Hiding Out in Belfast

It used to be said in traveling that you should avoid the three B's--Beirut, Baghdad, and Belfast (Branson, MO should've probably been in there too). Well, only Baghdad is still left unexplored but dont think I will be getting to that anytime soon. As for Belfast, from what I have heard, even during the worst of what people here refer to at "The Troubles," or the 30 years of sectarian violence before the 1998 peace agreement and cease-fire between the IRA and the Protestant/Loyalist factions, the place was never anymore dangerous for foreigners than any other U.S. city. But lore and media hype will prevail and when I arrived to Belfast last week to meet the guy I will be working for, I can't say I wasn't a wondering what the hell, when he and his right hand man Malachy, showed me the flat I will be staying in and this AK-47 was sitting on the floor. A curiousity got over me pretty quickly you could say and I picked it up to examine, noticing its weight and metalic feel while doing so. Not until I pulled the slide on it did I notice that it was an airsoft BB gun--Ha!

Have been in Belfast for under a week and already really enjoying the place. As I this stay will be alot longer than my usual 3 day jaunt somewhere, I will try and give you a more descriptive picture of where I am at and what I am doing. Came up here to work for my friend's dad, who owns a couple restaurants. He has put me to work with his man Malachy and so far we have been mostly working on various projects needed between the two places. One restaurant is a popular cafe/diner type located in the heart of the city center. A 15 minute walk from there, located in what is called South Belfast, is the other restuarant is an up-scale eatery with a piano player crooning most nights. Above this lies the flat I now reside in. (got to finish this blog later today as I have to report to the old 925. Later BQ)