Itaewon Cherry Popped!

So, the night before I didn't go to bed until 3:30~ ish. I didn't wake up until 1:44 pm-- so I was passed out a good ten hours. We were planning on leaving for Itaewon at 2pm, but we actually didn't leave until around 4:30pm. Then, it rained cats and dogs. Of course.
We grabbed a taxi (our taxi driver was so nice and talked with us throughout the ride) and we were off to Itaewon.

Bridge over Han River

Han River on the dreariest day ever T_T

Baseball Stadium

Olympic Stadium

I imagine these steps lead to a temple or a mountain summit landmark

High Rises- the view of choice in Korea

Our awesome amazing taxi driver~!

 Dreary day... well, I tried to get a shot of the bridge T_T

View of Itaewon!

We've arrived!
Itaewon is an experience, because you no longer feel like you're in Korea. All the staff speak English or are used to dealing with people who don't speak Korean, the clientele are foreigners, and you are completely transported back home, which is nice. If I ever feel homesick, this is the place to go. I saw a fucking Outback Steakhouse in Itaewon. What?! Crazy town.

Paul left us to go drink while Dawn, Louise, and I went to the Green Turtle salon/spa to get waxed. We then left to go to the Wolfhound Irish Pub. 
Green Turtle Salon

A line out of Taco Bell? o.o

Alley down towards the Wolfhound Pub

After drinking a couple of rounds of beer, Louise and I decided to go get something to eat. Afterwards, we decided to go sightseeing.
Itaewon at night. I took a picture of things that I thought were funny or interesting...
Itaewon is a place that proves that although you may be in Korea, you are actually not far from a little piece of home. 

The body shop in Itaewon

Major boulevard in Itaewon... the left

and the right.

Helios is an awesome bar.

Found a Canadian tavern

American and Korean flags flying together in the wind...

This hotel used to be a very seedy love hotel. But it renovated and completely transformed into a really posh place. Out front they had a cool sculpture that I just had to take a picture of.

"Horse Riding Tae Kwon V"

Also, some beautiful stained glass windows. The stained glass looks better in person than in this photo ^^"

The Grand Ole Opry

Itaewon building and signage

More signage and neon lights

Ireland Yuki Bar--- this is a really cool bar. Their drinks are super pricey though~~

Welcome to Itaewon sign~

A Seoul Pub right above England...

Roll

All-American Diner and Starbucks

Rollin Sushi~!

Mexican and Austrian restaurants

Back to the Wolfhound Pub...

Hand dryer... you stick your hands down into the space and it dries your hands. Very nifty.

We leave the Wolfhound and head towards another bar that Paul likes to frequent. We had to walk up Hooker Hill to get there. It's called "Hooker Hill" because the streets are lined with brothels, even though at first glance they looked like bars. 

Paul walked on ahead of us so that we could see what the street was really like. Girls stood in open doorways and when they saw Paul, they would try to tempt him inside. However, when they saw us (girls), the opaque, tinted doors were slamming left and right.

Finally, we arrived at the bar.  Paul knows the owner really well and his name escapes me....

Also met a nice army guy there... group photo! Me in the back ^^"

Next, we decide to head to the Ireland Yuki bar. Paul really likes the one in Hongdae, but we decided to check out this locale too. To get there, we have to walk down these ridiculously steep steps. You can't tell from the picture, but the railings are covered with huge ropes of twinkling lights.

Also, at the top of these steps is a really nice jimjabang (public bath/sauna house).

For a really cheap price, they give you a bed for the night as well as access to the baths and saunas.

As we were walking toward Ireland Yuki, the wind was wicked crazy insane. The trees were practically bent in half from the wind. A typhoon was supposed to hit a few days before this, but it never came and we all thought that it missed us. But, it just came late. It really stormed that night... but I digress.

 We've arrived!

bartenders!

Dancing to that techno beat!

This concludes my first night in Itaewon~!