I especially enjoyed walking around the Waterfront Festival Hall and up towards the University area - a mix of old historic and ultra-modern buildings, burgeoning nightlife and revellers streaming into the tiniest of 'craic ninety' places.

I could have walked for hours, and indeed did, soaking up an atmosphere that can only be described as the feeling you get when you're rested, well fed, have had a couple of favourite tipples, and are on your way to meet a new lover who thinks you're the sexiest thing she's ever met - reignited senses of wonderment doing more for my state of mind than any plastic surgeon or alternative therapist could ever do.

And almost any walk could lift you there - City Hall down to Victoria Avenue, a left turn down to the Albert Clock and Customs House (mind the street fountains), a right turn up past the Big Fish, The Waterfront and on to St Georges Market - a right turn up Great Victoria Avenue, past the Europa Hotel (most bombed) and Opera House - on to Laverys (a thousand pints of Guinness poured on each and every night) - then up along Shaftesbury Avenue to the Queens Film Theatre (currently showing John Wayne movies) for a freshly brewed coffee, before heading onto Queens University for a gaze at its decorative facade.

Yes it's all there: shopping, culture, music and historic walks; a hundred different restaurants serving food you'd really die for, and needless to say I'll be back there again before Christmas - dying to see what she'll look like when dressed up in all her colours.

I stayed at the Belfast International Hostel, 22-23 Donegall Road, Belfast BT12 5JN. Double en suite room cost £28. Bookable through www.hostelworld.com

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