We took a city tour yesterday afternoon. Travelling through the district most affected by the Troubles was disturbing. Barbed wire still rings many areas. There are two "peace gates" at either end of the most controversial streets that are closed at night and opened in the morning as well as a 44' high wall separating the two areas. Politicians hope to remove the walls in the next ten years but people living across the fence from one another still desire them. Our guide feels it is best to let people take their time - that it has only been four or five years with no trouble.
We travelled down the two most famous streets - both decorated with murals - First Falls Road - Catholic and Nationalist, and then Shankill Road, Protestant and Unionist. Murals decorate the sides of many buildings - strongly worded, they protest, defend and blame. Flags clearly advertise loyalties - tricolour on the Nationalist side, British flags for the Unionists.
The situation is obviously complicated and emotional but it made us think of our time in South Carolina where people still resent the results of their civil war.
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