Went to Check Out Suncheon - Great Place for Strolling & Sightseeing

Took the very comfortable, clean & inexpensive bus approximately 45 minutes from 

Gwangyang to a neighboring city called Suncheon.  I wanted to see if this would be a 

good sightseeing place for Carol & I on an available weekend off.

I found my first information center with an English speaking person.  There were 2 young

ladies in there and as soon as I said "hello", they called another lady in that spoke excellent

English.  She gave me maps, directions for the 3-major sightseeing locations and which

buses going in which directions to take.  I was most appreciative of her help. 

The first thing that I noticed when I arrived at the Bus Terminal was the names of the

surrounding hotels.  There was the Mercedes Hotel, the Brown Hotel and the BMW Hotel.

The Car Hotels even used the Car Logos on their Hotel signs.  BTW, they both looked

somewhat outdated.  The Brown Hotel looked the best!  A river passes through the

city and they have a wonderful walking trails next to the river - see above.

Under one of the bridges next to the river there was a gathering of drums & cymbals!  Old

and young started beating & banging and marching around in circles - it was hilarious

and also most entertaining.  If I had my granddaughters with me, we would have gotten

in the circle and had fun with them.   We could have just clapped our hands and fit right in! 

What a wonderful surprise to experience the Drum & Cymbal Party.

While walking back to the Bus Terminal, I noted the above sunset behind

the clouds.  It was inspiring... a beautiful moment that immediately confirmed

why I like to travel.  It was lovely being there at that moment!  Of course, I was wishing 

my favorite travel partner was there as well.

Another Gwangyang Adventure Day... It Cooled Off... Wow what a difference some cool air makes.

Ms. Cho, my first week driver & hostess took me to one of the places she

likes best for lunch.  The restaurant is called Gwangyang Bulgogi - she calls it

the best Korean BBQ in the city.  It was good, the thin slices of beef from 

Australia (the best on the menu) are cooked at your table with wood charcoal

from Maro.  Not sure where Maro is but the meal was great:  my share: $17.00

My address - sort of - this is the house address across the alley from my 12-plex apartment

house.  It is rare to have a single family house - almost everyone lives in an apartment.  This 

house is even more unusual in that it is in the middle of the City, where land prices are high.

I cleaned out the refrigerator and decided that the German mustard probably

did not have to be in there (no room for beer with mustard in there).  So the

mustard went out and the beer went in.  I bought the premium Korean beer,

according to my host JP, it is called: Kloud.

I have not been here long but I think I am getting the hang of it.

My Second Hike in the City - Went Uphill to the Korean Military Veterans War Memorial

If you can read Korean, I believe that it must talk about the War Memorial in the 

middle of the City, about 2-blocks "by bird", 5-blocks by walking from my apartment.

Very pretty monument and no one visiting today except for me.  It is very hot & humid, I

suspect people do not go out for hikes if they do not have to in this weather.  I had to as

I need to acclimatize a bit before I start working soon.

The monument is on top of a large hill top that runs through the City.  It has quite a nice

run of hiking trails as well.  Found this structure on the ridge down the trail from the War

Memorial, right next to the Weather Station.  A pagoda with a nice view of the City!

I took the concrete trail until it turned into a very steep deep trail and then turned

around.  I have no water and the terrain is steep and it is very hot & humid.  Felt 

good to hike & sweat but now is not the weather to tackle this trail.

There are many little roped off gardens where it is obvious that the public can grow

things on top of the hilltop.  I cannot tell what kind of plants these are.  These particular ones

look pretty heat stressed for sure.  The leaves are welted and they are definitely in 

need of watering.  Hard to say if the public has access to water way up here.

 Papa Turtle surrounded by a bunch of smaller turtles.  I have seen quite a few turtle

sculptures around town so Koreans must like the Turtle.

Our Apartment in Gwangyang, South Korea While Working at POSCO

You have a blog mainly so you can show selfies right after your haircut.  The sign

said $15 but she charged me $17 - not sure why.  Anyway, I like my haircut as it is cooler.

