DMZ!

Mr. Fitz at the DMZ!

Here's me next to the huge and tacky steel DMZ sign. Odd to have it painted in purple and pink...Our first stop was to take a tour of tunnel #3, a place where the North Koreans tried to tunnel beneath the demitlitarized zone from the north. Kind of an odd place to start, but we had already received a short lecture by an almost professor ex military American that explained some of the basics. Can't go wandering around here, wire fences with warnings about land mines are on both sides of the road. (photo above)

We had lunch with UN observers who said that on occasion that there will be an explosion in the DMZ, but they never know what happened, whether it was an animal etc. Right now things are quiet, especially since ethe latest tensions have cut the civilian activity in the area. It is very militarized, lot of guys with guns looking tough. We visited a number of facilities, a lookout post, the UN observers camp, and Panmunjom, the famous spot where the negotiations occur now and in the past. It's the place that you always see on TV or in magazines where the North Korean soldiers stare across at the South Korean soldiers with binoculars, etc. There have been a number of incidents here over the years. During the tour there is a moment where I was technically in North Korea, as the room is literally half in each side. Great photo op. It was a great day, lots of intellectual excitement in being here where so much history has taken place, but now that I am writing about it, it doesn't come across as the superficial reality of it is that we visited a bunch of buildings. However, if you have never been to WashingtonDC, the White House tour must be similar. It's beautiful as well, since no one can wander around much the animals and plants rule the place. We saw lots of egrets, cranes and deer, a Sibereian vampire deer? (need to google that...)

Got back and slept. I've got a touch of traveller's malady and didn't feel very well. Got up about nine and wandered the streets. Checked out a neighborhood near the river and walked along the river for a while. Had a green and white ice cream cone for dinner. No idea wha it was... Lots of tradtional style hot pot restaurants. Wish I could figure out how to put the photos where a I want them...