This morning we had plans to wake up bright and early to head downtown to an art shop to buy a replica painting of Guernica, by Picasso, that we have been wanting since we got here. You see, according to Korean beliefs, the rest of the day depends completely on the very first customer that walks into the store that morning. They consider it to be bad luck if the customer does not buy anything or disturbs the owner's mood. Therefore, the first customer of the day is almost ALWAYS given an offer they can't refuse! Knowing this, we wanted to go down to the art shop to give Mr. Robert Kim a little visit and leave with that darn painting. We were sure, by the time we eventually got there at 11:30am, that we would not be the first customer, but we were wrong! We walked around the store for a bit, looking at more paintings. Drew found a reverse image painting of Don Quixote that he really liked, so he asked Mr. Kim (literally everyone here is Mr. or Mrs. Kim) how much it was. $45!!!! SOLD. Then I asked how much for Guernica. (I have been in that store two or three times before, and apparently he remembered me asking the same question.) He said, "Last time I told you $150, but today it's $130. In Korea, first customer is VERY important, so I give you both for $170."
This was music to my ears. I felt so cool to know that I set the mood for the rest of his day! (I'm so weird.) PLUS we got an awesome deal on these paintings. Happy Birthday to me!
This was music to my ears. I felt so cool to know that I set the mood for the rest of his day! (I'm so weird.) PLUS we got an awesome deal on these paintings. Happy Birthday to me!
We got the paintings home, and hung them up as fast as humanly possible. I guess I shouldn't say WE hung them up. Let me be honest, DREW hung them up. I just told him where to put them and explained the "eye level" rule my dad has always told me. :)
Here they are! They make our apartment feel much more like a HOME.
Here they are! They make our apartment feel much more like a HOME.
AHHHH GUERNICA. My love. This has been one of my favorite paintings since Art History class my freshman year, and even more so when I was able to see it in person in Spain in 2011. I knew when we saw this outside Mr. Kim's gallery that I HAD to have it. It's soooo amazing. This one is huge; about 4 x 3 feet!
After our wonderful morning, we went on a quest to find these rice cakes that I've been searching for all week. I saw them being sold out of the back of a truck as I was driving down the road earlier this week, and I NEEDED them. Drew and I hopped on the scooter and headed for Seojang-ri Market. Let me just say, I am even impressed with my ability to get around here. I have NO idea how I can find my way basically anywhere, but I am not complaining. I drove us to the market and we walked around. Unfortunately, the truck with the rice cakes wasn't there today, but we saw some other cool things while searching!
After we walked through Seojang-Ri Market twice, I gave up on the rice cakes and decided to head to another market I had seen a few days earlier. I had NO idea how to get there, but I figured I would at least try. Again, I am like a living, breathing Siri here. I used to get lost on my way to Fort Wayne, but I can find anything in Korea! We made it to Songbook Market! (Drew is SO impressed with my navigation skills)
Right outside the market entrance was a Paris Baguette Company. I sincerely feel bad for everyone I know who will never experience Paris Baguette. Their pastries and breads are DELICIOUS. So, we had to stop in and buy something! There was another pastry shop next door that had all Korean baked goods. We went in to look around. They had samples of a lot of things, but I just can't get on board with the fillings they use in their "desserts." Here are some of their goodies:
Now back to the market in search of those darn rice cakes. (Not the same as the glutinous rice cakes I've been showing. These are more like the Quaker rice cakes from home.) We searched and searched up and down every aisle of the Songbook Market and could not find them ANYWHERE. I wanted to cry!!! But we did find these...
And I found a small trashcan that I had been looking for all week. In Korea, you have to throw all of your food waste away in a separate bag. So we have a regular trashcan, a recycling bin, and now FINALLY have a teeny little trashcan that sits on the counter and keeps our food scraps for the day. At the end of the day, we take the little bag out to the street and the trash collectors come get it in the morning. That or an animal eats it.. I will never know.
Well, I had officially given up on finding the stupid rice cakes and we were about to pull out of our parking space and head home when I looked across the street.......
Well, I had officially given up on finding the stupid rice cakes and we were about to pull out of our parking space and head home when I looked across the street.......
I jumped off the scooter, ran across the street, and grabbed a giant bag of rice cakes.. only to realize Drew had all of our Won!! So he drove over, paid, and I was a happy, happy camper. I ate one as soon as we got home. Who doesn't like a rice cake loaded with peanut butter?!
It was a very fun day today! Tonight is all about relaxing and enjoying the cool weather while it's here. Today has been in the 70s, which is UNREAL compared to the upper 90s we've been dealing with lately. Rooney went on a long walk and a bike ride today.. lucky duck! We have had all of our windows open all day, and it feels amazing. Time to go make some guacamole (it sounded SO GOOD) and pour some soju. Who knows, maybe even suck it up and jump in the freezing cold pool.