11 April 2026
Dirty feet
Yuseong hot springs
Time for another designated rest day.
Checking the map with no plan, I remembered that one of the areas of Daejeon people like to go to is the hot springs at Yuseong. I feel as though it is better looked at in the evening, where they have some lights in the trees, as during the morning it is just old people with dirty feet hanging around in the few spots they can be bothered heating the tap water.
After wandering the lengths of the hot springs, I found the main river, it is not a drain. I contemplated if I like drains more than actual rivers, at the time of writing I remain undecided.
Next I decided that I might as well go see all the old people of Daejeon in one morning, so I boarded the subway back to the main station area where I walked through the market that I saw when it was closing a couple of nights ago. This was pretty good, a lot of old junk people have been hoarding for 50 years without making a sale, yet still they turn up every day in hope.
The hot spring area is really just one strip of attractions up the middle of a road. First up, swings. The way they are tethered to the ground to prevent you from doing anything stupid is a little disappointing.
There were a lot of empty pools where hot springs should be.
The wooden frame is an addition to when I was last here.
More empty pools, my feet need to be cleaned!
Finally I found some water. I was not really sure about the photo etiquette situation, so I kept my distance.
The message on this giant rock is apologising for all the empty pools where hot spring water should be.
They have provided a selection of shoes to choose from when you have finished washing your feet.
Blossom time. Today's blossoms are courtesy of the river embankment.
Down in the flood zone, it is time for a game of sad old people golf. Literally just a flat grass area with a metal cage to hit balls at. It is very popular along the entire river flood zone.
I had to cross the river. It is not straight, so I believe it is real, or at least AI.
Nobody buys cd's anymore. Instead they buy branded usb sticks? There were at least 10 stores selling nothing except these. I am confident they are going to install some kind of bitcoin related Russian application in addition to feminine Korean boys taking their shirts off while singing about teddy bears.
Now that is what I call a pedestrian bridge. The elevated viewing deck is a fantastic addition. I nominate this for the world architecture awards, Zaha Hadid has finally been defeated.
Time to explore the market again, while it is open. I started at the far end, which seems to be labelled a wholesale market. It was mainly deceased estates.
Here you can buy hi-fi equipment from 50 years ago. Racks and racks of it.
The market was not too busy, but busy enough for some old ladies to spread out leafy vegetables on the ground in everyone's way.
OK, I have seen enough of the market.
Now, one of the reasons I decided to come back here today was to complete my detective work. I thought that when I was last here that they parked cars down there along the river. It turns out that is not the case, it was another nearby drain where this was happening. I have confused my drains.
I headed back into town to spend some time in the gardens. Leaves have arrived.
Surprise fighter jets! Right out in the open in the middle of town. First up, the F-5 freedom fighter, variations of which served as the Russian jets in the first top gun movie and also in the I love the smell of napalm in the morning scene from Apocalypse Now.
And then we have the F-4 Phantom, a much bigger jet, I have no movie references for it, probably because it was too expensive for movie production companies to rent.
And for my final shot on this a day of rest, a rare photo of my lunch. I can assure you I was the only male in the entire store.