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Tall Ships

135

Comments

  • winnie101
    winnie101 Posts: 123 Forumite
    We went yesterday and had a really enjoyable day (even in the rain). We went to Odyssey side 1st and then over to clarendon dock! Would recommend going to both docks. We got the shuttle bus from Odyssey round to the far side of Clarendon dock and then walked down towards the weir and walked back to Odyssey across weir! We got on the Sagres (?) portugese navy tall ship! My daughter loved it! Probably wasn't as busy because of the rain!
  • purt
    purt Posts: 4,710 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    BigAl94 wrote: »
    There are far fewer ships than 18 years ago, and not so many big ones. Waterford 4 years ago was far more impressive and didnt need all the tacky stalls to turn it into an event. Probably part of what made it so impressive was that the ships (substantially more of them) were right in the city centre so all the cafes, hotels and pubs were lively and full. Im going back there in 2011.

    I don't know what it is about Northern Ireland but every time there's a prestigious event like this we have to wheel out stalls selling all the tat of the day.

    I've been to the Tall Ships three times in the last three days just to admire the actual ships and see the fireworks. The tacky stalls nearby are just horrendous and really detract from the beauty of the boats.

    As I said in my earlier post, there are ample shops and eateries in the city centre to keep people entertained without having to roll out hoards of overpriced marquees and chip vans.

    On a separate note, the 'fun' fair at Clarendon Dock looked to be a complete rip off. The people operating the machines seemed to be quite rude to the punters over the PA system; telling them to hurry up and whisking them on and off the rides in around two minutes.
  • niceday999
    niceday999 Posts: 1,058 Forumite
    culchied wrote: »
    I don't know what it is about Northern Ireland but every time there's a prestigious event like this we have to wheel out stalls selling all the tat of the day.

    I've been to the Tall Ships three times in the last three days just to admire the actual ships and see the fireworks. The tacky stalls nearby are just horrendous and really detract from the beauty of the boats.

    As I said in my earlier post, there are ample shops and eateries in the city centre to keep people entertained without having to roll out hoards of overpriced marquees and chip vans.

    On a separate note, the 'fun' fair at Clarendon Dock looked to be a complete rip off. The people operating the machines seemed to be quite rude to the punters over the PA system; telling them to hurry up and whisking them on and off the rides in around two minutes.

    Its a family event. small children are not going to be interested in the ships...If you dont like the funfair dont go to it....live and let live.....
    The chip vans etc were doing a roaring trade as was the funfairs and rides when i was there so WHY NOT GET A LIFE...
  • niceday999 wrote: »
    Its a family event. small children are not going to be interested in the ships...If you dont like the funfair dont go to it....live and let live.....
    The chip vans etc were doing a roaring trade as was the funfairs and rides when i was there so WHY NOT GET A LIFE...

    I agree, I went yesterday and it was bunged but still well worth going to as long as you don't mind a bit of a walk. I thought the funfair part was a great idea for the teenagers and liked Laverys beer tent myself (not the wait for a pint or the mud though!)

    I live in ballyholme so will be watching the ships go past anyway (probably from the esplanade bar along with everyone else :beer:) but i'm still glad i went to Belfast to see everything properly.
    Whoo hoo! norn iron club member# 395!
  • niceday999 wrote: »
    Its a family event. small children are not going to be interested in the ships...If you dont like the funfair dont go to it....live and let live.....
    The chip vans etc were doing a roaring trade as was the funfairs and rides when i was there so WHY NOT GET A LIFE...

    Why so rude:rolleyes:

    Look, Belfast is not Florida - it doesn't have the capacity to cope with big crowds.

    Is it really a 'family event' or just marketed as such. I know alot of families with children of all ages who just found it a total nightmare due to the crowds, prices of entertainment etc.....

    'If you don't like the funfair don't go to it' - well it's not Funderland.... it's suppose to be about Tall Ships?!

    If I want to take my kiddies out to a funfair - guess where I go?
    Groceries challenge
    May - £70 so far:beer::beer:

  • niceday999
    niceday999 Posts: 1,058 Forumite
    Why so rude:rolleyes:

    Look, Belfast is not Florida - it doesn't have the capacity to cope with big crowds.

    Is it really a 'family event' or just marketed as such. I know alot of families with children of all ages who just found it a total nightmare due to the crowds, prices of entertainment etc.....

    'If you don't like the funfair don't go to it' - well it's not Funderland.... it's suppose to be about Tall Ships?!

    If I want to take my kiddies out to a funfair - guess where I go?

    I know....i personally would not go anywhere near the funfair but each to their own.......you can go see the tall ships and not go near the funfair....some people just like to moan.....
    They have to cater for everyone not just the more cultured person in Northern Ireland.
    They are trying to create a carnival atmosphere.......It def was not a Funderland type of event.
    There were many people at the Funfair so it must have appealed to many many people.......
    you just cant please everyone all of the time.....
  • seatzie
    seatzie Posts: 761 Forumite
    500 Posts
    have to say I went and liked it, funfair was expensive let the wee man have 2 goes then moved on, got some food, would have loved to try the beer, liked the BBC's tents for headspace or whatever it was, saw the ships and liked the atmosphere, lots of people seemingly enjoying themselves in an event that noone had any objections to.......wouldn't it be great if it was like this all the time lol
    Norn Iron Club Member #64


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  • purt
    purt Posts: 4,710 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    niceday999 wrote: »
    small children are not going to be interested in the ships...

    My earlier comments were based on observations of being at the festival on all three days. If any of the children I witnessed in those three days are anything to go by then small children were very much interested in the ships.

    As for the fun fair - I don't think there's anything inappropriate about posting how much of a rip off it seemed to be on what is a money saving forum.
  • culchied wrote: »
    My earlier comments were based on observations of being at the festival on all three days. If any of the children I witnessed in those three days are anything to go by then small children were very much interested in the ships.
    As for the fun fair - I don't think there's anything inappropriate about posting how much of a rip off it seemed to be on what is a money saving forum.

    My children (aged 4 and 1) loved the Tall Ships.
    They got an amazing view of them as I drove over the M5 bridge!

    Highlight of my dads experience of the Tall Ships was watching the grey statue man, the one that moves when you give him money and some guy who was doing crazy dancing whilst the band were playing!

    Then enjoyed getting cheap shirts at the Gino sale in Ann's St on the way home too:o
    The fun fair and food etc was a rip off, but then some people say the whole event is a farce because the ships have a motor (not really tall ships), just a money making racket.... not me of course..... ;):A
    Groceries challenge
    May - £70 so far:beer::beer:

  • Pretani
    Pretani Posts: 2,279 Forumite
    I wasn't there so I can't complain about it, but if I had been there I would have enjoyed myself, no matter how many stalls or people was there. Maybe Belfast council could have made arrangements for a specific day to accommodate those who are agoraphobic.

    Then again, if your agoraphobic, why go out?
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