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Type Two Fun - “Funning” Seoul City Wall

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  Monday, September 2, 2024   Chris and I had one goal today … just not matching goals. I’m determined to complete the six sections of Seoul’s City Wall - all in one shot. Chris is referring to it as our “fun run” (aka funning) so I know secretly he is excited. Since we are on vacation, I’m labeling this “Type Two Fun,” defined as fun in hindsight but not in the moment, but for me it was absolutely Type One Fun and the kind of adventure I love adding to my travels!   In good shape from marathon training, my only concern about completing the challenge was the hot weather. We are so lucky that the weather is only 74 degrees today, dropping 15 degrees from the past few days. Some of the trail is shaded but the other parts are equally in direct sun. And for once I was welcoming cloud cover!   If you are thinking about doing the Seoul City Wall in its entirety, I’d say it’s a cross between the hikes to Upper Yosemite Falls (for the 3,500 feet elevation gain) a...
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The Forgotten War - Seoul Museums

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Sunday, September 1, 2024   During our family trip around the United States in 2009, in Washington DC, Jeremy and I were most stirred by the Korean War Memorial and its message “freedom is not free.” Today - on the actual land where it all took place - we are seeking to understand the complexities of Korean history, the forgotten war, and the ongoing conflict and fragile peace that continues to persist.   Sandwiched between WWII and the Vietnam War, the Korean War is often referred to as the forgotten war because comparatively it received relatively little public attention.   Korea’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separates North Korea from South Korea. It is the strip of land spanning the Korean peninsula where military activity is not permitted by the armistice agreement of the Korean War signed on July 27, 1953.   While US citizens cannot travel in, to, or through North Korea, a tour of the JSA (Joint Security Area) used to be the only way to technically ste...
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Insadong, Gangnam, Bongeunsa Temple and Han River

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  Saturday, August 31, 2024   Wondering around Seoul allows for a casual itinerary, giving time to start my day with a run along Cheonggyecheon.   Cheonggyecheon’s walkways, footbridges, and greenery are a popular escape from the urban traffic and commotion.   Seoul has everything! They even have a piece of the Berlin Wall!   Having been plagued by a lack of open eateries for breakfast in Korea, we took advantage of the free ramen from our hotel - with its fancy ramen cooker.   Our morning activity was to stroll through Insadong, a trendy artistic neighborhood in Seoul. We walked along Insadong Culture Street with its touristy souvenirs and spiraled through the offbeat Ssamziegil four-story open air shopping mall. I managed to find a unique handmade hanji paper lamp to add to my collection of travel memoirs.   Before leaving Myeongdong, we committed to checking our luggage for the flight home by buying some skin products from Ol...
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