Supposedly Japan and Korea are having the hottest summer in 130 years - not sure that is true 

but it is definitely hot & humid here.  I am mostly hanging out in my AC while my body adjusts.

Took a 2-3 mile walk and saw that the busiest cafes have Koreans eating while sitting

on the floor.  I am slowly working myself up to that reality, maybe tonight.  I have to 

minimize the foot powder though as they all take their shoes off at the door.  I found

this little public garden on the corner of a very busy block.  It is well tended.

The foyer of the apartment.  A very small sunken room where you leave your

shoes and some small storage cabinets as well where you can store empty beer bottles.

Straight ahead from the foyer and entry door is the bathroom.  Very western, thank

goodness.  Notice that the shower is huge since it is the size of the bathroom.  Yes 

you shower in the open bathroom and the floor has a drain.

Looking into the one room apartment through the foyer door.  Bed to the right,

washing machine on the outside deck behind the curtain and kitchen to the left.

It has a nice full size fridge full of German mustard.

The kitchen from the foyer.  It has a two gas burner cook top and full

double sink.  The cupboards are plentiful with no plates that I have noticed.

However, there is a couple pieces of tupperware and we know you can do

all kitchen related things with tupperware.  

I should have made my bed before I took the picture.  One bed with no mattress

so you sleep on the spring - quite hard but I am getting used to it.

There is also one desk and one chair for working on reports - no

computers allowed into the steel mill complex!  They are worried

about industrial espionage.  (Oh my... they must be good!)

Washing machine has had a heavy workout as all my German clothes

needed washing.  It seems to work fine and you hang dry of course.

What Do I Miss Today While in Qwangyang, Korea

Of course, I miss my wife most of all...  Every night she visits me in my dreams.

Here she visited while in Mexico I think.  She promised to make me a magarita if

I went to see her.  I tried but woke up - still in South Korea.

I miss Family too of course.  The Boy is walking and Papa cannot be there.

I have to say that I sort of miss Bremen, my last duty station.  It was a

great roaming city - weather was perfect for roaming after work.

One of my last walks, near the city center next to the theatre.

My Last Few Days in Bremen, Germany

Noticed this nice VW as I was walking from the soccer stadium back to the tram.

The bubble man was in the square about 50 yards away - still had a couple float by me though.  I closed my eyes and made a wish just before it popped but Carol never did show up.  The good news though is that Starbucks was right behind me.  I had coffee and talked to myself.  

(I am pretty interesting actually.  Witty, great conversationalist and can keep quiet when necessary.)

She may not be here but I still listen to her.  Yes, I found Chinese with lots of veggies!

I like this City - lots of things to see & do.  They have a Riverwalk that I have just discovered.

    

Europe has the greatest old scooters.  I love this one.  I can see our Grand Daughters buzzing down the street with their hair flying on this one.   Helmets Girls... Helmets!

My Thoughts are Confirmed - A Silver Buy is Emminent!

Now admit it...  you have an idea.  It brews awhile and then suddenly

you see confirmation in something that you do or see.  Today it happened to me.

I was riding the 90 bus and continuing to mull about the possibility that it might be

time to purchase some 90% junk silver when I see this!!!

A Silver Couch Sitting Next to a Dumpster!

How much confirmation can one possibly need?

Yes, Your Junk Silver Idea is a Good One!!!

(Well anyway, that could be one take-a-way.)

Back to Work in Bremen, Germany

Was offered a job at ArcelorMittal in Bremen so took a Dulles 744 to Frankfurt and
drove a C3 to an Air BnB apartment near the plant.  The job is without problems and
the technical people are very cooperative (so far).

 

Spotted a Gold Car in the rental car area but they did not give me the

keys to it.  (Rather a little while French Citroen.)

Planning to take back some German Lowensenf mustard, the family favorite.  

