Well we have been back home for 12 days now. So go to be home and sleep in our own bed with only Drs appointments to keep track of the days. No pictures please. But it may sound strange but I miss Korea already and am anticipating the next trip with no plans as of yet.
A big thank you to everyone who read my silly blog. And also to everyone who participated in this dance either willingly or by chance.
So here is to the next adventure.
Well maybe that title has already been taken but so has June 16th yesterday. We left at 6:40 pm on Sunday and got to Atlanta on Sunday at 7:30 a one hour difference after a 13 hour flight. And in the last row which does not recline.
But first I had to rescue Jonah’s sword from customs prison. . Most of the work had been done on Friday by Ms Chang from the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation as a favor to me. It still meant going here and there to meet the right people and insure it made it on the plane to Atlanta. Surprisingly US customs has no problem with people bringing in weapons of death and destruction. Go figure.
So a little down time in Atlanta airport then the flight from Atlanta to Wilmington which I remember nothing about since I slept the whole way.
John Gruntfest duly picked us up and got all our stuff inside. Found out the Sonatas battery was dead when we got home. Probably from not being used and all the electronics that go non stop. My 2003 Ford Ranger started right up.
I still stayed up till 2:00 am unwrapping my rock and Jonah’s sword. Then found out my router has died so a new one was ordered. This is probably it for the blog unless I get sentimental and want to rehash some highlights. You have been warned.
Goodnight
The day before we leave to the USA is nothing special. Mary Ann and I spent most of the day in our room and in bed. We have done this many times on this day, but today I slept most of it and Mary Ann played games of her phone. She also went downstairs and bought sandwiches for lunch. Just another way for us to spend an anniversary. Happy 56th.
We also celebrated by going out to eat at a place we discovered while staying here just before our last trip to Japan. But before that my newest best friend in Korea Jon Dunbar dropped off copies of the Korea Times, where he works, that had the article about our donation. How very nice of him.
I would hope others step forward and return these type of things to Korea.
Then off to dinner at Debbies. Like being in an upscale restaurant in NYC. Well sort of. It did make for a nice anniversary dinner.
Goodnight
Today started with a trip to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, where once again we were treated like Royalty. If everyone could be this kind and thoughtful, the world would be such a better place.
First item was concern for the sword Jonah had to leave behind. And then an interview about our donation for their archives. By the time that was over, it was lunch time with the Secretary General Mr. Kwak and the other people who have helped us with this donation. Unfortunately it was just now that I have realized we took no photos. And a great meal it was.
We then returned to their office where Ms Chang spent a couple hours getting Jonah’s sword so that we hopefully will be able to take it home with us on Sunday. I think only someone who is bilingual like her would be able to negotiate the bureaucracy like she did. We shall see when we try to get the sword on Sunday.
Then on our way for a little more last minute shopping and picking up a jacket Jessica had left in Busan, which we had delivered to Seoul so we could return it.
A short bus ride from there to a beer and wine cafe near where we used to live in KaWayDong. One more time to say goodbye. Who knows if it will be the last. I hope not. And if anyone knows it is the last, please don’t tell me.
Goodnight
Today started with Mary Ann and I going for breakfast in the Koreana Hotel for the first time since we arrived. French toast for her and eggs Benedict for me. French toast was OK, but the eggs benedict came cold with no hollandaise sauce. I told them this and they said they served their eggs cold. Back to the kitchen and they still came back cold. So much for breakfast.
So I headed out by myself to look at a scroll I had seen yesterday. Mary Ann should never let me out looking for scrolls by my self. I did get the bamboo one I was looking for, also 8 or 10 others I liked at bargain basement prices. They are nice, but need to be mounted. We shall see.
The rest if the day was hanging out with Jonah and Patricia talking and talking and talking. Around 3:30 Miss Lee from the National Library came by to give me the rock I had bought here in Korea. She was babysitting it while we were in Japan. We hope to see her soon if she can visit the USA. That would be fun. And while we were chating and drinking coffee downstairs, Patricia and Jonah came to say goodbye since they were leaving tonight but wanted to go early to pick up his sword that was being held by Korean customs.
We say goodbye to Ms Lee a bit later and head out to get another suitcase for all the stuff we have bought. Yes we did it again. And then we settle on. Chinese food for dinner. And the hotel has one so we go there. Mistake. But you only know after you eat and seldom before. At least Jonah and his sword are reunited.
Well not really. He does everything he was told to do but not warned that if he leaves from a different terminal he has to call 24 hours ahead. So he left without his sword and I am trying to see what I can do to at least take it with me. This sword has had a bigger adventure than the one carried by General Lee at Gettysburg. I am meeting with a friend tomorrow to see what can be done.
Goodnight
And they were having a big send off for Patricia and Jonah on their last full day here.
Well actually it was a union organizing demonstration. Jonah figured that out.
A little rest and time to walk to Insadong or as the old timers called it Mary’s Alley. No one clearly knows who Mary was nor is it an alley anymore. But between our hotel and Insadong, we saw Jhogaysa Temple and showed it to Patricia and Jonah. What a nice peaceful place in the middle of Seoul.
After securing the rock, we sat in a coffee shop, don’t ask me which one, and talked of scrolls and family and travels.
Next off to a spot my friend Jon Dunbar showed me but Jon and I could not get a place because we got there too late. I made sure the four of us got there early enough to enjoy the Korean BBQ as well as the ambiance that comes with the place. Open air and charcoal BBQ. Keep the meat and beer coming. As well as the garlic and kimchee. We had a good time.
Find them in the crowd.
Happy couple.
Sorry to see them leave tomorrow as they have been great traveling companions and put up with me way long than most people would. Bon Voyage and hope to see you soon.
Goodnight.
So we get up early (5:30) to catch a train from Nara to a junction for a train to Kansai airport where we will catch a Jeju Jet to Seoul Korea.
After a struggle to find the right terminal (my fault) we are at the counter and the four of us combined are overweight with our baggage so what do they do? Give me my bag, the lightest, back as a carryon. That solved the plane having too much weight to take off.
Then just before boarding Patricia tells Mary Ann they are calling her name. She gets special treatment and is escorted to the front. But not because she is special. No her name became attached to the sword Jonah bought in Kyoto and had put in checked baggage. They questioned her all about it, unwrapped it but finally let the sword and Mary Ann on the plane. And it was a beautiful flight.
Land in Korea and all is well. We go through immigration and pick up our baggage ( well they do. Mine was all carryon.). Twenty feet from Korea as we (Jonah) goes through “ Nothing to declare”, alarms sound, bells ring, customs agents gently dozing are awakened and Jonah is hustled off to a side area to explain way he is bring such a weapon into Korea. I explain in my best Korean that Jonah and Patricia are only in Korea for two days and the sword will be out of Korea at that time.
So the sword is put into special detention until they pass back through customs on their way to the USA. Of course there is a daily storage charge. The sword now has a great provenance.
And so we are in Seoul at a nice hotel. The other three are napping so I take a walk and end up looking at paintings a rocks. Go figure. Will buy a small rock tomorrow if it is still there. Came back and we had a nice Korean dinner in the Hotel and Jonah treated us. Very nice. And then to bed as travel days do tend to wear one out. Sorry no photos.
Goodnight