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Northern IRELAND— My first visit to Belfast was more than 20 years ago, before the Good Friday peace accord was signed. Upon entering Belfast back then, I was shocked to see a city where streets were filled with tanks, soldiers and barbed wire barricades.
The Northern Ireland I returned to last month is indeed different.
Belfast is a thriving city with a downtown loaded with modern shops and malls. Young people fill the bars and entertainment venues and joke and laugh with one another — not questioning which side their parents were once on.
There is a vibrancy in Belfast that is palpable. It is a forward-looking and moving city with a progressive urban plan. The city is divided into quarters, each with a different character and personality. But the quarters are not fractional. In fact, there are eight quarters — with another in the planning process.
The Market Quarter is where St. George’s market is situated. The first market on this site dates back to 1604. Today, it is still the centre where locals shop for fresh produce — and where tourists come for crafts and to taste treats from more than 300 vendors. The market operates on Friday, Saturday and...