Travel South Korea: Seoul – First impressions

First impressions- lush greenery. The sticky heat. The gloomy grey sky.

As we travel from Icheon to Seoul the impressions are that this is a city of contrast and change.

It is far more western that I imagined.

The apartments along the highway are identical and hideously ugly. Scattered between stretches of apartments are some farms growing I am not sure what. Maybe some cabbage for kimchi?

There is a beautifully wide and long river which I will later find out is hugely important and a series of mountains within lies the heart of Seoul.

There are some tremendously high skyscrapers – too similar to be of interest. As we make our way to our hotel in the art hub of Insadong it is clear that the city is making an effort to give beauty back to the city. Paved winding roads with limited cars. The interesting cement, brick, steel and green facades and the numerous cafés, eateries and craft shops lining the streets. I look forward to discovering this city in more intricate detail tomorrow.