Apgujeong-dong

Today Geoff and I continued our adventures to Apgujeong-dong. If you are wondering how we find out about these places, well there are these little books all over post that has places you can visit in Korea. The book also has maps of the Seoul subway system, so it is really easy to get around. The funny thing about the subway is you never know what is going to happen. There is always someone trying to sell you something, or you might see a couple of blind people walking around with little radios trying to collect money. I always think of how unsafe it is for a blind person to walk next to the subway tracks. Today's sales person was pretty funny. He was selling this slicer thing that slices vegetables really thin. He kept slicing cucumbers and putting them on his cheeks and forehead. Then he would slice more and put them on peoples arms so they could see how thinly sliced they were. I kept wondering what these people did with these cucumbers? They were getting off the subway with them stuck to there arms. That is exactly what I want is to walk through a hot city with sliced vegetables stuck to me. I came really close to buying one of those slicers, and next time I will.

The description in our book of Apgujeong-dong says that it boasts designer boutiques, and chic department stores. It also says that it is considered to be Korea's most fashionable district. For those of you who know me, you know I hate to shop, so this was the most exciting thing ever. When we finally got there we were starving, and after being scared away from a couple of restaurants by there scary menus, we found the golden arches literally. Well we were scared away from there too, because there menu did not look the same, and it would be to hard to try to describe a plain chicken sandwich. We found a place called Paris Croissant. You get a tray and some tongs and pick the croissants and pastries that you want, pay for them, then they take them and put them on a nicer tray and hand it back to you. If was very good and very filling.

Across the street was the Hyun dai Department Store. We walked in on the very bottom level, and I was amazed at all the high end fashion. Once again I am a very simple person when it comes to fashion, so when I saw Roberto Cavvali, and Dolce and Gabbana I knew we came to the wrong place. There was of course the real Louis Vuitton, Valentino, and all that other stuff that the stars wear. Trust me this was not "Knock Off Alley". All the really big named stuff was on the bottom two floors, so I thought if we got to the top, they might sell something that was under $100. By the end of the day I really just wanted to find the Gap clearance rack. I did have a good time. Any time I get to spend with Geoff is alway fun and exciting.

I did continue to feel the constant stares of people today. I think it was because my shirt was a little low cut, and they are very conservative here. I have started to think of myself as "the white girl". The little kids are fascinated with us. It is nice to be able to talk and know that nobody understands you. When you get on the subway it is always a mad dash to try to get a seat. The older people expect you to give up there seats. Today, Geoff and I were too tired. These two older ladies hovered over us and we knew they were talking about us by there looks. We talked about them too, and they had know clue what we were saying. It is a two way street. The language barrier is pretty complicated when you are trying to ask if you can try something on and they don't know what you are talking about.

Sorry there are no pictures, but if you have seen one shopping district, you have seen them all. Until next time.