Expat in Edinburgh: Months 10 & 11

These two months were a bit hectic in terms of travel; I took a quick trip to Wales and spent a week exploring Berlin in February, and then flew to Ireland in March to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

What I’ve Been Up To

Apart from my trips to Berlin and Ireland, February and March were relatively quiet months. I made another quick visit to Glasgow and checked out a few new restaurants and bars in Edinburgh. One of my favourites was Bramble, a slightly hidden and intimate cocktail bar in New Town. Their ‘only exception’ cocktail is worth mentioning: salted caramel green tea vodka, grapefruit, freshly squeezed lemon juice and vanilla sugar. It’s a new favourite of mine, for sure.

Exploring Berlin was the highlight of February; it’s unapologetically cool with a fascinating history, and so many incredible restaurants. I was a bit apprehensive to visit Berlin in winter since I’m a self-proclaimed frigophobic, but I really lucked out in terms of weather. It was relatively dry and mild with frequent bouts of sunshine, and I managed to explore most of the city by foot and bike. I also ate some seriously delicious food.

March saw me crossing a big event off my bucket list – celebrating St. Paddy’s Day in Ireland. Galway was a riot on the 17th: the pubs were packed, trad music was plentiful, and the Guinness was flowing. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations aside, I loved Galway – it’s lively and charming, and has a surprising number of amazing eateries.

After the St. Patrick’s Day festivities, I took a scenic drive through Connemara and stopped at Kylemore Abbey before catching my flight in Dublin.

What I’ve Been Eating

My favourite meal in Berlin was a Turkish feast from Hasir. Standout dishes include grilled eggplant with yogurt and garlic and künefe: soft white cheese covered in shredded dough, soaked in sweet syrup, and topped with a sprinkle of pistachio, served hot out of the oven. Ridiculously delicious.

For a small town, Galway has some seriously fantastic foodie gems. I didn’t expect to find such incredible options, and Cava Bodega was a prime example. It’s an authentic Spanish restaurant with an extensive tapas menu, featuring cured meats and cheeses imported from Spain, and a multitude of locally sourced ingredients. I still think about the meal I had there, particularly the whipped goat cheese with piqullo peppers and walnut powder.

What did you get up to in February and March?