  The base of the tower features flying buttresses with heraldic lions.  A statue of the Prince in the robes of a Knight of the Garter stands on the western side of the tower and was sculpted by SF Lynn.  A two tonne bell is housed in the tower and the clock was made by Francis Moore of High Street, Belfast.     As a result of being built on wooden piles on marshy, reclaimed land around the River Farset, the top of the tower leans four feet off the perpendicular.  Due to this movement, some ornamental work on the belfry was removed in 1924 along with a stone canopy over the statue of the Prince.     Being situated close to the docks, the tower was once infamous for being frequented by prostitutes plying their trade with visiting sailors.  However, in recent years regeneration has turned the surrounding Queen's Square and Custom's House Square into attractive, modern public spaces with trees, fountains and sculptures.   In 1947, the film Odd Man Out was filmed partly in Belfast, with the Albert Clock as a central location, although neither the town nor the clock is explicitly identified.   The clock was damaged in a Provisional Irish Republican Army bomb explosion outside nearby River House in High Street on 6 January 1992.  To halt the worsening lean and repair damage caused by the elements and heavy passing traffic, a multi-million pound restoration project was completed in 2002.  During the project the wooden foundations were strengthened, the majority of the decaying carvings were replaced and the entire tower was cleaned.  (Referred to the site of "Wikipedia")
	blf2013-023	(Monday 22 July) The Albert Memorial Clock, Queens Bridge, Belfast BT1 3
	blf2013-025	(Monday 22 July) The Albert Memorial Clock, Queens Bridge, Belfast BT1 3
Titanic Belfast		Titanic Belfast is a visitor attraction and a monument to Belfast’s maritime heritage on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard in the city's Titanic Quarter. It tells the stories of the ill-fated RMS Titanic, which sank on her maiden voyage in 1912, and her sister ships RMS Olympic and HMHS Britannic. The building contains more than 12,000 square metres (130,000 sq ft) of floor space, most of which is occupied by a series of galleries, plus private function rooms and community facilities.It opened in 31 March 2012, marking the centenary anniversary of the sinking of the British passenger liner.
	blf2013-246	(Thursday 25 July) Signpost of Titanic Belfast, Queens Island, Belfast BT3 9DT
	blf2013-253	(Thursday 25 July) Titanic Belfast, Queens Island, Belfast BT3 9DT
	blf2013-263	(Thursday 25 July) Titanic Belfast, Queens Island, Belfast BT3 9DT
Hotel Ibis Belfast City Centre		Hotel Ibis Belfast City Centre is the place where I stayed between Sunday 21st - Saturday 27th July 2013 (6 nights).  Very modern facilities and friendly staff.
	blf2013-001	(Monday 22 July) Hotel Ibis Belfast City Centre, 100 Castle St Belfast BT1 1HF
	blf2013-006	(Monday 22 July) Hotel Ibis Belfast City Centre
	blf2013-007	(Monday 22 July) Hotel Ibis Belfast City Centre
Red Panda Restaurant		Red Panda Chinese Restaurant, 60 Great Victoria St Belfast, United Kingdom BT2 7BB
	blf2013-018	(Monday 22 July) Red Panda Chinese Restaurant, 60 Great Victoria St Belfast, United Kingdom BT2 7BB
	blf2013-019	(Monday 22 July) Red Panda Chinese Restaurant, 60 Great Victoria St Belfast, United Kingdom BT2 7BB
Thai Village Belfast		Thai Village Belfast (Thai restaurant), 50 Dublin Rd Town Centre, Belfast BT2 7HN.  Highly recommended!  In fact this is my favourite restaurant of Belfast!
	blf2013-132	(Tuesday 23 July) Thai Village Belfast (Thai restaurant), 50 Dublin Rd Town Centre, Belfast BT2 7HN
	blf2013-133	(Tuesday 23 July) Thai Village Belfast (Thai restaurant), 50 Dublin Rd Town Centre, Belfast BT2 7HN
	blf2013-136	(Tuesday 23 July) Thai Village Belfast (Thai restaurant), 50 Dublin Rd Town Centre, Belfast BT2 7HN
	blf2013-137	(Tuesday 23 July) Thai Village Belfast (Thai restaurant), 50 Dublin Rd Town Centre, Belfast BT2 7HN
	blf2013-299	(Thursday 25 July) Thai Village Belfast (Thai restaurant), 50 Dublin Rd Town Centre, Belfast BT2 7HN
	blf2013-301	(Thursday 25 July) Thai Village Belfast (Thai restaurant), 50 Dublin Rd Town Centre, Belfast BT2 7HN