|
|
Day
10 (October 4, 2023) Seoul: Namsan
Before
This will be the first day that we can dedicate entirely to
the
main tourist sites in Seoul. The normal thing would be that, taking
advantage of the fact that we have most of the main attractions of the
city within a walk from the hotel, we would first complete the closest
ones and, likely, visit a palace.
The spots marked at map are:
0- Thomas Hotel Myeongdong
1- Seoul Station
2- Deoksugung Palace
3- Sungnyemun Gate
4- Namsan Cable Car
5- Seoul Tower
6- Namsangol Hanok Village
|
After
As yesterday we went to bed late today we're waking up late too.
Between one thing and another we left for the nearby City Hall square
around noon. In that square is located the stop for bus 172, which is
the one that will take us to Changgyeonggung Palace. But when we arrive
we find it closed.
We look for the reason along with the other people who
arrive and are surprised by the same thing, including locals, until we
find a message saying that exceptionally this week they were opening on
Tuesday - the day the palaces close each week - and closing on
Wednesday. This is probably due to that exceptional holiday that has
been bothering us and, although it is already finished, it continues to
do so.
We have to change our plans and take a bus to Gyeongbokgung
Palace. It's 1 PM and we could be there for the changing of the guard
at 2 PM. When we arrive, the popular and impressive main gate is on
works and there is a map with the route to the side where the temporary
entrance is located.
We get inside the palace grounds among a multitude of couples
dressed in traditional costume taking photos next to the wall until we
reach what was supposed to be the entrance, which we find also closed.
 
Again, a small message informs that it is closed today for
the same reason as the other palace. It already seems bad to me that no
one knows about this change, as pointed by the number of locals
dressing hanbok (entrance to the palace is free if you are dressed like
that), but at least they could have said it at the main gate and not
made us walk through the entire provisional route to finding it out.
With our plans for today wasted, we walk down Gwanghwamun Square
looking for two things: either a hair salon for Eva or a place to eat.
We find the second in a restaurant specializing in spaghetti. I order
them Vongole and Eva Fruti di mare which, as expected from such a
specialized place, do not disappoint.
There they give us indications for a hair salon close to the
City Hall Square that turns out to be closed. Google maps points us to
another one nearby, next to the Natural History Museum, which results
to be perfect
I leave Eva there and take a walk and find a franchise I didn't
know about: Popeyes. I've heard great things about Korean fried
chicken, so I order a couple of pieces with a Coke while I wait to pick
up Eva. It's exquisite. It's not just the batter, but the chicken meat
is boneless and tender, it melts in your mouth, making a spectacular
whole. I will repeat without a doubt.
 
While I go to pick up Eva it starts to rain, as the
weather forecast already announced. We return to the hotel between
showers. Since I've decided to visit at least one place from our list
today and the forecast points that it will stop raining soon, I leave
with the raincoat towards Mount Namsan, which is close to the hotel.
I arrive at the cable car terminal and pay 14,000 won for
the round trip. When I get to the top, it has stopped raining and I
still have enough light to photograph the entire area full of colorful
padlocks. Unlike other places in the world, here they encourage couples
to leave locks and even leave metal sculptures for this purpose,
creating a unique landscape.
I complete the visit around the entire complex, but
I do not go up to the tower because the low clouds make it clear that I
would not see anything, in addition to being expensive: 21,000 won.
When the night falls the city lights up and the
clouds clear up, allowing me to enjoy the views of Seoul at night.
Shortly after, I take the cable car back down to begin the return to
the hotel.
We will still go out for a while to our usual night market
where we will get some takoyakis and natural pomegranate juice.
|
|
|
|
