H&M scarf • J.Crew puffer • thrifted purse • Next pink jeans • Frye boots

Like any good exploring adventure, this one starts out with the requisite outfit pic and. food! Matteo and I made it half way to Calton Hill before we decided it was best to stop for a quick bite (he also let me stop at every charity shop along the way – so I think he deserved at least a cuppa!).

We pottered into Henderson’s at St. John’s. It’s a vegetarian café in the basement of an historic church, right in the heart of Edinburgh. I had the frittata:

I think Matt must get so sick of me taking photos of him, but he is usually the one stuck with me all weekend! Look at those stone vaulted ceilings:

And just outside of Henderson’s is a beautiful cemetery:

This is the view southward from the church/café grounds:

You can also get a beautiful view of Edinburgh Castle from the park by St. John’s. Isn’t it so lovely in the autumn sunlight:

So after a stroll post-lunch we finally ambled over to our intended destination: Calton Hill. You can see it behind Matteo’s head (below) — see those bits and bobs that look like Roman ruins? Well, they aren’t exactly Roman, but they are meant to look like classical relics. Most of the monuments were built as memorials around the early 19th century:

You can get some lovely views of the city from Calton Hill (and it’s much less of a climb than Arthur’s Seat — much more my speed). That’s Leith and the Firth of Forth (watery bits in the far background) behind us, so you’re looking north west-ish.

And what about this view?! That’s Edinburgh Castle to the left on the hill and New Town to the right of that:

This is what the “ruins” (monuments and observatories) look like on the top of the hill:

This is the oldest observatory tower built in the 1700s. (Matt thought he was being sneaky and getting out of the shot– but I got him and his Remembrance Day poppy – muahahaha!):

—-

Dear Kitcath,

Here’s our twinsie skype photo! Skype stripes:

Still not seeing you in person is so hard! Only one month left to go!!

xoxoxo,

Larbar

I know some of you guys are familiar with the fact that the magazines over here (unlike in the States), usually come with a giftie attached to it. For instance my British Marie Claire came with some delicious smelling lotion from L’Occitane, my BBC Food mag came with a magenta spatula, and last year I bought Cath a British Vogue with an Alice Temperly tote bag attached. Pretty nice prezies for £3.50 plus a glossy mag, non? The consumerist in my gleefully claps her hands every time I pass the magazine rack at Tesco or the Scotsman.

So it is perhaps not surprising that when I saw that Hendrick’s gin (my favorite gin because it is made with rose and cucumber — delicious*) came with a tea cup, I did my consumerist happy dance in the aisles of Waitrose last week.

Here’s the thing. I’m not a big drinker. I wish I could be a slightly bigger drinker. I love going out with friends and having a tipple, but I have a rummy tummy that would prefer it if I just drank water for the rest of my life. Usually I just get a sip or two of whatever Cath or Matt order, and spend my evenings staring wistfully at other people’s tipsiness, with angry glances at my glass of water.

Anywhoddle, not being able to drink much, does not preclude me from buying a large bottle of gin (hoping Matt loves the stuff) because I want to keep the tea cup that comes with it.

You might wonder what a gin company is doing handing out tea cups. Well, Hendrick’s thinks you might be interested in switching your afternoon tea to something a bit stronger. Here is a suggested recipe (to be poured into your tea cup):

I’m going to geek-out on you a bit here about some designery stuff. I also bought this gin and tea cup set because Hendrick’s has some of the best product packaging (website included — you should definitely take a gander, those of age!). It’s glorious and witty, and makes me wish I had come up with the branding.

Oh also, Hendrick’s is made right here in bonnie Scotland! Girvan to be exact (note to self: must take field trip to distillery). So apart from appealing to my graphic designery self and consumerist indulgences, I’m supporting the local economy. Lovely!

*Disclaimer for readers under age: Gin is really not all that tasty until you get a bit older. When I was your age, I thought it smelled like pine trees and rubbing alcohol, and I swear that’s what it tastes like until you’re about 25-ish. Really.

——–

Dear Kitcath,

Thank you so much for wearing cute outfits that I can aspire to. Since I moved here, my one motivation when deciding what to wear has been “how can I stay warm.” So I end up wearing things like this (ack!):

This “outfit” above was for climbing up Arthur’s Seat on Guy Fawkes, so I was hoping the dark would disguise some of my sartorial shame. I am going to try to be less of a weather whimp and wear some nicer outfits so you don’t think I’ve completely lost it here.

Miss you ever so much! Skype date this weekend?

