I'm so fancy

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?