There is chronic unemployment in working-class areas such as the Shankill or the Falls, but also dozens of inspirational community projects, working to alleviate problems, that hardly ever make the news. On the, er, lighter side, male visitors will notice the short, short skirts on some school uniforms - the posher the schools the more leg revealed it seems. And another superficial observation is that Belfast women make much more of an effort when on a big night out. More, in this case, means less. The queues for everything are shorter.
Shopping is less hassle.
Tourists looking for a genuinely Irish experience are more likely to find it up here - unlike in cosmopolitan Dublin, bar, hotel and restaurant staff are mostly local offering the visitor an enhanced tourism experience. The Odyssey arena, where President Clinton spoke, is another jewel in Belfast's new crown. But back to the burning issue of where to find a cheap pint and in this Belfast really shines. And, of course, after you've sampled the cut-price beverages, there's no problem finding a taxi to take you home.