Wandering Wednesday | Florida Road Trip 2009: 3 of 3

On the final part of our Florida road trip, we went to the best of the kitschy roadside attractions. The final days were filled with rockets, mermaids and creepy buildings. I think it was the best part of the trip. It was just Markus and I out on the open road seeing all the attractions of the olden days. It was like we stepped into a time warp and seeing Florida during another time.

Our first stop was at Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. I actually went on a field trip to the Space Center when I was in elementary school, but Markus never had the chance to go. He loves this sort of thing, so I couldn't pass on something that he really wanted to see. It was awesome seeing rockets in real life. I knew that they would be huge, but actually seeing something that was in space was incredible. It's also a bit humbling, because you realize how big this universe is and we have yet to scratch the surface of what's really out there.

My favorite attraction was Weeki Wachi Springs. I personally feel like Weeki Wachi is the epitome of all roadside attractions. What is more kitschy than a mermaid show? I've always wanted to go and for some reason never made the trip. It reminds me of a simpler time, when people didn't need roller coasters and flashy shows to entertain. I really enjoyed the show and loved the old-fashioned feeling of the park. I can't believe the mermaids can perform like that underwater with only a thin pipe to breathe air.

We ventured out to St. Petersburg and Haslam's, Florida's largest new and used bookstore. We were so impressed with the place that we visited every time we were in the area. We also went to Tarpon Springs and checked out the sponge docks. We didn't actually make it into Spongeorama, I read bad reviews, but we did go and eat Greek food. Markus and I still talk about that meal we ate in Tarpon Springs. On our drive back to Fort Lauderdale, Markus and I spied an old abandoned building in Lake Wales. We veered off the main road and drove toward the building. It used to be an old hotel and was surrounded by a run-down strip mall. There weren't any people in sight and it felt like the beginning of a zombie movie. We hightailed it out of there before we became the casualties of a bad B-movie.

I'm glad that Markus and I decided to take a trip through my home state. Even though Florida isn't my ideal place to live, it made me appreciate the side that not many people see. Everyone thinks of beaches and Disney World, but there is more to Florida than meets the eye. If you dig a little deeper, you'll actually see something quite charming.

Chatsworth House | Derbyshire, England 4 of 5

After traipsing about the outside of Chatsworth House, we finally made it inside and it was gorgeous.

The inside was just as beautiful as the outside.

It was quite grand and majestic, everything you would expect an estate home to look like. It's amazing to think that Europe is filled with similar homes. Growing up in Florida, I always yearned for history like this.

Since Chatsworth House served as a filming location for Pride and Prejudice, there were many familiar parts of the house. I was very happy to walk around and see places I recognized from the movie. There were so many beautiful paintings that could rival any art museum. I was completely blown away by the amount of artwork and beautiful decor. It was amazing. 

Gwangalli Beach

If you know me, you know that I'm not a huge fan of the beach. It's not one of my favorite places. I know it's quite controversial because I'm a Florida girl but it's the truth. My whole life, I've lived at least 20 minutes away from a beach. No matter what I do, I can't seem to get away from the ocean. I think it's my spirit animal. Seriously, as much as I dislike it and never go, it's always there, silently mocking me.

In Busan, there are many beaches to choose from. Haeundae is the most popular but I don't understand why. It's a very small beach and not that exciting. Of all the beaches in Busan, I enjoy Gwangalli the most. It's quite big and the view of the Gwangan Bridge is amazing. The street adjacent to the beach is lined with restaurants, bars and noreabangs. It's a perfect place to spend an evening. Despite the fact that I don't enjoy the beach, I've been to Gwangalli many times. I keep going back. I think it's more than a beach. It has more to offer and because of that I like going there. I still haven't ventured into the water and I don't think I'll ever be doing that. I'll just enjoy sitting across the street sipping on a latte and enjoying the view. 

Instagrammin' | September 2012

In September, we spent the beginning of the month re-adjusting to school life and officially beginning our second year in Korea. 

1. Teaching at the Jeonpo Welfare Center. These kids are always so happy and give their best effort in class. I love teaching them. 
2. Chuseok gift sets. Korea's equivalent of Thanksgiving is Chuseok. For gifts, they give presents like spam or canned tuna.
3. Soul Food. I was having a bad day and Markus prepared a delicious dinner of BBQ ribs, and corn bread. I'm a lucky girl.
4. Reunited. Markus and I were finally able to meet with our original little brother, Dae-hwannie.

5. Brainstorming. Markus and I are currently working on a children's book and we spend many nights at cafes brainstorming. Although, most of the time it's Markus creating beautiful sketches and me being amazed.
6. My old college roommate, Angela, visited Korea, but we were unable to meet. Although, she was still able to send me some goodies from home via her cousin. Oh how I've missed the yummy taste of Aunt Jemima's.
7. New Sunday Tradition. Markus and I started a Sunday tradition of pancakes and Are You Afraid of the Dark? How awesome is that? 
8. New shoes. While in the UK, I was finally able to find shoes that fit me and these ones were adorable. So happy to finally buy a new pair of shoes! 

A Classy Birthday Celebration

My birthday this year, I have to admit, was a really classy affair. Markus really outdid himself and I'm so thankful for him. As I've gotten older, I've realized that my birthdays have become more and more subdued. This year, Markus and I planned a very low key but exciting day.

The night before, Markus gave me a few presents to open. He created this personalized memo pad. He knows how much I love pandas and that I always say that they're my best friend. I'm also going through a bit of a fox phase, so that's why he drew a gentleman fox balloon. On the back, he drew a persimmon machine. Since moving to Korea, all I can do is eat these things. They are so delicious and have been one of my favorite fruits since I was a kid. I love that Markus always creates these little personalized gifts for me. They mean so much more than purchased gifts.

My other amazing presents were these amazing socks with mustaches, bow ties, top hats and astronauts. He also bought me this beautiful leather purse. I've been dying for a classic brown purse and this one is perfect. It's a beautiful tan color and big enough to fit all of my stuff in.

When I woke up, Markus made a delicious pancake breakfast. Then we went to Seomyeon for a mini-shopping spree. Almost everything I'm wearing in these pictures is a birthday present from Markus. Korea has great fashion and clothes. My closet is literally overflowing with clothes. It's one of the things I'm going to miss the most when we leave.

We both decided that on the day of my birthday we would go to Haedong Yonggungsa or as I affectionately like to call it, the water temple. This was definitely the best temple I've ever seen in Korea, because a lot of the temples tend to look the same. They have the same color scheme and structure, but this temple was breathtaking. It's right on the shoreline and the surrounding areas are just as beautiful. I'm glad that we saved this for my birthday because it was a nice way to stay in Busan but still see something new.

After Yonggungsa, Markus treated me to a yummy dinner at one of the nicest places I've been to in Busan, Taps and Tapas. It's more of a bar/bistro than restaurant and is located in Haeundae. I've been to a lot of bars in Busan, but none of them had the same feeling as Taps and Tapas. It was very stylish and chic. It felt a bit like a bar back home. The decor was really sophisticated and they had a full menu of cocktails and mixed drinks. The food was surprisingly delicious. Usually, when we go to a "western style" restaurant, there are still touches of Korean cuisine. Everything at Taps and Tapas tasted very good, not completely authentic, but still very good. Markus and I are already planning when we can go again.

When we finished dinner, we headed back home and ended the evening with kimbap, Moscato and chocolate cake. It was a long day, but it was a great day. I spent it with the most important person in my life, doing the things I wanted to do and feeling loved and cherished. I couldn't have asked for a better day.