We finally made it to Korea! After a grueling almost 24 hour journey that had us starting in Pittsburgh, travelling to Atlanta, and finally landing in Seoul, I am ecstatic to finally be here. From the minute we landed into the airport I could tell that this place would be so much more different than anything I have ever experienced. The calmness and order that was kept all the way from the airport, the streets we drove on, and the neighborhood our hotel is in was impressive to say the least. After putting our things away at the hotel we were off to start our first say in South Korea!
The first thing we did was eat breakfast near the hotel. This breakfast did not feel like breakfast however because of the time difference. I personally got a hot pork soup which did not disappoint for my first meal in Seoul. After some exploring we went on the subway which was very impressive since it was incredibly clean and well kept. This subway took us to the Gyeongbokgung Palace which is the Royal Palace. This was absolutely breathtaking and our amazing tour guide Jinny helped us learn so many interesting facts about the Palace and what used to go on there. One thing that we got to experience was the exchanging of the guards which was done with traditional uniforms and rituals. After exploring through the entre palace we made our way up to the Blue House which is basically the White House but in Korea. Once again I was taken aback by the architecture and sheer beauty of this place just like the Royal Palace. We ended our first day of activities at a large street market where we were able to eat some genuine Korean street food which tasted fantastic. Finally we were able to head back to the hotel to get some rest after a full day of activities and travel. Being exposed to all this amazing culture so early into our trip excites me for what we are going to see in the rest of our time here! Thanks for reading and I am looking forward to tomorrow!