Deoksungung Palace

The second place we visited last night was Deoksungung Palace which was used as a temporary palace sometime in the 1500s (I think) during the Jeseong Dynasty.  It was used off and on as a palace after that time as well.  The recent construction there was done around 1900.  We really liked the area there was to walk around there and the fact that there were lots of trees and trails to walk (especially considering that this is right across the street from City Hall in downtown Seoul).

Starting our walk through the palace (Alden was actually awake for this)

 This was the entrance to the palace. (Oh, the entrance fee for this place was about 1000 won, which is less than $1 per person)

This was the Throne Hall.

 Looking inside the Throne Hall

They keep the outside of the Throne Hall painted very nicely as shown in these pictures while the inside is really faded. (Look at the pictures above)

 These statues were everywhere with signs saying not to climb on them.

 The outsides of buildings were all really elaborately painted.  Drew liked the giant doors meant to scare enemies off...

Nice areas to walk in the shade.

A very old bell...

 Alden had fun here!

 This is actually a Korean Museum of Art but it wasn't open while we were there.

 Drew says he just can't make his face look normal in pictures...

The back of the Throne Hall

 We are pretty sure these were some kind of living quarters.

There were pretty little trails that you could walk. 

 This was a leisure area where people would play games, visit and relax.

 This was a squarish courtyard that looked like a lot of living quarters.

There was this little pond that you could walk around.

This is City Hall located on Seoul Plaza.