But what else is new?
We decided to celebrate our four-year
wedding anniversary about a month early in Seoul over the weekend. (We would
celebrate it on time, but we plan to have other plans during that time.) The
weekend started off pretty basic; one night in our usual hotel and out to
dinner at a new place (Kinder’s, a delicious burger place in in Itaewon that we
stumbled into and would definitely repeat). Then we called it a night around 9 pm
so we could rest up for the remaining weekend festivities. Okay…we went to bed
early because we felt like being an old married couple for a minute. (Not to
mention, I’m currently growing a human in my belly.)
On day two of the anniversary weekend, we put our fancy
pants on, one leg at a time. We spent the afternoon exploring Gyeongbokgung
Palace. We were even lucky enough to walk up to the palace as the Changing of
the Royal Guards was taking place. From a distance, one could easily mistake
the guards for wax statues. So imagine our delight when we realized that they
were living, breathing people!
 |
| Who needs a selfie stick when you have freakishly long arms? |
 |
| Tourist? Who...me? Never!! |
 |
| Pigs, and tigers, and monkeys, oh my! |
After we were thoroughly exhausted from wandering the palace
grounds (being royal must have been exhausting back in the day!) we headed to
the fancy hotel. And believe me,
there was nothing un-fancy about it.
 |
| We needed this sugar. |
Bath tub big enough for tall Americans, TV in the bathroom
mirror, rainfall shower, white marble floors and countertops, the plushiest
cloud of a bed I have ever laid my bones upon, automatic window shades, three
beautiful pools, pristine new gym, a speakeasy in the basement, and plenty of
fine dining options where we could over-stuff our faces (and did we ever stuff
them). Plus, we got upgraded to a corner room on the top floor with a view of
the Seoul Tower. Ball so hard.
 |
| Basket of fried seafood and eggplant. Mmmm. |
 |
| Smoked salmon and pesto pizza. Mmmm, mmmm! |
 |
| Tiramisu? Tiramisu! |
 |
| Posing with 2 food babies plus one real one in there (25 weeks!). |
But then, we balled harder. On our final morning, the
hotel’s “house car” dropped us off for one last quick outing before our
carriage turned back into a pumpkin. Said house car was a Mercedes S500, and by
far the most luxurious vehicle that either of us has ever been in. Heated
seats, heated armrests, fully adjustable everything in the back seats (footrests,
headrests, reclining seats), plus a fancy complimentary water, which I thought
was just the bee’s knees.
 |
| Is this the real life? |
 |
| Is this just fantasy? |
After a full 10-minute car ride, we arrived at the
“Blue House,” which is South Korea’s equivalent of the White House. We didn’t
get to go inside and see where Mrs. President does business (apparently you
have to schedule that tour ahead of time), but we got to wander around outside
the gates and step into a nearby museum where we learned just a smidge more
about Korean culture.
 |
Don't be fooled...the Blue House is the one in the background, not the foreground.
Classic mistake! |
 |
| All the kimchi in Korea! |
 |
| Being a not-tourist. I'm so good at that. |
 |
| That time when Mark blended in perfectly with the Korean Secret Service. |
 |
| Feeling more Weekend at Bernie's than respectful bow. |
It was quite a memorable weekend. Partially because our
marriage has never been better (yup, bragging a little), and partially because for
the first time in his adult life, Mark could fit into a bathtub.
 |
| Have you ever seen a happier kid in your life? |
