Number Sixteen

Number SIXTEEN, January 16th.

"But I always liked side-paths, little dark back-alleys behind the main road - there one finds adventures and surprises, and precious metal in the dirt." 

- Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

Once a week, my grandfather wakes up earlier than usual and takes a good thirty minutes in the bathroom getting ready. I see him coming out of his room all dressed up, in a matching suit and hat. And, every time I ask him "Where are you going today, Grandpa?" he always gives me the same response: "Jong-ro!"

If downtown Philly is the hip place for young urbanites, Jong-ro would be the same for the elders living in Seoul. The entire part of the city is a complex blend of the old and new, with many of the old architecture contrasting with the new Starbucks and McDonalds on each corner. 

Even better are the small alleyways hidden behind the main roads and, like Dostoyevsky once wrote, walking around these alleyways does feel like a bit of an adventure.

#365photos #aphotoaday #PhotoADayChallenge #PhotoJournal