When I’m not out climbing mountains I’m climbing the stairs.  In a nod to better physical fitness I’ve eschewed the escalators in subway stations.  Which may not seem like much, but it is more than I’ve done in the past and damn, by the time I get to the top at Itaewon Station the heart is definitely pumping.  Up and down twice or more a day (plus the walk to and from my destination) adds up I reckon.

196 steps from the platform to the street at Itaewon. The photo is the downward view. I started to take a pic from the bottom but thought folks might think I was a pervert looking for an upskirt. But this gives you a good idea of what a steep climb it truly is…

Anyway, my destination last night was Dolce Vita Pub for the dart tourney.  Before things got started I was talking to a guy I hadn’t met before.  Turns out he’s a half-Korean, retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major, who lives in Huntsville, AL.  He’s back in Korea for a few weeks to visit with his Korean family.  Interesting guy for sure and we made some plans to hook up for darts when we are both back in the states.  In an odd quirk of fate we drew up as partners for the tourney and played our way through some tough matches to take the first place money.  And had a lot of fun doing it.

That’s my new friend J.R. on the left…

It was a Good Friday indeed!