Back in Seul - Now the shopping begins

Everland by day from our hotel balcony

Do you like myhair-clip from Everland?

The morning saw us waiting patiently till the bus arrived a little late due to Seould peak hour traffic. Remember how hard the locals work, well Saturday is much like any other week day. Our bus arrived some 40 miutes later than expected. Still this came as no surprise as I counted 147 buses arrive as we waited and that was a 'back' entrance nowhere near the aircraft runways for car-parks we saw around the main entrance. We were all glad we visited Everland yesterday.

The ride to Seoul had nothing to note other than the odd sign that could be spotted from the window and raise a chuckle or two.
Now we have finally returned to Seoul three years after our last purposeful visit to meet and adopt Amelie. Our hotel is but a klm or so from Eastern where we first met our Daughter.

You would have thought after 2 gruelling weeks of ceaseless travelling and sightseeing that this day of free-time would be spent resting and cleaning much work clothing.

You must be joking. No sooner than our bags had been stowed in the hotel store, our rooms were not available till 2pm, than all families tore off to go shopping.

Up till now we have the most miserley of all the families on board this tour. We arrived with a good deal of Korean Won and still have most of it left. That is till we hit the Markets. We went to Namdaemun Markets to make up or lost time.

Namdaemun is the sight of the East Gate to Seoul. This made the news just before our arrival as it burnt to the ground making news services all around the word. It now is in the process of being restored/rebuilt to its full former glory.

We bought trinkets great and small and did out best to catch up to the budget of anyone else on the tour. Of course we knew we had no hope of catching up to the Dennis' family as they went to the War Museum and could spend more than in 5 minutes in the gift shop without raising a sweat. Besides which Michelle has been given a state medal for single handedly saving the economy for South Korea this month. It's better than living in England however as she would have to marry a prince to save the U.K. and I herad there is stiff competition for that gig.

Still, it is great to be in Seoul again. The main purpose is to meet with Ameilie's Foster Mother, who tok care of her for most of her first 8 months. We are all looking forward to the meeting with excitement.

This will take place this Monday so that leaves plenty of time for shopping and sight seeing and we plan to visit more of the sights described in Amelie's favourite story book about Seoul.

We can always rest when we get back to work next week.