Titanic Memorial Cruise Belfast Reunion 2014

Chapter 1

TMC Reunion 2014, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Friday18 April 2014
It was with heavy hearts and much sadness, with a long goodbye, that we left Northern Ireland just now.

Leaving Belfast

As the wheels went up on our plane, leaving George Best City Airport, we looked back on those few days with many many warm memories. We could never have imagined this trip as it now lives in our memory.

Thinking back to when we arrived at our new international terminal, where we set out from on 9 April 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia, ready for a lifetime adventure. It was 6:00 PM and the security and ticketing was much smoother than we expected. Time for dinner, and then wait to board our British Airways flight to London.

It is never easy to sleep on a plane, but we tried. It reminded me of Christmas Eve as a child, you fight sleep thinking about what the morning would bring.

I woke up somewhere over the North Atlantic several hundred miles before we saw land.

The Irish coast was as pretty as we imagined. Green open pastures and small farm houses. We were going to be over Ireland for a little while as we headed for London.

London was noisy and crowded. Very much like any airport New York City, except they all drive on the left. We never got used to seeing that.

After some shuttling around through a rat maze of buildings and tunnels, we got from our arrival terminal to our departure terminal.

More waiting.

Leaving London behind, we headed north back over some of the same terrain we had just travelled over, but with anticipation growing as we got closer and closer to where we would spend the next 10 days.

Claire met us and made our short trip to our temporary home very easy. After a few hugs we were ready to head to the Ramada Encore. Again, as I got in the front seat, it felt awkward to see the steering wheel on my right as I sat where I sit when I drive. Weird. But we were in Belfast, and didn’t care that it was raining just a little. Northern Ireland is the rainiest part of Europe, so we felt lucky that we never had to use our umbrellas.

The rain does make Ireland as green as you can imagine, especially in early April.

Sitting in the bar at our hotel, listening to someone singing Bob Dylan music, was not exactly what we imagined, as I drank my Guinness and Sheila drank her Stella (no Bud Lite!). The music was good enough though, especially after listening to the whine of those jet engines for 8 hours over the Atlantic and 1 1/2 hours over Ireland.

Now our on going chore we would never complete was the 5-hour time change! I kept reminding Sheila that as we drank our -nth beer it was only 9:30PM back home while it was 2:30AM in Belfast. We were told to stay up as late as possible the first night (or until they ran out of Guinness- which didn’t happen) to get on local time.

Chapter 2

Thursday 10 April 2014
Our first surprise met us in our room. It was dark and the lights would not turn on. A trip to the front desk made me feel stupid, I forgot you need to use the room key to activate the lights. But your room key could not help the bathroom situation–shower and loo area all common. No shower enclosure separated the bath from the loo, but a nice hot shower in the morning still felt good, even as I wondered if I was missing something as I missed about those lights earlier. Lovely people, the Irish are. I am proud that my mother’s parents are from Ireland.

Off to sleep– too tired and had a wee too many pints to battle this odd shower. Tis off to bed for me and Sheila. Tomorrow is an off day but the group of about 60 Titanaracs will be arriving.

Friday11 April 2014
We have until 3:00PM to relax and get unpacked, sorted out and then our first adventure begins. What time is it? Should I be sleeping now? Why am I tired?

I am watching people in the Encore restaurant and looking at people as I drink my 3rd cup of black coffee. Sheila’s sleeping, but since I don’t know if I recognize this couple from the Balmoral or not.

Off to the room with coffee for Miss Sheila and get ready for our first tour on the River Lagan. It is not real warm, but it is damp and overcast. We didn’t come here for sunshine and beaches. Titanic is on our brains, and we expect there is no test when this trip comes to and end, so we will listen and pay attention.

River Lagan tour boat

There are about 11 of us leaving the hotel at 2:30 PM to find our way to the statue of a fish near the River Lagan and where our very small boat will carry us up and down the Lagan to see several Titanic landmarks. It is exciting, but the wind is biting, did I dress warm enough?

After some confusion (no one would admit they were lost or where the building was to buy our tickets) we made it through some construction and detours and it was nice to get inside.

