OK, so where did I leave off? Oh yeah, it was Saturday night and I was fixin’ to play darts…
You can see how that worked out for me–a 12-4 shellacking by a Mongolian named Bayar. I actually played pretty well, he just played weller…
The match was played at Dolce Vita which is right next door to Shenanigans. I was feeling like a change of pace though, so I decided to take a stroll down memory lane.
I started out at the Grand Ole Opry located up on Hooker Hill. The link takes you to a post about my first visit there way back in April 2005. Back when I lived in Hannam-dong I’d sometimes drop in for the beer and country music on my walk home. These days I’m very rarely up that way and it’s been even longer since I’ve enjoyed the diviest of dive bars in Itaewon.
This sort of gives you the flavor of the place…
The Opry just might be the oldest bar still operating in Itaewon. Customers from years past have left their money as a reminder of their visit. Every wall in the place is covered in them. Hell, I probably have one up there somewhere too…
I killed an hour or so in there drinking cheap gin and sodas (my low carb replacement for beer these days). Then I walked across the street to my other old time Hooker Hill hangout, Debut bar. I welcomed in the year 2006 there.
I may or may not have left a signed dollar bill here, but damn it, a younger version of me still adorns the wall! (Hint: I’m the handsome one).
When I walked in the door I was surprised to see the owner Polly whom I hadn’t seen in several years (it’s a late night venue and I’m out that late even less frequently than I’m on the Hill). Polly greeted me by name which really made me feel good. A long time bartender So Yong was also there to welcome me. I guess they had just ordered up some Korean food and when it was delivered they insisted I join them. A very pleasant experience!
Polly told me that things were changing on the Hill. Her bar would be relocating into Itaewon proper to make room for a new hotel. I was fortunate to get to experience the Debut style one last time before they close in a week. As an example, while sitting there enjoying my cocktail a group of young people (well, given my age everyone seems young these days) came in doing some kind of perverted scavenger hunt. One of their items was to take a picture of someone in a lewd sexual position on Hooker Hill. I obliged by bending one of the gals over the bar and simulating taking her from behind. They loved it! Anything to help out is my motto.
Thanks for the memories Polly and So Yong!
I next recalled that one of my old bartender friends from way back when at Dolce Vita was now working in a new place called “Just a bar”. So I made my way over there for a visit and had a great time catching up with MK. It was nice but not cheap. If you get my meaning.
Suffice to say I was very drunk by this point and made my way home where I woke up several hours later on the bathroom floor. Yes, I got floored again.
Woke up late in the morning on Easter but wanted to get my walk in prior to my 2:00 dart challenge against the guys from Songtan. I popped a pork roast in the crock pot and headed out. I wanted to get a couple of hours in on the Han river, so I hoofed it over to the Hannam bridge.
Near the Blue Square I encountered this lovely lass. My request for a photo was met with stony silence. I took one anyway.
I discovered that there is no access to my side of the river from the Hannam bridge, so I had to cross the long ass thing.
Which afforded me the opportunity to take this photo. But it also added some time and distance to my walk. I was getting nervous about making it home in time to shower up and get to the darts match.
Got back a little after one dead tired, but duty called. And we proceeded to kick some Songtan butt. First time we’ve ever actually won a match in our irregular home and away meetups.
Don’t bother looking for me in this photo, I didn’t bother sticking around after the match. I was tired and hungry…
…and knew this unpulled pork was waiting for me. So I pulled it and had me a good helping.
Lost 2.7 pounds last week, which makes 18.4 over the course of five weeks. I decided I’d earned myself a reward.
So I loaded up the blender with strawberries, bananas, peanut butter, a little ice cream, and milk…
And this was the tasty result…
Up early today because I have to head over to the Soonchunghwan hospital to get some blood work done. Tomorrow I have my follow-up visit with the cardiologist. I’m expecting good things.
Time to get on with it.
