A Titanic Visit.

	All of our Primary 5, 6 and 7 pupils enjoyed a fabulous bus tour around The Titanic Quarter and the surrounding area. We travelled on an old fashioned bus and our guide told us lots of information about Titanic. We learned about how and where the ship was built, how many people came to see the launch and of course some of the very sad facts surrounding the sinking of Titanic.

	After we heard about the plans for the new Titanic Centre, which is due to open in April 2012, we saw the Nomadic which is being refurbished. The Nomadic was used to transfer first and second class passengers to Titanic in Cherbourg because the dock there was not deep enough to accommodate Titanic. It is hoped that work will be finished later this year. We got off the bus and walked around the dry dock and the Pump House. Behind the Pump House is the HMS Caroline which was, until April 2011, the oldest naval ship still in commission. The ship has now been decommissioned and it is hoped that it will be converted into a naval museum and stay in Belfast.

	On our way back to school we saw the houses where the people who built Titanic lived, as well as murals depicting Belfast’s association with the ship. This was a fascinating morning visit and we all agree that when work is completed, The Titanic Quarter will be well worth a visit.