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MM Monthly Thoughts: October 2017

Welcome to the monthly update on Migrating Miss! This blog isn’t always in chronological order, or about everywhere I go, so this where you can find extra trip tips and things to do, plus what’s coming up.

Hello autumn! I actually forgot how much I like this season. For the past couple of years I’ve been living in Spain and Australia, where autumn isn’t quite as noticeable as it is here in the UK. There are good things and bad things. I can’t say I’m a fan of the shorter days or the cold creeping in, but I do love the changing leaves and wearing winter coats and boots. And having Halloween in October does make way more sense when the nights are getting darker and therefore spookier…

So what happened in the lovely month of October?

Destinations of the month

Dublin – 1 day

The month started while I was in Dublin, enjoying a weekend away with EB before I went off to the chaos that it TBEX, a travel blogging conference. We had a classic Dublin weekend, singing along to live music in Temple Bar, visiting the Trinity College Library, taking a 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour and pouring our own pints of Guinness at the Guinness Storehouse.

Trinity College Library Dublin

Killarney – 5 days

I went to my first TBEX in Stockholm last year, and I loved it so much that when I found out it was in Ireland I knew I had to go! It’s such a fun week and a great place to meet new people, and catch up with old friends. This year it was in Killarney, one of the most beautiful areas of Ireland. I’d been here once before on a road trip around Ireland with my Mum, but we didn’t have much of a chance to see the town.

This time I got to cycle around Killarney National Park, learn how to Irish Dance, make my own Irish Coffee, and attend so many fun events and great learning session as part of the conference.

If you’re ever travelling in Ireland, Killarney is a great base to visit so many places, and a must visit!

Killarney National Park Ireland

County Cork – 1 Day

As part of TBEX I took a tour that ended in Cork, so that I could fly home to Edinburgh. We visited Cobh, a colourful village near Cork city, and the last port of the Titanic before it sailed out to sea. You can take guided walks of the Titanic Trail if you want to learn more about this historic little town.

Cobh, County Cork, Ireland

Afterwards, it was off to the Jameson Distillery in Midleton, where I was ridiculously impressed by our tour guide and learned so much about whiskey (with an e!), plus tastings of course. I finished off my day in County Cork with lunch at Sage Restaurant in Midleton, which has a 12-mile ethos, meaning they source absolutely everything they cook from a 12-mile radius, and essentially don’t use anything outside of it, with the very odd exception. Highly recommended if you’re out this way!

Jameson Whiskey Distillery

Jameson Whiskey Distillery

Edinburgh – 23 days

Most of my time was spent in Edinburgh this month, catching up on work! I still have a way to go but I’m finally getting on top of things. The rest of my Edinburgh time was spent on usual life, visiting friends, organising the house, and going for a walk in the Pentland Hills! Sometimes expat life is really just normal life…

Pentland Hills Walk, Edinburgh

Spain – 1 day

I ended the month by arriving back in Almería, where I used to live for a year teaching English. I’m so excited to be back, although it’s also strange because last time I was here was when I had just been granted my visa to move to the UK and I was in full panic wedding planning in a few months mode!

Highlights of the month

All the time spent with EB and friends! After moving around so much in the last few years it’s been nice to feel a bit more settled in one place, knowing I don’t have a deadline on living here or that I’ll be leaving soon. Expats can find it hard to have a place really feel like home when they know they’ll be leaving eventually, and making more than surface friendships can be a struggle. I don’t feel that way about Edinburgh, which is why I love it!

Lowlights of the month

Nothing really! Probably just the same as last month… too much to do and too little time! With a big trip looming at the end of the year I feel like it’s already over!

In travel mishaps, I did manage to bring a bunch of Euro adapters because I forgot Ireland has the same plugs as the UK, and I did forget to book a hostel for my last night in Dublin that I thought I had booked…

Ross Castle, Killarney, Ireland

Posts from October

Things are getting back on track this month! I’ve updated a lot of old posts so that they stay relevant, but the new posts are:

Exploring the Lake District in Three Days

29 Things You Didn’t Know About the Lake District

How to Find Apartments for Rent in Madrid, Spain

Haunted Edinburgh: Spooky + Spine-Chilling Attractions

Top Instagram Photo

I have no idea why this is my top photo! I think I have way better photos on my Instagram in October. But the people have spoken so here we go…

What’s coming up?

As I write this I SHOULD be packing for my next trip… but I’m actually so over packing!! I’m going to Spain tomorrow, back to where I used to live when I was teaching English last year. I’m coming back to Edinburgh via London, where I’ll stay for about 4 days and to the World Travel Market (WTM) and have no idea what I’m doing. Just after I get back I’ll be unpacking and packing MUCH warmer clothes for my next destination, where I’m really really hoping to see the northern lights! After that, I’ll be sitting in my desk chair frantically trying to get everything finished before our big trip in December… more on that to come!!

How was your October?

Sonja x

Read the MM Monthly Thoughts Archive Here

4 thoughts on “MM Monthly Thoughts: October 2017

  1. Eve says:

    Nice month of places you have been visiting, with some great photos! I enjoyed reading, thank you. It brought back lovely memories of visiting those same areas in Ireland. Hope to travel there again one day, still so much of the country to see 🙂

    • Migrating Miss says:

      Thank you! It’s been busy but fun! I’d love to go back and explore them even more, it felt like a quick visit with all the conference stuff :D. I think you could spend a long time and still have more to see!

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