Monday, Namsan Mountain - Well, I think Jake and I are hitting are thresholds for each other...it's been a long time since we've spent much time together, and never just the two of us...testing the waters for an Amazing Race attempt!

We got coffee and breakfast per usual before taking the subway to Chungmuro Station to trek up Namsan Mountain. The roads leading up to the mountain are quite a climb in themselves and I was really hoping there wouldn't be a lot of stairs, alas...we started on stairs and ended with stairs...with bits of flat surface in between. It was rather hot, but we had water and lots of shade among the trees...it didn't take us too long and getting to the top was worth it. We splurged and got tickets for the tower and Teddy Bear Museum...took the elevator to the top and took in the view which was somewhat hazy or smoggy, not sure which. The Teddy Bear Museum, Korea's past and present, was cute...bears doing human things is funny:)

After climbing down the mountain we were on a mission for lunch...I had wanted to go back to Insadong to pick up souvenirs so Jake thought we could stop in Myeong-dong on the way. We ended up at a mall food court, but not like the food courts at home...reminded me of a cafeteria, you order at a main register and then there are several kitchens preparing food, your number comes up and you go pick it up...I had pork dumplings and rice cake in a soup that was more or less just hot water...the dumplings were yummy but I could only eat so much not tasting like anything rice cake!

We made our way to Insadong which was crazy busy...but, I found some things and we headed home because I could tell Jake was ready to be done for the day. My brother's a trooper for taking me around the city for a week...I think he had fun, too...but, I know how it is to feel the need to entertain and make sure someone is enjoying themselves. Thank goodness his students were in the mix and Hyunok spent a couple days with us or we would have hit a breaking point much sooner!

Hyunok had noticed there was a Korean barbecue restaurant just down the street from Jake's apartment so we checked it out...traditional shoes off and floor seating kind of place. The woman who served us was so funny because we were American and paid us special attention. The food was good, although not exactly what we thought we ordered...and we had some beer.

Tomorrow's my last day in Seoul...