Around Free Derry Corner, the large murals, including a fairly recent addition of Bernadette Devlin addressing the crowd through a loudspeaker during the Battle of the Bogside, appear bright and spruce on the gable walls.
Recent history is commemorated but there's not much election razzmatazz. The main Sinn Fein candidate, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, strolls through his native Bogside, acknowledging a greeting here, and a good-luck message there.
"This is a quiet election," he says. "But people are clued in. They know what's at stake." What's at stake as far as most nationalist voters are concerned is that the Belfast Agreement and the Assembly can work.
Mr Mark Durkan, a former SDLP chairman and one of the party's four candidates, agrees. "People are pretty bemused. `Sure we've just voted for you, what're you doing on our doorstep again?', they say. I remind them that that was the referendum, this is the Assembly election. But behind the banter they know what this is about. There is a strong mood about not leaving the job half done," he says.
There are two main battles in the Foyle constituency, one between the SDLP and Sinn Fein, the other between anti-agreement DUP candidate Mr William Hay and pro-agreement Ulster Unionist Party figure, Mr Jack Allen.
A well-known cross-community worker, Mr Colm Cavanagh of Alliance, is also pitching in. Based on recent elections, Alliance should have no chance. "But there's a new mood," says Mr Cavanagh. "The middle ground was strong here in the past, and that ground can be regained. People should not write us off."
Still, taking the local and Westminster elections of last year and the Forum poll of 1996 as a guide, Foyle should produce three SDLP, two Sinn Fein, and one unionist.
"Hmmm, maybe," muses Mr McLaughlin. "While it will be difficult, the 3/2/1 scenario might just work out in our favour."
Sinn Fein has a clear strategy. It is seeking to elect Mr McLaughlin, and councillors Mary Nelis and Gerry O hEara. The current Derry City Council deputy mayor, Ms Lynn Fleming, is acting as a "sweeper" to win the transfers to bring the party ahead of the SDLP for the final nationalist seat.
"We've been gradually eating into the SDLP vote. It can be done," argues Mr McLaughlin. The Sinn Fein line is that it is the best party to ensure that the nationalist agenda is pursued.
Mr Durkan is having none of it. "Nonsense," he says. "The SDLP will win three seats and possibly four." The SDLP team is party leader Mr John Hume, two Derry former mayors Ms Annie Courtney and Mr John Tierney, and Mr Durkan.
To any waverers, he contends that essentially the Belfast Agreement is a vindication of the party's long-standing philosophy. Over on the east bank of Derry Mr Allen of the UUP and Mr Hay, also a former DUP mayor, are busily canvassing the mainly Protestant Waterside. The unionist tussle is complicated.
Mr Hay wants unionists to transfer between him and Mr Allen, notwithstanding that respectively they are anti- and pro-agreement.
And notwithstanding that the Rev Ian Paisley urged unionists not to vote for the UUP.
But in Foyle Dr Paisley has granted a special dispensation, says Mr Hay. "The important thing is not to shred the unionist vote," says Mr Hay. The UUP did not contest Foyle in the Westminster election, but in the Forum election the DUP polled 11 per cent to the UUP's 10 per cent.
If pro-agreement nationalists, together with Alliance voters, are as clued in as Mr McLaughlin and Mr Durkan believe, they could vote down the card to give Mr Allen the necessary transfers to jump ahead of Mr Hay for one of the final seats. Mr Brian Gurney of the Progressive Unionist Party, Mr Peter Mackenzie of the Green Party, Mr Ken Adams of the Labour grouping, and Dr Donn Brennan of the Natural Law Party are hoping there will be enough people disaffected with the traditional parties to give them a creditable vote.
Candidates: SDLP: John Hume, Mark Durkan, Annie Courtney, John Tierney. Sinn Fein: Mitchel McLaughlin, Mary Nelis, Gerry O hEara, Lynn Fleming. DUP: William Hay. UUP: Jack Allen. Alliance: Colm Cavanagh. PUP: Brian Gurney. Labour grouping: Ken Adams. Green Party: Peter Mackenzie. Natural Law Party: Donn Brennan.
Westminster Poll May 1997: SDLP - 52.51 per cent; Sinn Fein - 23.94 per cent; DUP - 21.52 per cent; Alliance - 1.71 per cent; Natural Law Party - 0.32 per cent.
