Hunter planned a fun night out on Monday night, to help welcome me to the city. We had drinks at a hip bar/restaurant called Machneyuda, which is one of the most popular spots in the city. The cocktails, which we enjoyed al fresca, were absolutely delicious. In a cute move, each cocktail was named for a dictator, and I can strongly recommend the Kim Jong Il. The drink, like it’s namesake, was strong, pint-sized, and left a lasting impression. Sitting at a cute table on the sidewalk, tea light candles and the sounds of distant trucks and ambient pedestrian noises, it felt like we were in New York City. The constant english sound bites reaching our ears helped drive the point home. The joy of being together again, discussing normal things over a non-cellular connection was pure bliss.

After our drink we went down the street to a Kurdish restaurant named Ima (translation: Mom). The ambiance was upscale cozy, and the waitress presented us with english menus (phew) and helped us order a fantastic meal. This is when I was introduced for the first time to a Kuba. A delicious addition to my list of favorite foods, Kuba is a kurdish staple. It is a bread stuffed with spiced beef, or just vegetables, and then deep fried. In a word – YUM.