"We're almost there (Take 2)"

Sunday morning we were there when the doors of the Seoul Museum of Art opened and spent the next two hours wondering through the new Rodin exhibit. The Thinker, The Kiss, Burghers of Calais, two floors, two cargo jets, fifteen tons, - all originals - brought to Seoul for a 6 month exhibit. What an unexpected opportunty!

Seoul Museum of Art
Then, with Alice leading the way, another 6 mile hike along the stream that runs through part of Seoul, through the city, hunting for birdseed for Alice and an arch support insert for Doug. ( Why do we do these things???) After a much longer hike than we imagined, (even Alice's feet hurt) we met with sucess at the end of the stream. Trudging back until our feet gave out, we gave up and finally hired a cab to bring us home.

Downtown Seoul

Buildings landscaping

Modern buildings

Changing of guard at Gyeonghulgung Palace

This stream,which runs through the city of Seoul, became the place where immigrants from rural Korea set up the shacks in which they lived and small markets and businesses. The stream became so polluted and the area so slum-like, the government forced everyone to leave, raised the "buildings", filled in the stream, and built a freeway over it. Twenty years ago, leaders, thinking environmentally and green, took a look at the city, decided they needed green space and areas for the populace to walk and relax, destroyed the freeway, uncovered the stream, and built miles of lovely walkways and picnic areas alongside it. It's fabulous! Certain sections have lazer light shows at night and families, couples, tourists, and basically anyone wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city (3 times the size of New York City), head for the walkways that were once the freeway they drove on.

Cheonggyecheon stream 1900s

Stream being covered in 1950s

Stream covered by highway

Cheonggyecheon stream today

Walk along the stream (

Start of the stream in downtown Seoul

Fashion district along the stream

Seoul urban development along the stream

Dongdaemun shopping district

Dongdaemun clothing stores

Need shoes?

Seoul East Gate in 1880s

East gate today

Roof in east gate arch

Stone wall around east gate

East Gate

Monday morning, Alice went back to work, I visited the three first grade classrooms at SFS, and by noon Doug and I were on the KTX speeding through the countryside heading for Daejeon. Thanks Alice! What a terrific weekend!