Namsan Seoul Tower and Luxurious Shopping

Today is my last in Seoul before taking KTX express train to PyeongChang for the next phase of volunteer training. My agenda included an early gym workout, followed by healthy protein breakfast. Selections included Asian beef tartare with quinoa and marinated vegetable salad, vegetable and chicken udon bowl, cucumber and mint juice, and coffee - all were excellent!

Off to explore Myeong Dong and Shinsegae Duty-Free Department Store, 13 floors of luxury shopping with some of the World's most recognizable brands. Tourists enjoy duty-free shopping and package delivery as evidenced by queues upstairs. Window shopping suits me fine!

Next stop was Namsan Seoul Tower accessible via winding foot trail and thrilling cable car to the peak of Namsan Mountain. The site is part of the original beacotn mounds and protective city walls patrolled by trusted guards of the Joseon Dynasty. Today, re-enactors lit one of the beacon mounds, representing Bongsu, or alerting the walled city of approaching enemies sending smoke signals in the daytime and lighting watch fires at night. Another re-enactor displayed Samurai swordsmanship, gracefully slicing bamboo into segments. 

The plaza at Seoul Tower includes several attractions for visitors of all ages, including observation deck, snack and coffee bars, game rooms, Hanbok experience and MANY great photo ops gazing at the Han River and massive city skyline. Couples bring or purchase colorful locks which they inscribe with romantic messages and then lock on the fence or pyramidal "trees", leaving one key at the Tower. 

I enjoyed interacting with a Korean aunt and her niece, who asked permission to practice English language skills. We joked about dress and customs and our shared travel experiences. These Koreans planned to visit Itaewon, a neighborhood popular with ex-pats, so they wore "urban hip" outfits! 

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Expedia video tour of Namsan Seoul Tower

Exploring by foot, I chose to walk down historic streets from Namsan Mountain to the shopping district in Namdaemun. There is much to see as evening approaches and vendors open carts to sell grilled food, fruits and novelties. Crowds gather to try handheld delicacies, including savory or sweet pancakes, egg toast, baked or twisted and fried potatoes, lobster tail with cheese, pouches of pomegranate juice and small cinnamon donuts. I ventured upstairs through a narrow doorway for spicy octopus and vegetables grilled to order at my table - piquant and delicious!