Hello, this is Aina Cafe in Ganghwa.

It's a cool but warm Saturday.

It rained briefly this morning, but it cleared up so much that I hardly noticed; it felt like the perfect weather for an outing. Of course it was hot during the day so I couldn't think of going out, but with the days getting longer, heading out in the late afternoon still felt perfectly enjoyable.

Last time I visited a cafe in the city or one in a mountain valley; this time I came to see the sea itself. Although it opened some time ago, it's still a relatively new cafe. From photos it didn't attract me, and I thought I'd go when I had time, but after visiting I strongly felt that it's important to see and feel a place in person rather than just relying on photos.

Even when I arrived it felt spacious but I couldn't sense the atmosphere, yet once I went inside I found the first floor, including the outdoor area, roomy and the second floor itself very large, so it was quite pleasant to enjoy. What felt fresh was that there were separate spots for couples and for quiet reflection.

On the first floor, sitting outside gives the best view of the sea, and most of the second floor has floor-to-ceiling windows with a good view. Today the tide timing matched, so I was able to have a cup of coffee while watching the sea — I was lucky.

It's been a while since I drove out to Ganghwa Island, but it seems to be a place that satisfies the need for a refreshing drive. There are enough cafes that, if I worked nearby, it would be nice to skip work and enjoy them.