Amaya wants some Kinder Eggs and a pony of some kind.  Not sure I will

take the Kinder Eggs back though - we keep hearing that they are not

technically allowed in the USA because of the small swallowable toy inside.

Probably not worth the risk.

Fun Summer at the Neighborhood Pool!

Amaya getting ready for her last race of the season.  She did really well

as one of the younger in her age group.  Papa has all of her swim ribbons

in the workshop right in front of her second story apartment.

She and Addy have been helping Papa work on coins - their books are

almost full - now working on Xmas Present books.  (As well as watching

for coins to finish up Panama's book.)

The Neighborhood Pool was great for the summer.  We sure enjoyed it.

Whats Wrong With This Picture?

Noted at the bookstore tonight that this is an odd coin book.

One of the books had the back cover put on upside down.

That is the way coins are made.  Only one book of many

had this problem - I suspect it was an error by the printer

and not an intentional "coin emulation joke."

Coin Collecting - Who Wooda Thunk

I have decided that half dollar coin collecting is more fun than working.

(Not sure that I expected any singular occupation would overcome the joy of making money.)

So I am coin collecting half dollars - I am also motivating my three granddaughters to

appreciate the value of counting dollars by 4-bit increments.

The first couple of half dollar boxes were uneventful.  However, the last two yielded

some 40% silver, some NIFC coins as well as a beautiful 2002 San Francisco Proof. 

The highlight, in my mind was to find a 1951 Ben Franklin.  It is pretty worn but I find

it kind of neat that my first Benjamin was dated the year of our birth.  (Carol and I were

both born the same year.)  So on we go down the coin collecting path.  It would be much

easier to buy the coins... however, it seems to me that "discovering" the coins is much

more interesting.

Another Baptized Grandbaby Added to the Family Tree

Another baptized Grandbaby added to the Clan!

Panama & Papa - Working the Half Dollars from BNA BAC

We worked the $240 that we got courtesy of Fed at

the BNA BAC (our home bank actually).  No statistics

yet but we practically filled Panama's two coin books! 

We found a 2001 and a 2005 but nothing else from the 

years newer than 2000.  These are years where the coins

are available from the mint in uncirculated condition - no

one dropped any of these more expensive coins in our box.  

Nana thought this picture was funny.  The squinting 

makes my face more wrinkled than normal.  It did

capture my general disposition however. 

Wow is all I can say.  We did pretty well

on the first coin haul.  Good job all!!!

My Daughter & Granddaughter - Jumper & Rower

Panama came in 2nd in her first time trying this event.

Papa has been practicing jumping into the shower w/o falling.

Erica came in second in the Women's Rowing Time Trials at the Gym.

This was her first time.  She is going to keep at it to see if she can get better.

Papa has taken up rowing too:  5000 meters today in 30-minutes.  Not too fast!

His motto:  I hustled at work for 30-years, time to stroll not roll...

Going to Miss Greece - Almost Last Day Today

Today is my almost last day before I go back to the USA.

I will miss the beautiful sites here in Thisvi, Greece.

This is the top of the mountain above St Nicholas Beach.

Drive slow on this road as there are almost always sheep.

Nearly Died of Fright - Almost Stepped on a Huge Snake - Wasn't Looking!

I was taking a cool picture and nearly stepped on a Greek Python - estimate it

was 40-feet long and as round as a beach ball.  I felt my soul slowly leaving

my body and traveling down the proverbial tunnel with heaven at

the other end.  There was a bit of hesitation - almost like time for a

snap decision.  I made it!!!  Decided not to go.  It was a hard decision

as Heaven seemed delightful - the little that I could see anyway.

But I decided to turn my back on the tunnel travel.  Decided that I really wanted

to see Meteora.  Nana says that she will come back with me and take me there.

Just wanted the family to know that Nana is on the hook for at least one more

trip to Greece.  The snake?  Oh, it turned out to just be an old firehose.  Not

sure why it looked so big and onerous.  Would have been a funny story in Heaven...