Finally able to breathe after years of conflict, Belfast is coming
into its own as a burgeoning metropolis. Its various shopping centers sell everything from
strawberries to luxury watch wear. The city’s people are kind and friendly, even though you
don’t have to go far to find someone who not only remembers “the Troubles,” but can also
recall a time when a policeman frisked you before you entered the city center. But far
from having resentment and a “hush-hush” attitude, the people of Belfast engage with
their history; black cab tours of West Belfast, the area of hottest conflict, have become
a popular tourist attraction. Think of Belfast as Dublin’s badass older brother who plays
in a band: he’s cool, gritty, and gets tons of groupies. Head to Belfast to become one
yourself.