Week 33: Bukchon Hanok Village and my first visitor!

 

Marina, from Sweden, visited Seoul while on a business trip in Korea for Kognity. We wandered around Bukchon Hanok Village together on the evening of March 24, and caught up about life since her last visit with me at the Huntington Gardens in Los Angeles. We were gifted with blooming magnolia trees, and a few early cherry trees. We had a lovely walk followed by a Korean barbecue dinner. This was the very beginning of my spring break and it was a nice way to spend some time off from school. You can tell that I look happy and relaxed. 

 








We caught the golden hour along the hills of this village in the middle of Seoul. The Bukchon Hanok Village is a series of about 900 traditional houses dating from the Joseon dynasty (many of them inhabited by businesses and residents) in the area between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace. I have passed this street several times but had never ventured into the neighborhood, so it was as new to me as it was to Marina. 

There are some lovely views of Namsan Tower from the Bukchon hills. We happened upon a large crowd waiting at the top of a narrow street for the sun to set behind the tower. 
 
Azaleas and forsythia were starting to bloom along with the cherries and magnolias. Lots of visitors try to get to Korea in time for this blooming season. 
  

Spring break technically started on March 22 at 3:30pm. I caught the Elementary School Play that afternoon (Peter Pan! Such a great show) and then helped with the high school Casino Night (had to learn to deal Blackjack). Hailie and I had some incredible ramen at a little restaurant in Wyrie after the casino night was over. And that last week of school before the break was beautiful on campus...lots of magnolia tree blossoms and early azaleas. 
  

I did not make a video for this week. If you are interested in a video about Bukchon then plan a visit and let's make one together! I did have a lot of fun shopping in that area. Many cute artsy stores in Bukchon. 

Gyeongju spring break trip coming up in a few days. I am sure that one will rate a video. 


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