Love,

Larbar

Winter is slowly creeping into Edinburgh, but luckily we still have a bit of riotous fall color left to keep us from feeling too blue.

The Union Canal starts just a few blocks away from our flat. The canal flows west all the way to Glasgow: 31.5 miles of gorgeous waterway! I just discovered a café boat there this week, so Matteo and I went exploring on Saturday.

Just outside of Harrison Park, you’ll find Zazou Café. A canal boat that serves tea, coffee, hot chocolate and homemade soup. It’s lovely! While you sip your tea and chocolate, the boat gently sways back and forth. Not great for those with vertigo or motion sickness, but very soothing otherwise. We sat next to a sweet old couple that chatted away about hot chocolate and the cafe boat that used to be around before Zazou.

Outfit: thrifted Wrangler flannel • Blank black cords • Frye boots • Kate Spade bag

When you guys come to visit, I’m totally taking you to Zazou!

—–

Dearest Kitcath,

The other day I was wearing that beautiful scarf that Brie made me as a going away prezie, and I realized I was a woman in Scotland wearing a knitted tie ;).

I’m still trying to scope out some independent boutiques and thrift stores for when you get here. So far the style is a bit more cutsey than you and I would wear, but I’ll keep looking.

Miss you muchoooossss!

xoxoxo,

Larbar

During the week days, I sit and hack away at my mound of graphic design work while Matt goes off to the lab (I still imagine him holding bubbling beakers of liquid and having electrified white hair while he’s there). And I’ve decided, work really gets in the way of having fun. Harumphs. I mean this city was built for sight-seers. Just look at the castle!

So by the time the weekend rolls around, I’m jumping out of my woolly socks to get around town. When Cath and I studied abroad here eight years ago, we gobbled up the city in one gulp — so I’ve seen most of the sights. But I’m greedy (gobble-gobble), and want to see them again! This time ’round, I have my trusty knight-in-shining-armor with me (appropriate in a medieval city):

We spent last Saturday at the National Museum of Scotland. I’m not really big into natural history, but I love seeing the knick-knacks of yesteryear. especially the sartorial trappings (this was for the menfolk of the court, completed with a pair of high heels):

Even the tobacco shop signage dressed well:

This fella (bellow) was by far and away my favorite (and the best example of how tricky an all-plaid ensemble can be). I forget his name, but he was a parlimentarian English gent in the 17th century who visited Scotland and just loved the tartan. apparently. And he was quite sizeable for his day, towering above most of his fellow men at 6 ft. something. He is like Alexander Skarsgard with another Skarsgard wrapped around his belly, tied up in plaid:

Outfit dets: Jumper (I say “jumper” now) and skinnies from Next • Madewell belt • Frye boots • Kate Spade purse

This photo was not taken at the museum, but on the way to lunch (Mom, we’ll be going here come December!). I’m uber-impressed by all the gluten-free options they have in this city of fish n chips, scones, crumpets and Victoria sponge cake.

And the perfect way to end every day of exploration: nutella crepes:

—–

Dear Kitcath,

I hope your school stresses are abating a little! I’m so impressed by all the hard work you are putting into your class while working full-time! You are my hero!

We have to start planning what to do when you get here because you’ll only be here for five measely days — how is that possible?! What are the Musts that you have to see again when you are in Edi?

xoxoxo,

Larbar

Before I married Sr. Matteo in March, I lived in a city just outside of Atlanta called Decatur (longtime readers, you know we are proud Decaturites). Cath and I fell in love with Decatur about ten years ago when we moved from D.C. to the fair city to go to college. Decatur is a small town, next to a big city (just six miles east from the heart of Atlanta): wonderful restaurants (just read this!), great boutiques, galleries and green space.

Well, 10 years after moving to Decatur, I moved to the Scottish Decatur, better known as Edinburgh. There are some major differences. Edinburgh is bigger both in size and population, it is quite a bit older, hillier, colder, windier, rainier, and better for a Romantic (capital “r”) state-of-mind.

So the cities aren’t identical, but here is what they have in common: wonderfully friendly people and a small town feel. I haven’t met very many people here because I work from home, but somehow when I go out, I bump into one of the five people I’ve met. There are great restaurants and independent boutiques, and very little pretention and pockets of diversity.

Now that we’ve started to feel a little less frantic (find an apartment! open a bank account! get some internets!), Matteo and I are trying to get to know our neighborhood better. We’ve found a couple of really terrific bakeries (that’s Dough Re Mi below).