The boat we climbed aboard was about 50′ feet long, all outside seating. Our Cap’n. navigated and explained the sights we were chugging past. We made our way past The Belfast Titanic Centre, the H&W cranes, the reconstructed bow section of the Titanic (for The Discovery Channel TV show), the Pump House and docks. All these would be visited individually over the next several days. This was a great boat tour and last a little over an hour, giving everyone a preview of our upcoming adventures. Our “den mother” Claire and her two assistants Maureen and Susie would see that all of us were organized and on time for each of all these trips down “memory lane”. Photos and excitement enough to last forever was in store.

Encore Hotel Bar

Back to the hotel for another round of refreshments for most of us, and a nap for others. Our adventure had begun, I was snapping a few photos and trying to sort out the myriad of sights, where we were, and pausing to think, “We are really really here in Belfast after waiting so long for this reunion!”

The meet and greet begins at 8:00 PM and we will then realize this trip is actually underway!

The name tags are great idea, since we didn’t meet everyone on Balmoral, even though we were on the same ship it was quite a large “place”. Lots of fun meeting people and putting names with faces and hearing their accents: German, Australian, Danish, Irish, British, Canadian, American, and Scottish.

Saturday we will be on our first bus trip, but for now, “All ees vell from zee bridge…” Time for a pint and off to bed by midnight. Leaving early tomorrow morning.

Chapter 3

Saturday 12 April 2014
Today is another early trip out and about. We better be assembled in the lobby by 8:45AM for our briefing and instructions for a visit to Thomas Andrews’ home, “Dunallen”. This is our first venture away from the centre of Belfast.

Mr. Andrews said goodbye to his wife Helen and his daughter Elizabeth on 2 April. The sailing date was delayed one day due to weather. He assumed he would return to his family after a maiden voyage to New York City. He was only 39, and had just recently celebrated his last birthday– 7 Feb.

We were greeted by Thomas Andrews (impersonator) who explained that our visit to his home was poorly timed. He was headed off to board the Titanic, which he explained to us was an amazing feat of engineering! He was quite charming but here is a video that might explain it better. Thanks to Mal Stocker-Jones for this great video and permission to re-publish! https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=545471572239424&id=100003297593076

After about 45 minutes (?) we were back on the bus. Next stop was Comber. What a beautiful ride through some country before we arrived here. (We took Kings Road, A22)

We were greeted by several school children at the Thomas Andrews’ Memorial Hall. This lovely old building was now being used as a school and was Immediately across from an old linen mill. This was owned by the Andrews’ family and that was where they earned their fortune.

Andrews’ Linen Mill (historic photo)

The Andrews Mill papers comprise 544 volumes relating to the flax spinning mill in Comber, Co. Down, and 55 volumes pertaining to the various Andrews family farms and estates, Cos Down, Cavan and Kilkenny. Once the volumes had ceased to be of administrative use they had been placed in the attics above the mill offices for safekeeping and there they had remained relatively undisturbed. The archive was uplifted in its entirety from the attics during the summer of 1997, and transported to PRONI in two van loads. This massive business archive, perhaps one of the biggest in PRONI, provides a unique insight into the life not only of a major manufacturing company but a whole community.

The archive has been divided into two principal sections comprising: records of Andrew flax spinning mill, Comber (D4189/A-D); and farm books (D4189/E). Before describing the archive and the wealth of information recorded within it, it may be helpful to give a brief introduction of the family which created it. The Andrews family loom large in the history of the mill and of the town of Comber, which to a large extent is a mill village, dominated by the spinning mill which was the major source of employment in the town.” http://www.proni.gov.uk/introduction__andrews_mill_d4189.pdf

We will visit PRONI in a few days, but for now we shall return to our visit.

The children were dressed in costumes representing various settings. A soldier, a bride and groom (two girls as they didn’t have enough boys). They had also made drawings and paintings. They had just performed “Joseph and His Technicolor Coat”. The children also made drawings of the Titanic. Very delightful welcome they gave us.

