Day 30 Titanic Exhibition in Belfast

Titanic Exhibition Building

I think I saved my biggest excursion for my last day!  My friend Kerry Brown had been encouraging me for ages to go and visit this exhibition, even though it was one and a half hours away in Belfast.

Balbriggan was on the right side of Dublin (north) and it was feasible, although it turned out to be a big day to finish off.

So I had my breakfast and checked out of the hotel in Balbriggan. It was ok, but I wouldn't rush to go back there again... shouldn't complain I guess!

And off I went on my last big journey.

The road was good - double lanes all the way.

But today my Google Maps decided to have a hissy fit and just kept opting out..

When I arrived in Belfast it took me to the Titanic Exhibit but not to the car park, so I had to do a few laps around the block before I eventually asked a taxi driver and he pointed me in the right direction.

Lucky I had booked my ticket before I came.. because I think it was significantly dearer if you just rocked up on the spot.

The exhibition was great, but it was really crowded... I'm so glad I didn't come on a weekend, I think it would've been much worse.

It started with a synopsis of  Belfast town in those days. It was the linen production  that gave Belfast its wealth to construct ships like the Titanic.

Story of Belfast

Story of Belfast

It went through a lot of history of the time and it also showed the growth of the shipyards by Harland and Wollf and the immense structures that they built to accommodate the construction of ships like the Titanic.

Harland and Wolff Gates

Harland and Wolff xtructures

Harland and Wolff info

View of Shipyards

View of Shipyards

Me with shipyards in the background

But it really started to get interesting when they started displaying the info about the Titanic

First Class Cabin

Second Class Cabin

Second Class Cabin

Third Class Cabin

Third Class Cabin

Sanitary Conditions on board

Apparently there was no steerage class on the Titanic, so even the lowest class still had  decent facilities.

It was sad reading about all the "Marconigrams" that were sent from the Titanic and the consequences of each one...

Marconigrams 1

The last messages

The inquest made a few very significant finding...

Inquest findings

Inquest findings

They exhibit then went on to explore how the Titanic was found... 

It also shared a few models of the Titanic

Model of the Titanic

So, after all that mental energy was spent, I needed a coffee..

Coffee Time

Then I had to drive home again - this time to the Radisson Blu at Dublin airport, where I dumped my bags then went to deliver the car back to the depot. Once again my little Google Maps was having a mind of her own and tried to take inside the terminal to the Sixt desk. So I had to go around the block a few times... I even ended up on the road to Belfast again... Oh no...!!!

But eventually it all was sorted and now i'm  back in my hotel and hopefully will have a good night's sleep before I board the plane tomorrow to fly home.

So that's the end of the penny section..

I've had such a lovely month in Ireland. I just loved the village life at Lahinch and the beauty of the Ocean there. 

But I know it's time to go home now, and I will take all my treasured memories with me.

Thanks to everyone who has hung in with me over the journey. and especially to those who have sent emails and messages and comments along the way.... they kept me going!

Hope you have enjoyed and I will look forward to catching up with people in person, so I can share my journey with you if you are interested! i might bore everyone to death!!!

Take care and stay safe and may your God go with you!