Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon was built in the late 1700s.  In the last few years it has been restored, with most completed, and is an amazing place.  It is in the middle of the city and life goes on around it, but it is quite majestic and beautiful.

 


Last Friday Alice had a pupil-free day at school, so we went over to Suwon, which is about 25km south-west of where we live.  This is the city where Russell works, so we met him for lunch, then wandered almost half way around the fortress wall.  They have lots gaps in the wall where soldiers could shoot guns, arrows or spears,  and a number of 'gates',  structures where soldiers were stationed at vantage points around the wall.

There was a croquet club just inside the wall at one point, which was unexpected, but fun to watch for a little while.  And there is a large area where they demonstrate Korea Traditional Archery.

And they even have their own "Lion's Train"!!!!  Well..... a Dragon Train, really.....

All our things from Australia arrived last week, and it has been lovely to have a few things around us that make it seem like home.  I thought I might show you a little of our apartment - we are on the 9th floor of our building. Each floor has 2 apartments, so ours takes up half of the 9th floor.  When we get out of the lift we can turn right for our apartment or left for the other one, and that's it!

It's amazing how living in a high rise apartment doesn't really feel like you are boxed in with lots and lots of other people.  I guess it's just walls, floors, ceilings like any other home, just without the yard (which I really miss, by the way).

Our lounge room is starting to feel like home.  I thought I'd better take the photo just after I've cleaned as it may not stay this way.....

The kitchen is just off the lounge (really one big room!) and more than adequate!!

Our bedroom is large and has a little 'verandah' that we don't know how to use yet......

 

Alice's room is also large and is really starting to show her character!!!

We have 2 other bedrooms - one is the longed-for study that Russell now has, although at the moment he shares it with all the furniture we don't have a place for; the other is our guest room, called "Bron and Brett's room" since they will be our first visitors (in 3 weeks!!!).

This next photo is taken from the lounge room looking down the hallway, with our bedroom door, the front door, bathroom and B&B's room on the left, and Alice's room and the study on the right.

And last but not least, this is the view in a couple of directions outside.  They are both facing east, the first direct east the 2nd north-east.  I'll take some more on a less hazy day.....  The snow has melted and it is warming up, so I'm looking forward to this view becoming more and more green as time goes on.

So..... we are starting to feel more settled and like this is home for us.  We are meeting people and having a bit of a look around, so things are going well.