Achasan and Children’s Grand Park
It was a very log and eventful day for everyone. Carly had parent conferences all day until 7pm. So August and I went for a long adventure to Achasan Fortress and Children’s Grand Park.
But the excitement started last night when August decided he didn’t want to sleep. Carly was up with him from before midnight until 2am. I was then up with him until 3:30. I got up when Carly did and took a shower but went back to bed after she left. August slept until 8am so I was able to get some sleep.
Everything was going smoothly in the morning and we were going to go for an even longer day. But August fell back to sleep at 10:30 and slept 90 minutes.
So when he woke up we headed south to the Achasan area, east of Children’s Grand Park. It is where my last hike with Jeff and Derek ended.
August really liked looking at the community gardens on the walk up. Then we stopped at a picnic table and ate lunch. We walked through the ecological park and then started heading up towards Achasan Fortress. There are all sorts of facilities up there, including a playground. We spent at least an hour there and had it mostly to himself. With his Skidders shoes he was able to walk up the metal slides (with me holding his hands, of course). He cruised back and forth from one end of the teeter totter to the other saying ‘baabaa’ as each end had a sheep or horse on it. And he made a friend – a Korean girl a bit older than him – and they walked and crawled several times along the ledge at the edge of the playground.
I changed his diapers outdoors for once and then headed up the hill. August fell asleep at this point. I reached the fortress but it was nothing special. You couldn’t actually go in and could only see a bit of wall.
I walked back down and headed towards Achasan station and the back entrance to CGP. We ran into a major busy street, but then there was a baseball stadium and there was a military rifle drill exercise being performed before the game. We watched the whole thing: about ten minutes.
We then walked to Children’s Grand Park, bought a sandwich for me at Popeye’s, and made our way through the busy, busy park, did I a quick trip through the conservatory, and found a little grass area by the outdoor stadium. We used our Pororo mat for the first time and ate our dinner.
August was, overall, amazing today. One example occurred here. He crawled off the mat a few feet and then called me over. He started signing please and pointing to the playground. I told him okay, but that I needed to pack up. I set him back on the Pororo mat and proceeded to clean and pack. It took quite awhile and he waited patiently.
We played at the playground, managing one stint on the swings. But it was too busy so we left. We went to the children’s/petting zoo. Most of the animals were already back in their houses but we spent a fair amount of time watching the fountain )with the sheep statues) and then the actual goats. There was a baby goat that was really cute.
It was 6 so we headed towards the main entrance and the subway to take us home. The big fountain was on so we watched that as they played Phantom of the Opera and, as the finale, Gangnam Style. Felt like a very Korean moment as we were in a very packed park with people taking selfies with the flowering trees all around us.
We headed home. August did really well on the busy subway. Got home about 7:15 and Carly showed up around 7:30. Some nursing, music and they were both asleep before 9.
3am:
Morning:
Achasan:
Achasan fortress:
Walking to CGP:
CGP:
The fountains are on!
Lunch spot. First use of the Pororo mat:
Most crowded I have ever seen the zoo and park. Friday after noon on a perfect day and with the trees in bloom. Everyone was posing for photos with the trees:
Second fountain we stopped and watched. Note the sheep. August did:
Goats (aka baabaas):
Ending with the big fountain:
