You can't get away from people in this city! It was really muggy today, and the sky was threatening rain, so I figured I could return to that little park that I found last week and actually go inside this time. I was hoping that the weather would ward off any other visitors and I would have the place to myself. Not so much. It turned out to be a beautiful day, and the place was swarming with tourists (including a Japanese tourist group that blocked the whole path at one point).
Still, I'm glad I went. It was gorgeous. The park contains the tombs of three Joseon-dynasty rulers, and they're pretty cool-looking.
This is as close as I could get. I was surprised; these tombs are the main attraction here and they don't even let you get a good angle on them. Still, I suppose it's more about preserving the historical sites than letting every tourist get a perfect shot.
These eight-foot guys in front of the burial mound seem to serve the same purpose as the little versions I saw at the museum last week. They have scholars and soldier guarding each tomb to protect both the mind and body. But the statues I saw before were little, worn, snowman-looking dudes with buggy eyes and big sleeves. These guys were a little more impressive.
I also just sat for a while and enjoyed the view. The cherry blossoms are all in bloom, and a few petals were drifting down from the canopy. There were lots of benches around, and people having picnics. Even though it was crowded, it was really peaceful.
I wonder why it is "normal" to visit the tombs of the long dead, but feels so weird to visit the grave sites of those recently gone.
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