Day 24: Zoos

During my travels and various places of residence, I've learned that I love going to the zoo.  *Bonus points if it has a dinosaur exhibit!  I love watching the animals play and interact and frequently this proximity provokes a deep wonder I feel for the world as a whole.

I've now been to the

• Portland Zoo
• Seattle Zoo
• Denver Zoo
• Bronx Zoo 
• I have seen pictures of me as a tiny one at the Calgary Zoo and the San Diego Zoo, however, I have little memory of them.

Being my first time at the Seattle Zoo I was at peace with the amount of green encompassing all of the habitats.  Each space is open for the animals - so much so that it appeared that the wolves and the elk were actually in the same territory together.  There are "canyons" of sorts preventing animals from actually making their way at people but it enables one to feel as though they are standing with the animal with no barrier.

Today was great because I went with a group of mothers and little kids - and anybody who has gone to the zoo with me on a good day knows I may act like a toddler during some moments simply because I'm excited about one animal or another. The animals were especially playful today and we watched as they chased one another and played.  The orangutang in my picture actually was covering himself with a blanket and from above we only saw the blanket and his hands moving.  Once around a corner, though, I thought he looked like something out of Star Wars (maybe an Ewok?) wearing a cloak.

I'd still say my favorite zoo experience to date was in March 2013 with my parents at the Denver zoo - so many baby animals, and they also have the illusion of no cage - so much so that monkeys crawl across vines overhead, some monkeys make their way nearly 4 feet away just to grab something out of some water and then scurry back to an island out of reach.  But each zoo experience has a good memory and I LOVE ZOOS.  

So take note, if you ever want to show me around a new place, take me to the zoo.