Look at that French bread deliciousness below: that folded over bit of bread is like Moroccan focaccia called harissa (spicy and delicious), there’s the most buttery pain au chocolats and croissants (we bought the lot after a morning jog — in my opinion, the only reason to do something so masochistic is for butter and chocolate).

Another local bakery around the block makes this delicious jam: it has tart cranberries and sweet strawberries, made for sinking into buttery crumpet holes.

Here is a photo of what I look like before I gain 200 pounds (i.e. 14 stone) from eating butter in its different delightful forms:

Apparently, we prefer to mainly explore our new city gastronomically. We figured it is up to us to try every single café and restaurant around our flat, you know, for our guests that are coming to visit. Such a terrific sacrifice on our part of course.

Here is some Edinburgh “Crombie” (sausage) and tatties (potatoes) at Café Grande and below is our berry crumble (and cream!) for dessert.

Thanks for following along with all this day-to-day stuff! Probably from the pics it looks like we just get to skip around a beautiful city and stuff ourselves with croissants. AsianCajuns lets me stay in touch with Kitcath (and you guys) and remember why I moved across the ocean and have to make a fresh start in a new place. It’s a lovely, magically place and one of my favorite cities in the whole world, but it has been a bewildering and a little lonely and stressful at times.

—-

Dear Kitcath,

Like I was telling you, I started reading Her Fearful Symmetry. It’s weird to read a book about twins (I don’t think I have – except for that one Sweet Valley High). Niffenegger makes us/twins sound a little creepy. Are we creepy? I mean we aren’t pale and white/blond-haired like these mirror twin girls, but she says they made people uneasy when they saw the twins together. I know we freak people out when we say the same thing at the same time.

I want you to read this and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peal Pie Society when you get here. Or buy one of them for the flight over.

Good luck on your paper, Kitcath! Wish I could help you write it!

xoxoxo,

Larbar

p.s. Do you think we could make Edinburgh and Decatur unofficial (twin) sister cities?!

—-

Edit: Oct. 31 • 6:20 pm BST
Fellow Decaturite Lain S. points out that Decatur and Edinburgh also have another wonderful thing in common: Book Festivals. Lucky for us, they fall one right after each other in August (Edinburgh International Book Festival) and then September (AJC Decatur Book Festival). No excuse not to go to both, right?

I keep forgetting our slight vocabulary differences over here: biscuits, not cookies; jelly, not jello; trousers, not pants (pants here are undies-whoops!). I, of course, keep using the wrong American words for things. Also, I’ve noticed that here my voice seems to carry more. I’m a loud American, and I can’t help it! In the states I’m considered somewhat soft-spoken. Here I’m downright bombastic.

So combine my misuse of words and “loud” voice and you get: “Matt! How do you like my new pink pants?!” I’m sure I said this some place public too. The bus, was it? I’m going to learn to speak quietly just to stop any more awkward moments. Not that anyone would say anything. People are far too polite.

Outfit dets: Lands End cardi • Spun Scarves scarf/shawl • Pink pants trousers from Next • Mango shoes • Longchamp purse • AsianCajun necklace

Pst. Look how well I matched my outfit to my curtains. Nice, eh? I was going for a early 1990s upholstery look.

P.S. Chloe, thank you so much for my beautiful Longchamp. What a gorgeous going-away gift. You would be so proud of me. The first thing I put in it was a buttery pain au chocolat.

Apart from learning English, we’ve been busy trying to find new favorite restaurants and haunts. We think last weekend we might have found “our” Korean restaurant. It’s called Kim’s Mini Meals (I think the “mini” comes from the teeny charming dining room – the portions are generous), and it is delicious! The food is 100% Korean, but the decor has a heavy British influence. I love a good mix (*cough* AsianCajun).

Matt was particularly ecstatic: spicy and Asian are his two favorite things (again *cough, cough* AsianCajun):

Just look at this delicious bibimbap! (I always order bibimbap because I love saying it: bibimbap bibimbap, bibimbap!):

Note the British tea pot, serving not Earl Gray, but Korean brown rice tea!

Deeelicious! Chloe, Cath and Troy, when you visit, we’re going here!

—–

Dear Kitcath,

You are not on skype today. What am I suppose to do without my daily dose of Kitcath?!

Today I walked over to S. Clerk St. from our flat and I totally felt like I was going to see you at your flat. Argh! This city is just not right without you in it.

Also, I bought those pink trousers because of you! I love your pink pants and wanted to have something similar. Now I won’t just blend in with the gray skies here. You should bring your pair when you come to visit and then we can be twinsies.

Miss you so much. GET ON SKYPE!

LOVE,

Larbar