Olympic Park 2015

As it was getting late, I took a quick whirlwind tour of the Seoul Olympic Park.  This is a place that I come to often, not just to get energized by the many activities of the school students who flock here for cycling and ice skating, but because it has sports facilities and specific sites of great archaeological value.  

Apparently the park was literally the capital of the Baekje dynasty way back during the 3rd century, and defended themselves from the attacks on sea and from the north, by building a fortress from the repeated invasions from the East.  The excavations include mud huts, fishing tools, potteries, and burial mounds.  Now, the excavations have given way to gardening efforts (pumpkins, cucumbers, and so on) and park lawns for summer concerts, but it still made history as the capital of a flourishing empire 

comes across as being one of great historic importance twice in history -- once as fortress of a flourishing empire and one of 5 sites of '88 Olympics   

 It was raining, so the whole place looked a little flooded, but you can get a feel for the size.  The shape of the roof is supposed to resemble a traditional korean roof the mural drawings of phoenix, tiger, dragon, and rabbit.

This place is one of my favorite places still.  So many interesting sculptures of international scale, it being the 5th largest sculpture park.  In 2013 it went through a major reconstructive project to move all the sculpture works to the other side of this museum, except this one.  :) 

Called  "France" by Cesar Baldicini

Another sculpture from a distance... 

SOMA from far away.  It had stopped raining and the park was quiet and still.  A place that allows me to think and breathe away from the noise of the city. 

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