Thomas Andrews’ home

Back on the bus and a trip to Thomas Andrews’ church, the Comber Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church. It sits a short distance off the main road over looking a lovely valley. The view spread out along and in this valley was so pastoral and serene I hated to leave. The patches of different shades of green and the sheep grazing with those hedge-lined fields was photogenic. Typical of what anyone who has not been here would seen in a photo of Ireland. I am glad I had the opportunity to see this with my own eyes, and feel the wind in my face and smell the Earth. Beyond description.

On the vista side of the church is the Andrews’ family cemetary, with the memorial stone to Mr. Andrews who was lost at sea when the Titanic sank. It is a very peaceful place next to this quaint and small country church. The church does not tell the story of its famous congregants by merely looking at this modest building. Upon closer examination, the observant viewer is rewarded with several beautiful stained glass windows depicting scenes of the Andrews’ family.

After a few more photos of our group, followed by the ladies and gentleman of the church serving us tea. The custom of an afternoon tea is quite nice, and I could get used to this practice…

We were soon back on the coach after a short walk. The driver had been kind enough to move the coach closer to the church while we are, so our return walk was shorter. It would be a short drive to our next stop.

We arrived at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum for our final stop of the day. The museum was dedicated Titanic, old cars, and trains. Lots of walking here. Several levels needed to house all odd these displays. We all went past the rains and cars, the Titanic was our focus. Wow!

We all enjoyed the Titanic displays, but we had already done a lot of walking, so I know Sheila and I were a wee bit tired. The scale model of the Titanic sinking which showed how many perished and how many survived based on classes was interesting. A shame Conor Clarke will need to call them to discuss a few things: I think he said the bow was too high out of the water at this point in the sinking and there was not enough starboard list to the ship. It was still a dramatic depiction of that event where we all sailed together to, 24 months ago, on the Balmoral out on the cold dark North Atlantic.

Time to get back on the coach and head back to the bar- I mean the hotel…

Chapter 4

Sunday 13 April 2014
9:15 AM the coach leaves for the Belfast Titanic Centre, time for a 3 hour walk around and then Tea at 1:00 PM followed by the Titanic Grand Staircase group photo.

Belfast Titanic Centre

I must relate that by this point in our visit everyone knows that we had better be on time. Miss Claire gives us our orders, but Susie report around midday concluding that, “… and from zee bridge, all ees VELL!”

The Belfast Titanic Centre is an amazing piece of architecture– depicting the bow of the Titanic as the four corners of the building. There is already a crowd here touring this collection of Titanic memorabilia. There are nine interactive galleries. http://www.titanicbelfast.com/The-Experience/The-Galleries.aspx

Walking all over this place is a real treat, which we are told will conclude at 12:45PM sharp on the 5th floor. There would be a group photo and many selfies made on the grand staircase. The clock reads 2:20, and was the center piece of lots of photos. We had a group photo made here and then we had lunch– but not before one of several surprises.

I was told by Maureen that, “someone wants to see you!” This fellow sticks a video camera in my face and starts by asking me a question or something. Before he gets very far I realize it is Craig Lee! What the…!!! He was only able to attend our reunion for 2 days and sneaks into our tea hiding behind a video camera. It was great to see my photo-running mate from the Balmoral. He had already surprised Claire. The video is on the TMC 2014 video page. Very well kept secret, and quite a nice surprise.

Some tea, pastries and sandwiches were very delicious. My feet needed some rest too. Then we were all ordered to gather on the staircase for a group photo. Sort of like “herding cats” as they say, but we behaved long enough for several “snaps”. Now, time for all of us to photograph each other on the staircase, make some selfies and generally clown around.

Now to go back out to the bus. It was a short ride to the Hamilton Dock at 3:00 PM for a tour of the SS Nomadic. This was something many were really anxious to see.

S.S. Nomadic

Nomadic was built as a tender ship for the Titanic. The ports were not designed for ships as huge as the Titanic and this ship was a H & W built beauty. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Nomadic_(1911) Nearly the same age as the Titanic, her keel (#422) was laid 22 December 1911 while the Titanic’s was laid 31 March 1909 (#401).

This was like being transported back in time. Some of the people that were on Titanic’s maiden voyage, for example Molly Brown.

