We know, we know. All you really want to see is more pictures of our boy, but we have to wait one more day! In the meantime, here's some of us touring the city.
We took the Seoul City Bus Tour and enjoyed less complicated transportation instead of some combination of subway, bus, and walking! This tour took us directly to the sites we wanted to see along a preset route of 25 or so tourist hotspots. Each bus seat had a headset with audio guides for each stop in 5 different languages that automatically advanced as we drove. One thing we have really noticed is that Korea's technology is very advanced and ever present: fifty inch TV's in the subway, the advanced navigation system every car seems to have, and handheld TV's to pass time on the subway. Kevin even noticed we were getting 5 bars of service on the subway while we were moving! And amazingly enough they are so polite that when talking on the phone, they either whisper or talk with a hand covering their mouth so it is really quiet. Not like in the states where people seem to talk louder than normal on their cell phones with a regular chorus of, "Can you hear me now?"
Anyway, back to today. We started out at Deoksugung Palace and saw the changing of the guard ceremony (very cool!), checked out the National Museum of Korea (very big!), hiked up Mt. Namsan and went up the N Seoul Tower in the middle of the city, saw traditional Korean homes at the Namsangol Hanok Village, and ended the day with a bit of shopping along Insadong (a road with small flea-market style shops). I hit my max in Insadong with all the people, sights, and sounds. Kevin enjoyed all the shopping, but I was on sensory overload and needed a long subway ride back to our neighborhood to unwind! After a bit of food and some caffeine, all is well :)
Enjoy the pictures. Tomorrow we are off to find groceries, stamps, and a few more souvenirs before we get to take our son "home" (or at least to the guesthouse for a couple days before we really go home!).
We took the Seoul City Bus Tour and enjoyed less complicated transportation instead of some combination of subway, bus, and walking! This tour took us directly to the sites we wanted to see along a preset route of 25 or so tourist hotspots. Each bus seat had a headset with audio guides for each stop in 5 different languages that automatically advanced as we drove. One thing we have really noticed is that Korea's technology is very advanced and ever present: fifty inch TV's in the subway, the advanced navigation system every car seems to have, and handheld TV's to pass time on the subway. Kevin even noticed we were getting 5 bars of service on the subway while we were moving! And amazingly enough they are so polite that when talking on the phone, they either whisper or talk with a hand covering their mouth so it is really quiet. Not like in the states where people seem to talk louder than normal on their cell phones with a regular chorus of, "Can you hear me now?"
Anyway, back to today. We started out at Deoksugung Palace and saw the changing of the guard ceremony (very cool!), checked out the National Museum of Korea (very big!), hiked up Mt. Namsan and went up the N Seoul Tower in the middle of the city, saw traditional Korean homes at the Namsangol Hanok Village, and ended the day with a bit of shopping along Insadong (a road with small flea-market style shops). I hit my max in Insadong with all the people, sights, and sounds. Kevin enjoyed all the shopping, but I was on sensory overload and needed a long subway ride back to our neighborhood to unwind! After a bit of food and some caffeine, all is well :)
Enjoy the pictures. Tomorrow we are off to find groceries, stamps, and a few more souvenirs before we get to take our son "home" (or at least to the guesthouse for a couple days before we really go home!).
Kevin with the guard in front of one of the gates to Deoksugung Palace.
Changing of the guard ceremony.
The Royal "band" with drums, bugles, conch shells, and a rig of mini gongs.
The big drum announcing the changing of the guard.
Kevin in front of the 10-story Pagoda inside the National Museum of Korea.
Abbie in front of the entrance to Hanok Village (like Living History Farms or Naper Settlement for Korea).
N Seoul Tower from a distance.
Abbie in front of the old fortress wall at the base of N Seoul Tower.
Kevin on the observatory deck of N Seoul Tower, looking towards Chicago (and Iowa!).
Insadong Shopping District.
What adventures you have had! It sounds like so much fun! Enjoy your son the next few days at the guest house! I am so excited for you to "bring him home." Can't wait for more pictures of your precious little one!
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