Continuing with the unchronological recounting of our round the world trip, up next is our first stop, Seoul. We spent a whopping one night and two days there but we packed about as much in as we could with a 4-year-old and infant in tow. Being out of the humidity certainly helped in that regard.
We visited lots of old palaces and their complexes, mostly made of wood, with some stone, and situated seamlessly in natural green surroundings.
(Palace gate)
(Traditional drum)
(Us with guy in traditional outfit)
(Traditionally-dressed soldier)
(Traditionally-dressed soldiers marching)
(Palace roof)
(Lion on palace steps)
(700-year-old bell)
(Western portion of palace grounds)
(Arborway)
(Palace grounds)
(Unpainted palace)
(More unpainted palace--good wood!)
(Peekaboo!)
(Eliana in gateway)
(Trees on palace grounds)
(Palace grounds)
(Palace roof detail)
(Eliana taking a break)
(Double-tiered palace)
(Monkey gargoyles on the roof)
(Stone courtyard)
(Samantha and Eliana through doorway)
(Palace doorway)
(Royal bed with inlaid mother of pearl)
(Palace grounds)
(Palace doorway)
(Palace doorway)
(Samantha and Eliana)
(Samantha in doorway)
(Palace paper doors)
(Eliana trying to get a coin on top)
(Palace roof detail)
(Eliana vamping at palace)
(Izaak and Shane in doorway)
(On a bridge)
Walked around downtown.
(New City Hall)
(Eliana and fountain)
(Eliana and windmills)
(Walking over stepping stones on manmade, saltlake river through downtown)
(River and tilework)
(Overview of river)
(Street scene)
Checked out the streets of the Insadong neighborhood, which has great arts and antiques shops as well as narrow winding alleyways.
(Eliana in front of tiled mural)
(Insadong alleyway)
(Insadong shop--no idea what's in the bags)
(Old man handpainting fans)
(Insadong alleyway)
We also rode their subway, perhaps the most comprehensive system we had ever seen.
Checked out a traditional Korean village, in the middle of the big city.
And then, after all of that sightseeing, let the kids unwind at the airport before leaving for the States.
