Gyeongju

Traveling with some friends, I had a chance to see Gyeongju, a very traditional city in terms of culture, sights, and architecture. Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient city of Silla that ruled Korea between the 7th and 9th centuries. The city had much to offer, including some great temples, the burial tombs of ancient royalty, and very traditional roofs on several of the restaurants, houses, and other buildings. At night, I visited Cheomseongdae, which is one of the oldest surviving astronomical observatories in Asia. Among the highlights of this trip, I had the continuing opportunity to be beckoned by some of the older restaurant owners walking in the streets. Each restaurant employed the usual staff, but each seemed to also have an elderly woman working outside to bring in customers. Most of the conversation involved the words “You eat for long time,” and “delicious,” but unfortunately, we could only satisfy one single grandmother in our quest for… lunch.