For summer vacation I decided I should try to see more of Korea while I'm still here. After the mud festival we headed down to Gyeongju. Gyeongju was capital of Korea, during the Silla Kingdom in the 7th to 9th centuries. Though a lot has been destroyed, there is still much to see. 
The most prominent being the tombs that are scattered within and around the city. 
Some are small, but some are quite large. According to a poster near the tombs, Tumuli numbers 90-114, and 151-155 (numbered during Japanese occupation) are earthen mounds. Larger ones have wooden chambers covered in stone and then earth while smaller tombs don't have mounds. 
One of the tombs that has been excavated, the Cheonmachong, (Heavenly Horse Tomb, named after ) is open to the public. The parks containing the tombs are quite large. Near the tombs there is a small forest. Inside used to be Banwolseong (Castle of the Crescent Moon). The only thing left is the Seokbinggo (a stone ice house) which has been rebuilt. 
Nearby is Cheomseongdae, which is the oldest astrological observatory in East Asia. 
Across from the main road we went to Anapji pond. 
It was made in 674 by King Munmu. 
The buildings burnt down in 935. The pond and 3 of the buildings were repaired and rebuilt in 1975 and many relics were found buried in the pond. From there we headed over to the Gyeongju National Museum. 
I love museums. I hated studying modern history in high school but I do love ancient and archaeological history.
I think I started to make Zak crazy as every time I saw lotus flower pondseverywhere (lotus crops?) I would have to stop to take pictures. ESPECIALLY when a crane (the national animal of Korea) landed in one.
Once back in the downtown area it was already well past lunch time and we were starving. We found an excessively cute (just my style) sandwich shop just off the main shopping street. It wasn't too expensive and the food and drinks were great. :) Definitely a possibility for another lunch. 
For dinner we found a nice little (sort of) Italian restaurant (also excessively cutesy) near the main shopping street near our hotel. Not too bad. The food was good but the house wine was one that I would probably use in cooking rather than drinking if I ever opened it at home.
The most prominent being the tombs that are scattered within and around the city. 
Some are small, but some are quite large. According to a poster near the tombs, Tumuli numbers 90-114, and 151-155 (numbered during Japanese occupation) are earthen mounds. Larger ones have wooden chambers covered in stone and then earth while smaller tombs don't have mounds. 
One of the tombs that has been excavated, the Cheonmachong, (Heavenly Horse Tomb, named after ) is open to the public. The parks containing the tombs are quite large. Near the tombs there is a small forest. Inside used to be Banwolseong (Castle of the Crescent Moon). The only thing left is the Seokbinggo (a stone ice house) which has been rebuilt. 
Nearby is Cheomseongdae, which is the oldest astrological observatory in East Asia. 
Across from the main road we went to Anapji pond. 
It was made in 674 by King Munmu. 
The buildings burnt down in 935. The pond and 3 of the buildings were repaired and rebuilt in 1975 and many relics were found buried in the pond. From there we headed over to the Gyeongju National Museum. 
I love museums. I hated studying modern history in high school but I do love ancient and archaeological history.
I think I started to make Zak crazy as every time I saw lotus flower pondseverywhere (lotus crops?) I would have to stop to take pictures. ESPECIALLY when a crane (the national animal of Korea) landed in one.
Once back in the downtown area it was already well past lunch time and we were starving. We found an excessively cute (just my style) sandwich shop just off the main shopping street. It wasn't too expensive and the food and drinks were great. :) Definitely a possibility for another lunch. 
For dinner we found a nice little (sort of) Italian restaurant (also excessively cutesy) near the main shopping street near our hotel. Not too bad. The food was good but the house wine was one that I would probably use in cooking rather than drinking if I ever opened it at home.
The pizzas are all thin crust, made it a big wood fired brick oven and are served on wooden platters. I've been there 3 times now and loved it every time. Can't go too often, though, as it doesn't help the budget.
Insalata Mista - Mixed Seasonal Salad and Fresh Tomato (8,000 Won): Not bad. The dressing and vegetables were slightly different each time.
They have Canada Dry GingerAle, though a bit pricy. For some reason, it isn't very easy to find here. When ever I think of it, I am reminded of Egypt, though. When ever I told anyone in Egypt that I was Canadian, the first thing they said was "Canada Dry Never Die". Strange that in the entire 3 months that I spent there, I only saw it once, at one little hole in the wall convenience store.
Pizza Vegetariana - green peppers, mushrooms, black olives, onions, fresh spinach, mozzarella, tomato sauce (18,000 Won): excellent.
Mousse al Cioccolato e Cioccolato Bianco - Chocolate Mousse with White Chocolate: When it first came out, I was thinking "It is SO SMALL!!!" It is not cheap, but it is SO worth it. It is quite rich, so anything bigger would have been too much.