The fortress

Thousands carried rocks up to the wall for over 140 days. The year was 1808. The mayor ordered a castle tower be built at the north gate of the fortress walls. No one knows exactly when the walls went up, but some trace it back to the Three Kingdoms Era back in the 1500s.

We took the trail up the mountain from the temple until we saw the wall. From there we followed the winding trail up and down the hills. Eyes towards the ocean and the city, we heard Buddhist drums echo scoop the valley to our ears.

With aching feet we stumbled to a great red door, some ancient exit leading to a modern vessel. One thousand won and we walked on, a stuffed city bus rocketing down the mountain to our destination: lunch and beer.