H & W Drawing Offices. Tour and another iconic photo event. This was another “time-travel moment”. Walking into this cavernous building and visualizing all the drafting tables in place and the design of the Titanic being put into construction plans. From this room came the life of the Titanic, as those workers from Belfast would put iron and steel to life into Thomas Andrews’ ideas.

Back to the Encore, and Claire gives us our briefing for when where and what for the next day. We better pay attention and report promptly. She will call names and check her list…counting noses so she has all her “peeps”.

…It was a very good day…as Frank Sinatra once sang!
Chapter 5

Monday 14 April 2014
By now we all know the drill. Wear comfy shoes, get a good nights rest, and eat a good hearty breakfast.

Thompson Dry Dock (H&W)

We are going to the H & W dry dock where the Titanic was “fitted out”. Remember this ship was over 882 feet long, so the dry dock is a massive piece of construction. Everything about the Titanic is gigantic. Largest ship ever built, so imagine this ship floated into a dock and set down on steel and wooden blocks so that it could be built after the hull and keel were constructed.

We walked from one end to the other, staring in wonder and in amazement at the scale of this dock! We were shown photos taken from where we were down in this cavern and could most visualize this ship in front of us.

This physical labor (non-mechanized) that was done to build this ship, the sheer muscle power was staggering. But, as the tee shirt says, “She was ok when she left HERE!” she was an engineering marvel, grand and opulent like none before her, nor since.

We made a short drive to visit PRONI (the Public Records Office Of Northern Ireland). Not just any public government office, but a very secure, and as it happened, a very interesting repository of documents. They are all searchable and printable. You can find out about property, marriages, deaths, public information galore– but also an abundant amount of Titanic memorabilia. Stunning glimpses into the letters, news articles, photos, and everything you ever wanted to see about this ship. If was built not far from this beautiful building. You can see the H & W cranes (Samson and Goliath) from the building, they make an interesting reflection on the building.

Before we were able to get Into the secured part of the records area we had to lock up all of our belongings in a locker. No phones, cameras, pencils erasers, pens, etc allowed near the documents.

We filled out a form and got our photo taken by a polite clerk, just like you would if you were getting a drivers license.

The document tour was great and we spent over an hour here. Exciting!

Albert’s Tower

A short Walking Tour of the downtown was our next stop for some of us who didn’t have enough walking for the day. Aidan McMichael, Chairman of the Belfast Titanic Society was very informative. We saw where Thomas Andrews went to college, we saw the Europa Hotel to conclude our tour. This hotel was ground zero for “The Troubles” in the recent past. We are all grateful and hopeful all of that is PAST history never to happen again. We spent about an hour or so looking at landmarks and statues, places of interest all around the City Centre. Great history lessons and decent weather- no umbrellas needed.

The evening was dinner at a lovely place: Robinson’s Pub, and some pints of ale were had by many, including your humble author.

To cap the evening off we left the pub around 1:30 AM and walked to City Hall for memorial service. It was a short walk, but leisurely, we were sort of tired by now. We spent our time eating, not drinking.

The memorial service was respectful, somber and tearful.

We experienced the loss of Titanic this night, 102 years after the tragedy, as we did 2 years earlier on the North Atlantic–tears and song in the deepest respect. Their was a small chorus singing and there was also a small group of drunken young people milling about. Not much different than the screaming that must have been heard from the lifeboats in 1912 as survivors rowed away from the Titanic; the darkness and the cold waters drowning so many lives, and dreams.

We took a cab to hotel around 3:15 AM. We would return later on this morning for another official memorial ceremony. It was a long day and part of the next day before we were finished with paying homage to so many lost souls!

Chapter6

Tuesday 15 April 2014
We have a public ceremony today at City Hall. There will be press coverage, politicians and photogs, reporters and the general public watching this event. Time for flowers, wreaths, and more tears.

Amy & Maurine at City Hall memorial

The Belfast City Hall encompasses an entire city block. It is a magnificent building, and we will see only a fraction of it. What we do see is opulent (Titanic-esque).

