Sunday, April 4, 2010

Weekend 5 of 52.



Myeongdong Cathedral, Myeongdong shopping

Korrine suggested visiting Myeongdong Cathedral to coincide with Passover/Easter. I'm glad she did, because I don't think we would otherwise have thought to do it, but it was obviously completely appropriate. Myeongdong Cathedral was Korea's first parish and is the religion's most prominent Korean symbol. The Cathedral was consecrated in 1898 and includes a crypt and cultural center. We went on the first Spring-like day of the year. Yay.



We saw the sun and some bamboo in Myeongdong. Dan is so glad!


The alleys in Myeongdong are packed with shops, international chain stores and various local markets. These are overtly American Reeboks.


The steeple from an alley and then up close.


I don't know who this welcoming statue is but he welcomed us in.




Stained glass taken with my sort of broken lens, providing the halo.


I was sort of indiscriminately snapping pictures of things, and I ended up getting a picture of a crucifixion scene.


More stained glass.


Ceiling peaks. That's maybe my favorite part.


The altar and a Korean saint.


The altar. In the background the Apostles and the Grotto of the Blessed Mother.


More glass.


Korean hymnal.


The pipe organ is much bigger than you can see from any public vantage point. Here is the view from the stage.


Stations of the Cross.


And, of course, flat screen TVs, because this is Korea.


Back of the Cathedral.


Ave Maria. There was also supposed to be a statue garden, but we couldn't find it.


Cleaning out candle wax.


Confession. Dan being contrite and Koreans posing the same in the background.


Red brick. There were no gargoyles on the outside, and it was more or less outwardly unadorned.


Kim Tae-Geon, the first Korean priest, a martyr and a patron saint (canonized in 1984).


Similar in form but probably not in function. (See that Springtime poking up out of the ground?)


More red bricks and an aging building.


Marble. All the Korean figures and icons were interesting to see, very simple but moving.


For lunch we ate at a chicken galbi restaurant. A ton of food in a pot in the middle of the table. Various staff members came around periodically to stir for us. It was very good and very plentiful. We also got ramen and rice noodles.


There was some fancy street food in Myeongdong. Potato chip skewers and cotton candy. We meant to try the potato chips, but there was a line, and we were short on time (and short on desire to stand in a line).


The Myeongdong Theater. Maybe we'll come back for a play?


Drinks from the underground. Dan's Mountain Dew boasted that "Original, American Style Taste!" but it was made with cane sugar which isn't all that American (but better, so thanks for thinking better of us, Korea). I got a Coconut Grape Juice. It was very tasty and was a similar drinking experience to bubble tea.


Also underground, we got three of these for W1000. It is rare that I can eat a sweet in Korea, as many of their sweets are adaptations of Western desserts and so contain milk. This is a glutinous rice cookie, and it was much better than it sounds, honest. The taste is similar to the Indian dessert Jalebi. Anyway, I'm just excited that I, too, get to participate in street food sampling.

So, that was our simple weekend, and I think Dan is going to start a regular Ramen review. He's just had his first bowl. We'll hold him to it.

-Serenity

4 comments:

  1. Cathedral exploration is my fave! What exciting adventures, indeed.

    So, the grape-coconut (which I think should be called "Grape Nuts") beverage wasn't a fizzy one?

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  2. I was thinking of you and all your great Cathedral explorations while we were there (I am not just saying that). The grape-coconut was not carbonated, and, had I realized that, I would first have shaken it up. Next time. It was just juice, really, but with some yummy squidgy bits for chewing, too.

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  3. Didn't Apollo Creed where shoes like those in Rocky?? :P

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  4. I have never seen Rocky, but I'm assuming he got the shoes in Seoul.

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