I have to start by saying that I made a huge mistake and I underestimated the beauty and the traveling potential of South Korea!!! I really haven't heard much about South Korea and it is not really in the "traveling map" of a lot of people.

Before going to South Korea of course I reached out to my friend Bianca for some advice since she has been living there for 13 years. She said that I could spend a year in South Korea but I know just how much she loves it so I settled for 10 days... HUGE HUGE HUGE mistake! South Korea is beautiful! It deserves twice that much time or even more but the good part is... I will be coming back for more!!!

After Busan I took a fast speed train all the way to Seoul and spent the next 6 days staying with Bianca, having fresh green smoothies (thanks to her awesome vitamix skills) every morning and eating fresh almond butter... I was in heaven!

First things first... Dinner...
Bianca cooked a delicious meal and made salad... ahhhh I missed salad and veggies so much! In Japan there was such a lack of fresh vegetables and they consider a salad a bed of cabbage with some shredded carrots on top and 5 pieces of corn... but now... it's fruit and veggies galore! I'm happy!

After eating dinner we went for a looooong walk around Seoul.

We started right outside of her door and walked through the wall of Seoul




Then we headed to the cute neighborhood where they had a subway banner with dolls from different countries and one can hold on to the ring and pretend you are on the subway!


The city is just so beautiful... It looks really modern but it also preserves a little bit of it's old charm.

Bianca told me that the mayor of Seoul is trying to make Seoul better and this stream, Cheonggyecheon stream,  that use to be dirty and covered with cement is now open  and is a new(ish) walking path and fun stroll in Seoul!

Then we headed a super fun and modern building. I was shocked! I did not expect this of Seoul, not at all!!!


They even have a garden of lit up roses... so pretty! (and I think they all use solar energy!)

We kept walking and ended up on the street that has tons and tons of street food! Everything looked so good but we were so full from dinner than we decided that we needed to come another night while hungry!





 Fruit that I can afford... yeay!

So many crazy looking food!




 Our last stop for the night was Namsan tower where we could see a beautiful view of Seoul... but somehow I don't have any pictures! haha


It was incredible to see the thousands and thousands of locks that have been left up there!



On the second day I went out an explored Seoul on my own since Bianca had to teach all day long. I started my day at Changdeokgung Palace and the secret garden. Just like Busan, all of the temples (or palaces) had beautiful colors and designs on them... I walked for hours looking around and taking pictures!

I noticed that many many many people (mostly girls) were wearing traditional dresses and last night Bianca had told me that if you rent a dress and walk around Seoul all dressed up the entrances to the main attractions are free! (I would rather pay the entrance fee!)










At the secret garden...




Later in the day I moved on to Gyeongbok Palace, the main royal palace of some dynasty in South Korea! (I'm not good with historical names or facts!)

I once again really enjoyed just walking through the palace's grounds and looking at all the little details of the architecture. My favorite part was to walk around and be able to see mountains all around! So pretty!

A Palace selfie :-p

Totally fake guards... for the tourists to take pictures!

At night I joined Bianca's friend on a night out on the town

The next day was the craziest sightseeing tour of Seoul.. Bianca and I walked pretty much from 9:30 am until 11pm at night... we were exhausted to say the least!

The day started beautifully once again with fresh green juice and almond butter... I feel like I want to live with Bianca forever!!!!

The first stop of the day was Bukchon, a traditional Korean village with beautiful roofs and stone streets!

An incarcerated Buddha! haha

Then we walked over to the SK's white house... the Blue House!


And walked to Gwanghwamum plaza with King Sejong and General Lee Sung-shin. The plaza was getting ready to celebrate Alphabet day!







From there we went to Geangjang market... Probably my favorite part of the day! Whatever involves food seems to always be my favorite!

There were so many options! Some good, some bad, and some plainly weird!!!




Most food in SK is pickled!!!


Here I am having bindebok (mung bean pancake)

This woman is selling some very black looking sausages!!!!

My delicious boribop lunch!

In the afternoon we walked along the Chonggyechon stream and took a well deserved rest from our walk by the water (and listened to a group of Korean ladies playing the weirdest little instruments)


In the late afternoon we took the subway and walked to Banpo Bridge.

Here I am in the very busy subway!


We got lucky with a beautiful sunset!

We then stopped by the floating islands...

 and took a look at the "Hello Artist" exposition, a super cool art expo that had moving paintings from different famous artists.



We got super lucky because on that day Seoul had fire works!!! and we were able to see them from the top floor in the museum and then from the street!

I also got to see the "rainbow bridge", a water show with lights that make it look like a rainbow. I think on the night I was there it was very windy and the colors weren't as strong but it was still a good experience.


Our day ended by going back to Myeondong, this time with a huge appetite, and eating lots of street food!







While in Seoul I also visited the war memorial and learned a little bit about SK painful past.