Sunday 22 April 2012

Belfast Buzzes

I have spent most of the weekend at the Europa Hotel, Belfast, with friends, one of whom is on a visit from New York, USA.

On Friday evening we dined at Deane's restaurant. Thence we walked back to the hotel and spent the rest of the evening in the Piano Bar, which was very jolly.

The hotel was completely full, with something like 475 guests staying. Belfast is indeed buzzing.

We took an open-top bus tour round the city on Saturday. Alighting at Elmwood Avenue, we walked across the road to the Botanic Gardens, where our American visitor was shown the Palm House and the museum.

Later we returned to Elmwood Avenue and awaited the bus, not before we enjoyed a refresher in the Parlour Bar, a stylish establishment adjacent to the Elmwood Hall, with comfortable distressed-leather sofas, pictures of old Belfast and an "authentic wood-burning oven."

Later we ate at Tony Roma's on University Road. This restaurant was heaving with patrons, on three levels. The helpings are large here, be advised! We had to wait ages for a table and service, though efficient, was slow insofar as we seemed to be waiting more than anything else. It was busy, though.

We ended the night in the Lobby Bar, on the ground floor of the Europa Hotel. It, too, was packed, with a two-piece band playing and folk of all ages and varieties revelling on the dance-floor. One big girl boasted an impressive girth, her waist being only slightly smaller than the old city gasometer.

Thus the weekend concludes and Timothy Belmont spends a quiet evening at home.

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