Harajuku Cafe

Last week I went with My Bish (Abigail Flores) and her sister and her friends to the European Christmas Market. When you're an expat in a generally non-Christmassy country, you look for events and activities to provoke that holiday spirit and this looked like it was measured to size. Took the #143 trunk bus to Hyehwa and then took the subway to Hansung Dae station (I know we could've taken the bus all the way to Hansung Dae station but I was following, not leading.) Right out of the exit was the market  straddled between one block and the other on the river overpass. Maybe fifteen yards at the most, with a small stage , a few pedestal tables, and the booths. The massive expanse of nine booths and yes, you read that correctly. Nine. As in "before ten" and "after eight". So tiny. I wasn't really hungry but I thought there would be a variety of beer and some lovely Christmas spirits available. Sadly only one booth had beer and another had spiced wine, and none of the remaining seven had any spirits at all. Two booths had some non-consumable items for sale, nutcrackers and cookies. What should've been a market was really more like a small mini-stop. I know that reads redundant but if you took a mini-stop, reduced it, and then filled it with a dozen Europeans serving food, you would have the correct ambiance. When we were on the far end, Maria told Bish that she was going to walk around the market again and the Bish said "See you in three minutes." No hyperbole whatsoever.

Here is the view as you exited the station.

Here is the view from the other end.

Like the euro, this market has fallen on hard times. The market was sponsored by the Global Village and it looks like they spent a lot of money with tents, stage, and Christmas tree, but I think they could've spent the money better elsewhere. The food, with reports of it being tasty, was overpriced and small, with most items being 4000 won. Here's my Bish with her sandwich:

As you can see, that's an awfully small sandwich with the only love being some spicy mustard. Here is Naomi with her lentils and hunk of bread:

The lentils and sausage was also 4000 won but with no bread.

That photo was taken before Maria (one of Bish's friends) started eating. Four ounces of lentil soup, three ounces of Italian sausage, 4000 won. The pleasure of ripping off tourists and expats desperate for a little slice of home--PRICELESS!

Afterwards we went to the Philippine market that is on every Sunday in Hyehwa. Big plate of pancit and lumpia shanghai for 4000 won, Much better pricing for street food. Of course you have the odd things that come in the Philippine market.

Me: Is this sausage longanisa?

Woman: It's chorizo.

(I start to walk away)

Woman: But the sausage becomes longanisa.

Me: What do you mean?

Woman: When we make it, it's chorizo but after you wait, it becomes longanisa.

(yeah, right)