Views over the city

Our weekend was subtitled view over the city. Giving the fact that we wanted to walk less we headed for the Namsan right from the morning. Bus #03 took us just infront of our hotel in Itaewon to the top of the hill in 20 minutes. No need for the cable car.

From the bus stop to the foot of the tower were just a few steps of hiking. All around the area were lookouts so you could enjoy the view over the city, if it is not too hazy. But in any case you can enjoy the best, as unblocked view from the observation platform inside of the tower. (We later met a weird American woman stepping out of, asking for someone who speaks English and asking us is it really worth going up the tower? Because of the view? I had a good view from the airplane already…)

But before going up the N Seoul Tower, we explored the surroundings. You could take pictures with people in traditional dresses, Joyce finally found the mascot of Seoul Haechi and of course there were uncountable possibilities for couples to hang around and show their bond. The whole couple thing is huge in Korea. We saw many couples in partnerlook (same shirt or shoes), a lot of holding hands, several holidays for couples (Christmas is a holiday for couples less for the family in Korea, when we arrived on the 14^th of March they celebrated White Day, on month after Valentine’s Day boys now give the girls white chocolate, flowers etc.) and the love letters at Ssamzigil Market. Now the area around the N Seoul Tower is full of the known padlocks. Trees made of padlocks, handrails full of padlocks and lover’s oaths. On top you can sit on lovers benches, benches which halfs are inclined to each other so people glide towards each other when sitting down.

A good deal anyway was the two people ticket that adds to soft drinks and a huge bucket of popcorn to the entrance for the tower for just 2.000 Won. After a quick tourist picture and just seconds in the elevator we got off at the observation deck. They should clean their windows someday but anyway the view was great. We had to wait a little for the smog to disperse so we could see at least the outskirts of Seoul. If you go down one floor, you do not just get signs for the different suburbs but little markings for the city wall and the temples.

After our easy stop at the N Seoul Tower we headed for more action to Dongdaemun. This weekend the Seoul Fashion Week took place at the exhibition center there. And all the fashion addicts gathered there, school girls looking for their idols, wannabes, newcomer models looking for their discovery, fashion blogger, photographer, fashion designer and their muses – and a few tourists as well. You could sit on the wall an just look at the excitement and crazy fashion statements for hours.  

 

 

 To end the day relaxed we headed for the Olympic Stadium and the parks that were built for the Olympic Games 1988. Around 300 steps lead you up to Haneul Park (Park of Heaven), which gives you another great view over the Han River and the City. You can see from the mountains on the west over the Stadium, the far away Namsan and N Seoul Tower to the parts south of the Han River. Until now this was the most tranquil place I found in the city – a must see if you want to come down for a while. There were only a few people and if you like there is a metal structure which you can climb on. This and the neighbor park are great for the sunset, but I have to admit I was freezing so I headed back for my last stop – dinner in Sangsu.

As a station on Line 6 you do not have to change trains to get to Hongdae, the buzzling students quarter around the Hongik University, just walk north from Sangsu station. There you can find a vast selection on low priced restaurants, Korean BBQ as well as some international restaurants, bars, clubs, Noraebang (Korean karaoke rooms), boutiques with diverse styles and good prices and a arts market on the weekend. Following the tipp of my German colleague Katharina, I tried the waffle with ice cream for unbeatable 1.000 Won (less than 1 Euro) from the Ajumma at the playground. All in all you will not find a lot of food stalls but I had some grilled meat that evening, too. And when we came back during the week they sold Korean pancakes (sweet and salty) and a whole fried squid around the main road.