There are a few treasures to be seen here, but not until after a public recognition of the contribution and lives that Belfast people have invested in the memories of Titanic. Here, at the centre of Belfast’s government is the heart of Titanic’s story. Her citizens who built this ship, created her in steel and rivets. They spent nearly 3 years building and equipping her for what resulted in an extraordinarily brief life. From our first gathering of our band of Titaneracks until today was almost as long as Titanic’s time on the waters of Ireland and the North Atlantic. Her memory will live on well beyond our years, our descendants years, on into generations as yet unborn. We will do our part to strengthen and uphold this bond we feel towards Belfast and her Titanic. Forever.

There are interviews, photos, prayers, proclamations, politicians and clergy involved in setting aside this day as an honor to those lost in peril on the sea that night in 1912.

Chapter 7

Wednesday 16 April 2014
There are a few things to take away from this visit to “The Emerald Isle”: Memories of friends, the Titanic’s Legacy and all the world’s fascination of her, and her birth place. Titanic’s womb was in Ireland, her birth was in this magnificent place. The lovely people, the lovely country, and The Antrim Coast. I have been to Hawaii also, and I now know where Hawaiians go when the die and go to heaven. Ireland. What an amazing place we are about to cap off our visit to when we climb aboard our tour bus this final morning.

Tired and with little sleep after a very long day, Claire rounds up her charges one more time. We are going to live to tell about seeing heaven. Stupendous.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

The roots of the word have been defined[4] as follows: super- “above”, cali- “beauty”, fragilistic- “delicate”, expiali- “to atone”, and -docious “educable”, with the sum of these parts signifying roughly “Atoning for educability through delicate beauty.” According to the film, it is defined as “something to say when you have nothing to say”. [wiki]

We will see scenes that defy our previous definitions of nature’s gloriousness. The green spring of Ireland is beyond description. We see little nameless hamlets as we are transported up the north east coast of Ireland and County Antrim.

It was these waters that we see out of the right side of our coach that carried Titanic away fro her birth home and into history and everyone’s hearts. Joy and sadness, commingled. Bonneybefore, Northern Ireland is stop #1. http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Andrew-Jackson-Cottage-and-US-Rangers-Centre-Carrickfergus-P2801

The view from here would allow a glimpse of Scotland out across the Lough, but not today. A wee bit misty and hazy.

Getting back on the bus, we would continue to notice spectacular coast lines, rocky sea cliffs and fishing boats in harbors. Cameras were a buzz and our guide would describe scenes that were noteworthy. I continued to be in wonder like the school kid I was decades and a lifetime earlier!

We passed old churches, rugby fields, pubs, shops; we saw first had with no scripts exactly how these simple people lived. No huge mansions or estates, but tiny row houses and cottages along the road.

We arrived at a place to pull off the road an take in the Irish Sea’s coastal view. We were near a town which I forget the name of at the moment, but we (me, anyway) shall continue on. Photo ops we evident and we all got out our smartphones and took loads if photos that would be shared around the world. There are 9 countries represented on this bus.

We continued westward along County Antrim’s coast and if was approaching meal time!

Bushmill’s Distillery

Bushmill’s Distillery was granted a license to produce Whisky in 1608 (406 years ago). I tasted their Whisky and I know why they are still in business. Yummmm-EEEE!
This was our lunch stop: they have a restaurant here and the food was as good as their Whisky. The dining room was not fancy nor large, but it was a lovely break to enjoy, and build up our strength for the rest of our afternoons walk.

Giant’s Causeway

The legendary Giant’s Causeway! If you haven’t seen it, the photos don’t do it Justice. Rocks! Huge boulders and oddly shaped stones
Strewn about– as if by a giant. The walk from the parking lot to the sea was about 1/4 mile. All down hill, I am wondering why such beauty is so hard to get to. I can walk down this hill, but can I and others walk back up? For a £ each the problem is solved. A wee bus runs back and forth, up and down this hill side. I decided to save time and ride back up the hill, but not before I saw some unbelievable scenic ocean views. Fortunately, nature was not cluttered by any signs of buildings, pasture fences. It was just like it had been for millennia. It was undisturbed, and not destroyed by man.

I left my mother’s ashes there, now at peace, she is home where her roots are. Ireland. By the seaside. R.I.P.

