Because you must go through a canal in order to get to the port itself, we were late getting in. This makes it a mess as the tours all go out at the same time. And Korea inspects all your hand luggage and bags. So it is a slow process.
I found out the canal is in place in order to keep the port free from tidal changes.
We gathered for our tour and sat with Millie while waiting for our tour to be called. I tour was "Seoul Highlights and Traditional Korean Lunch". The drive to Seoul takes about one hour. Our first stop was to Gyeongbokgung. This is a palace revered as possibly the greatest in all of South Korea. It was constructed in 1395 by the Joseon Dynasty and later restored in 1867. It is the largest of the Five Grand Palaces that the dynasty built. The name translates to "Palace of Shining Happiness". Included on the grounds are numerous pavilions, gardens, ponds, bridges and courts covering over 419,000 meters (about 100 acres).
Inside the grounds is this ceremonial drum. Lots of bright colors.
This is the inside of the front gate. We passed through this gate to watch the changing of the guards.
The palace is located in the center of Seoul. But from this picture, it looks like it is in the country.
Just another view of the palace.
We got to watch the changing of the guard.
Before they change, you area allowed to have your picture taken with the guard. They are not the happiest persons on the earth. But Miie took our picture with the one guard.
They do not look happy. But it is a job.
At the front gate, they change the guards about once an hour. We all had to stand back.
And the guards that were taking their place came out and then they were inspected by the head guard.
I think this is the head guard. Not a happy guy. But he does his job.
The head guard from each shift bow to each other. A nice ceremony.
And do you like the feathers on their hats.
Inside the palace this is the view down the sides of the palace.
We then walked over to the National Folk Museum of Korea. It contains lots of artifacts focusing on Korean life from prehistoric time to the end of the Joseon Dynasty in 1910.
Outside the museum they have the signs of the zodiac. Aiden is the year of the Monkey.
And Pop Pop and Mon Mom are the year of the sheep.
And this is just some more of the palace area.
While we were walking around the grounds, we lost one man. So our guide went back with his wife and left the rest of us on our own. But they finally found the man and met up with the rest of us.
Next we drove to the place where we had lunch. They kept bringing dishes for us to try. I enjoyed what I did eat but did not try some of the dishes as they were uncooked fish or too spicy.
This is where we ate lunch.
And at the end of the lunch, this is the leftover.
As we waited for our bus, we realized we were right next to the American Embassy. The American Flag was flying but when we took the picture, it was just hanging there. And it is guarded on the outside by Korean Police.
Next we stopped at Insadong Antique Street which was a shopping stop. And the final stop was to the Cheonghyecheon Stream which I elected to skip. Then the hour drive back to the ship.
While we were walking around the Palace, we met a couple from Jacksonville and Amelia Island. And another couple seem to know people who live in Plantation but I did not know them.
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