This morning, the view outside my window was perfect. On days like this, the Han River Park gets packed before noon. I grabbed my bike and headed out to Han River, hoping to get a ride in before picnic mats spread over the bike paths.
Just the right amount of warmth from the sun,
a pleasantly gentle breeze,
bearable dust in the air,
and a bike that zooms effortlessly with each pedal. 🚴♂️
James Bay’s ‘Fade Out’ was the perfect soundtrack. I rode all the way to Hannam Bridge on repeat. Suddenly, a thought made me turn back, and the ride back felt like a tiresome chore, like when you abandon cooking because dragging out ingredients feels like too much. Feeling a bit blah, I took a breather on a bench and then pedaled back. On the way, I noticed an underpass leading to Seoul Forest from the riverside. Following it, I reached Ttukseom intersection, and there it was—Blue Bottle, like an unexpected rendezvous.
Paths always connect ends you never imagined.
In San Francisco, I often stumbled upon Blue Bottle while wandering. Near Patricia’s Green, I found one that was strictly for takeout, no seating. I sipped a sweet New Orleans on a garden wall out front, scrolling through Google Maps. Despite wandering around for ages, I never did find that second-hand record shop I wanted to visit. The Blue Bottle near Market Street was more established with cute merch that I couldn’t resist grabbing. It got me thinking—maybe Blue Bottle seeks out spots where people tend to get lost. 🤔
The Blue Bottle in Seongsu has shorter lines now than when it first opened. A woman sipped Starbucks while waiting in line, an oddly intriguing sight. I guess lining up could be a hobby. If that’s your thing, Seongsu on the weekend is the place to be, with several shops forming lines just within a block. You can pick your favorite queue. 😄
As I poked around alleys trying to get back to Han River Park, hunger struck. A café with wide-open windows caught my eye. Inside, I ordered coffee and browsed my usual forums on my laptop. Someone had posted, ‘It’s the weekend, I want to fall in love.’ Feeling inspired to cheer them up, I commented, ‘Monday’s just around the corner,’ right as my coffee was ready. ☕
The weather today is truly wonderful.
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