Cafés, yellow lines and Green Food Zones

With friends at one of the 2000 café chains in Seoul.

Seoul must be on a permanent caffeine fix because there are cafés every 10 meters! Most are big chains, but mostly Korean. Some seem to be individual because the themes vary. Some can have big couches or books all around. I have even read about a cat café, full of cats and a Charlie Brown café. But the people don't seem so wired. Although, I have read that Korea has one of the longest work weeks in the world, not official work hours, but those actually worked.


Another interesting find is that almost all the sidewalks have a raised yellow band going down the middle. It changed texture at a crosswalk. I haven't got to the bottom of this, but I suspect it is for the blind. Maybe raised lines can guide a cane or you can even feel the difference walking on them with shoes. I haven't seen but one handicapped person in Seoul, but the city seems well-equipped to help them get around without difficulties.

Seoul is very clean and has a good no smoking law. Even some streets and parks are smoke-free. This sign below was on a street near a school and meant that all restaurants had healthy food with no harmful preservatives.