Day 2 in Seoul trip

The next day we woke up, and since it was Sunday and a major holiday we weren't in a hurry.

I came out of our room and out into the courtyard. I could hear Bethany, so we started talking not knowing where the other was.

 I walked down a pathway to the back side of the house.

 There she was enjoying some sunshine in the garden.

 There was more to the guest house up the garden stairs.

The overgrown trees gave it a real oasis in the city feeling.

 The traditional roof top was towered over by an apartment building.

 As we got ready to set out for the day we were really glad to have such a peaceful place to stay.

 And then we were off to the other side of Seoul, but first a morning walk through our neighborhood.

 The view down the alley to our guest house.

 This building grows grapes.

 I thought this was such a charming entrance.

The flower on this plant was as long as my forearm.

 It smelled really sweet too.

 We walked into a small little shop where everything was so carefully presented. 

 One of my favorite parts about being in Seoul was that so many people could talk to us in English. I really miss being about to talk to a salesclerk, or ask if something was sweet or spicy. The woman sitting in the shop on that holiday morning was the daughter, sister and friend of the artists who had their things in the shop. Her specialty was making jewelry  Her sister sews and her mother made pottery. There were so many mixed media. Some of the jewelry was made from pottery and others from glass, there were tons of pins, bags and hand painted scarves and fans.

  

 It was such a sweet shop. 

But really they all were so unique and cute.

This was a tea house on our street, but it was never opened when we were around.

But now it was time for breakfast/lunch.

 We stopped down the street at the Funny Grill, mostly because it was cute and also because it was American dinner food.

 We placed our order with Mum and stepped out side onto the street, since the inside was already full. 

 Our breakfast table.

The roses were so bright and smelled so great, and I loved them in there coffee tin vase.

 Well in our case it was a paper cup.

 Then it was lunch time! I got a burger, Roland ordered pancakes and a sausage-egg-English muffin and Bethany ordered chicken fajitas.

It was good, but  I don't know what that red sauce was.

The owner had photos of her cat all over her shop and cute little stickers and sayings. She's doing what I wish I could.

 Full bellies and we are off!

The closer we got to the station the more lively the streets became with bike messengers with stands of flowers longer than their bikes.

 Bethany was excited for all the subway travel to do, since we were going to the opposite side of Seoul from were we were staying. 

 As the train stopped we snapped a quick picture of Gangnam station, just because the song was so popular.

To the COEX Aquarium! This huge many floor aquarium is housed inside of a huge multistory mall.

.

 The inside was decorated to give a natural feeling of the world where the fish were from.

 The cute nice fish were put in playful setting they even had some spa fish in a bath tub that you rinse your hands and could put your fingers in the water and they would nibble at you. It was so much fun!

 And then we went where you do not put your fingers in the water.

They had an entire South American fish room with fish that were incredible and tubes full of piranha swimming around and around.

The tropical fish area was so bright and so colorful.

 The Moray eels were as impressive and mean looking as ever.  

 Duh dun

Rawr!

That's right, they just put fish in front of a painting. Art!

 We caught the ending of the water show wishing everyone a happy Korean Thanksgiving. I liked that the scuba divers were all wearing traditional clothes. 

 (the sound on the video is really bad, I would just mute it if I were you)

This was the happiest fish there!

This is the shark tunnel at the end of the aquarium.

They had manatees, seals, monkeys, beavers, bats and the cutest squirrels ever! After we did a bit of shopping, got a bit to eat and found a Cold Stone Creamery and had some super tasty ice cream. Another few trains home and we just relaxed at our guest house the rest of the evening. It was starting to get cold, but it was a pleasant break from the summer heat.

Coming soon Day 3: Down Town!