Howdy, we’re just back to the hotel after a 2-hr walk around downtown Seoul this morning. Not much other than street cleaning is happening at 6:30 in the morning! We did get to see some of the surrounding mountains, the entrance to Gyeongbok-Gung Palace, the highly guarded US Embassy, and Insa-Dong (small market). We finally found an open shop, a little Korean mom+pop restaurant with no English signs anywhere, for breakfast: kim-chi in sushi-like rolls, miso, and radish….all for ~$4! We then searched for a coffee shop for Pam and learned that all shops on whatever street we are currently walking open at least 30 mins past the current time! Near the hotel, we found a “AngelsInUs” coffee shop where the vanilla latte cost ~$5. Ah the irony.

We’re meeting our friend Kim Yoon-Soo and his wife in ~1 hr and will likely spend the day with them exploring Namsan Park, Seoul Tower, and a palace. Hopefully we will wear ourselves out today and sleep well tonight….We meet Maya tomorrow!