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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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16716 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16710 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16710 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16709
There are many ways to get around the city but I chose to take a bus - the bus guide displaying ample amounts of Belfast humour as we made our way down roads which once had been the subject of so much news footage (Shankill and Falls) - her jokes taking the sting out of sensitive issues and thereby sentencing them, we hoped, to history forever. Surely nobody could joke about 'the troubles' unless they felt certain they were well behind them.

She really didn't have any cause to emphasise the fact though as it was apparent to all who rode the bright red double decker that this was indeed the case - every street it turned down packed with well-dressed pedestrians availing of every possible facility - and no doubt looking forward to those soon to open up all around them.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16709