After we got back to the hotel, we rested for a few hours because everyone was tired from traveling. Once we had some time to relax, we exchanged money and got ready for our first full day in Seoul. We also met our tour guide, Ester, who helped us learn how to get around and explained more about the places we were visiting.
One of the first places we visited was Gyeongbokgung Palace. Seoul was extremely pretty, and the palace was one of the first places where I really noticed that. It was interesting to see the traditional buildings and learn more about Korean history. We also got to see the changing of the guard, which made the visit feel even more special. It was cool to see the traditional uniforms, the ceremony, and how much history was connected to the palace. One of the funniest parts was that my friend Dominic is short, so I had to put him on my shoulders so he could actually see the changing of the guard.
After the palace, we walked through multiple markets that had a lot of different foods, souvenirs, and small trinkets. It was a fun way to see more of the city and experience what everyday life in Seoul feels like. I also thought it was cool to see how different cultures and places innovate based on their needs. Seoul felt very modern, but it also had a lot of history and tradition mixed into the city.
We also rode the subway with Ester, which helped us understand how public transportation works in Korea. Later, when we tried to ride the subway by ourselves, we accidentally went the wrong direction, so that was definitely a learning experience. We also visited Bukchon Hanok Village, which was cool because of all the traditional Korean houses. I thought it was interesting that the village has a curfew for tourists because visitors can get too loud even though people still live there.
At the end of the day, my groupmates and I went out to dinner. I got a spicy chicken cutlet, and I thought I would be fine because I always believed I could handle spice pretty well. I was very wrong. That meal completely knocked my socks off, but it was still a funny and memorable way to end the first day. Overall, Day 1 was busy, tiring, and exciting, but it was a great introduction to Seoul.