We had heard the story of how the giant of lore had created this place in a battle told by those who had heard the story passed down by generations whose bones are not even dust now. Fascinating place, but we have 2 more stops to make before we rest our weary bodies.

A 14th century castle and a rope bridge, over rocks and water- the Irish are clever lads.

Dunluce Castle

The Dunluce castle has been old since before the Colonists settled in North America. It fell into the sea in 1639 during a storm, and has been abandoned ever since. http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Dunluce-Castle-Medieval-Irish-Castle-on-the-Antrim-Coast-Bushmills-P2819

The Carrick-a-rede rope bridge is scary but beautiful. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carrick-a-rede/

Carrick-a-rede rope bridge

For a few £ you can risk life and limb and cross this contraption. Pray that your knees don’t rattle your bones right off this device and into your demise and oblivion. Photos as proof were made by all (all of the others) who dared to cross. Some made their own photos, but all made it across and back- “shaken AND stirred” by the adventure to quote Mr. Bond.

Back to the Encore for libations and stories and posting photos to the internet. What a way to end a great visit. Well, not quite, but the organized part anyway.

Thursday 17 April 2024 was our day off. No travel plans, just a time to relax.

We decided even though it began to rain, we should walk next door to take a peek inside the cathedral next to our hotel. We saw the back of the church from our room and we went to take a look see.

St. Anne’s Cathedral

What a place! This cathedral was built in 1904, but the church dates back to 1776. it was a work of architectural wonder. Vaulted 125′ high ceilings, stained glass windows and candles lit all around. Time for my last selfie. Why not? http://www.belfastcathedral.org

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Anne’s_Cathedral,_Belfast

Chapter 8

Saturday 19 April 2014
We are safely home. It is both sad and joyful. We had an almost uneventful trip home. The “almost” is what nearly happened and I did confirm it with the aircrew as we disembarked the plane in Atlanta.

It was a very bumpy ride almost from upstate New York flying south to Atlanta. As we approached Atlanta airport we descended through the clouds we were in and the bumping was over– almost. We were going about 150 mph (the 777 has a display at each seat) and the runway was in sight. As we touched down, it was obvious we were not landing level. The right wheels touched first and a second later the left wheels touched. THEN, it got interesting very fast. We veered to the right about 10-15° from straight down the runway. There were audible gasps and mumbling conversations heard as the plane shook as the crew fought back and bounced and quickly turned the plane back straight. We had briefly begun a skid heading off the runway. Everyone must have wondered if we were going to have a “bad” landing. We had a scary landing.

As I passed the crew a few minutes later on exiting I remarked to the three crew members, “Nice SAVE on the landing!” One crew member nodded towards another and said, “Thank HIM!” I said, “GOOD job!!” and he sheepishly grinned knowingly that it was correct. We skidded unexpectedly and he recovered nicely.

Home safe. Home sad. Home with a lifetime of memories.

Goodnight, Claire, Maureen and Susie, wherever you are. We are home but ready to return.

Chapter 9

Saturday 19 April 2014
We are safely home. It is both sad and joyful. We had an almost uneventful trip home. The “almost” is what nearly happened and I did confirm it with the aircrew as we disembarked the plane in Atlanta.

It was a very bumpy ride almost from upstate New York flying south to Atlanta. As we approached Atlanta airport we descended through the clouds we were in and the bumping was over– almost. We were going about 150 mph (the 777 has a display at each seat) and the runway was in sight. As we touched down, it was obvious we were not landing level. The right wheels touched first and a second later the left wheels touched. THEN, it got interesting very fast. We veered to the right about 10-15° from straight down the runway. There were audible gasps and mumbling conversations heard as the plane shook as the crew fought back and bounced and quickly turned the plane back straight. We had briefly begun a skid heading off the runway. Everyone must have wondered if we were going to have a “bad” landing. We had a scary landing.

As I passed the crew a few minutes later on exiting I remarked to the three crew members, “Nice SAVE on the landing!” One crew member nodded towards another and said, “Thank HIM!” I said, “GOOD job!!” and he sheepishly grinned knowingly that it was correct. We skidded unexpectedly and he recovered nicely.