So in keeping with the theme of imprisoned animals, we spent vacation day two at the San Diego Zoo. And in keeping with the hypocrisy theme, it was lovely. I still don’t like it, but we paid them so I can’t say anything about it. Damn.
We started with a narrated bus tour, top deck, which True thought was amazing in itself, around the park to see what and where we wanted to go. As we were loading, this gigantic peacock kept calling and shimmying up his tail feathers. It was a great pre-funk. The tour was great, because it was so early a lot of the otherwise snoozy animals were up and about. We were in the very front seat on the uncovered top, it was pretty cool.
When we got off, we went first to the petting zoo. That’s a whole lot of goats my friend.
Although, on the way there, we went through the reptile house and sweet Marie, anacondas are freakin huge! I know you think you know how big they are, but that thing was immense!
We also went through the insect house, and while I am normally left pretty cold by the creepy stuff, part of it was cool. They had a bee hive cutaway thingy that True was fascinated by. Just a solid wall of motion, a contradiction I know. And a tube where they were going in and out. It was cool to see. The part that got me though was the giant wall of leaf-cutter ant tunnels.
It was too weird. They were so busy, and to see all their work and the giant pieces of leaves they hauled around. Amazing.
I also took a picture of this dead leaf.
No I didn’t, that’s a mantis! How in the world does something evolve to look like a flippin dead leaf? That seems like a super conscious effort to me, not spontaneous birth defects. I am blown away by this.
The meerkats were cute as usual, but look at this picture. It looks like there’s no glass, and she’s feeding it from her hand. Heh heh.
Next was my second favorite part, the SkyFari.
I know, dumb name for a sky tram, but it was the best. That thing cooked! No pansy sight seeing drift over the park, that sucker was transportation baby! It took about half the ride for True to unlock, but by then it was almost over and she didn’t get to look around much, not that she would have looked over the side or anything like that, but she did start moving her head. I’m kidding! She was nervous, but loved it.
We saw the polar bears, which got nothing on SeaWorld, though made for a good photo,
and check out her intense interest in the zebras.
Nice. The aviary part was cool too, super ugly harpy eagles and a condor that was all but screaming “Look at me!” 
The primates were great, of course, and True went all Annie Lebowitz about it.
Too cute. My very favorite part of the day was the gorillas. We got there just as the keepers were spreading branches and banana leaves around to feed them and then let them out. They were so cool! Kinda came out meandering around a bit, staring at the surge of people who pressed up on the glass, then the big guy grabbed a floppy old frond on a stick and chased some little guy off the spot he apparently wanted.
He looked so funny running upright waving this branch all fierce. I loved it. A new baby was riding around on mom’s back and she came over to the glass and looked straight at True and set the baby down in front of her. It was astounding. 
The big one took off with branch again and waddled threateningly around the corner and gave the glass this “I'll kick your ass too” thump on his way by. It was hysterical. Loved it!
We came back to the hotel and swam in the pool for a while before going out to dinner at the Corvette Diner. It was great, a 50s theme with super friendly waitresses who danced and a very We're Going For Happy Days feel to it. We had a handful of straws thrown at us when we were first seated, which flabbergasted True, who neatly picked up each one. She had a bowl of super creamy mac n cheese while we snacked on Spicy Fried Pickles.
If you ever get the chance, you totally have to try these, super good. My favorite part of dinner though was my drink. 
When we used to have to spend the days at the book store, we’d walk up a few blocks to the SuperJet market and I’d by a Green River in a bottle. Lime heaven. They had a soda fountain version here, with a million maraschino cherries in the bottom. Divine! It was a good time. We drove around the city a bit and headed home, wiped out! Another good day. Hope y’all are enjoying the freezing temperatures!
We started with a narrated bus tour, top deck, which True thought was amazing in itself, around the park to see what and where we wanted to go. As we were loading, this gigantic peacock kept calling and shimmying up his tail feathers. It was a great pre-funk. The tour was great, because it was so early a lot of the otherwise snoozy animals were up and about. We were in the very front seat on the uncovered top, it was pretty cool.
When we got off, we went first to the petting zoo. That’s a whole lot of goats my friend.
Although, on the way there, we went through the reptile house and sweet Marie, anacondas are freakin huge! I know you think you know how big they are, but that thing was immense!We also went through the insect house, and while I am normally left pretty cold by the creepy stuff, part of it was cool. They had a bee hive cutaway thingy that True was fascinated by. Just a solid wall of motion, a contradiction I know. And a tube where they were going in and out. It was cool to see. The part that got me though was the giant wall of leaf-cutter ant tunnels.
It was too weird. They were so busy, and to see all their work and the giant pieces of leaves they hauled around. Amazing.I also took a picture of this dead leaf.
No I didn’t, that’s a mantis! How in the world does something evolve to look like a flippin dead leaf? That seems like a super conscious effort to me, not spontaneous birth defects. I am blown away by this.The meerkats were cute as usual, but look at this picture. It looks like there’s no glass, and she’s feeding it from her hand. Heh heh.
Next was my second favorite part, the SkyFari.
I know, dumb name for a sky tram, but it was the best. That thing cooked! No pansy sight seeing drift over the park, that sucker was transportation baby! It took about half the ride for True to unlock, but by then it was almost over and she didn’t get to look around much, not that she would have looked over the side or anything like that, but she did start moving her head. I’m kidding! She was nervous, but loved it.We saw the polar bears, which got nothing on SeaWorld, though made for a good photo,
and check out her intense interest in the zebras. Nice. The aviary part was cool too, super ugly harpy eagles and a condor that was all but screaming “Look at me!” The primates were great, of course, and True went all Annie Lebowitz about it.
Too cute. My very favorite part of the day was the gorillas. We got there just as the keepers were spreading branches and banana leaves around to feed them and then let them out. They were so cool! Kinda came out meandering around a bit, staring at the surge of people who pressed up on the glass, then the big guy grabbed a floppy old frond on a stick and chased some little guy off the spot he apparently wanted. He looked so funny running upright waving this branch all fierce. I loved it. A new baby was riding around on mom’s back and she came over to the glass and looked straight at True and set the baby down in front of her. It was astounding. The big one took off with branch again and waddled threateningly around the corner and gave the glass this “I'll kick your ass too” thump on his way by. It was hysterical. Loved it!We came back to the hotel and swam in the pool for a while before going out to dinner at the Corvette Diner. It was great, a 50s theme with super friendly waitresses who danced and a very We're Going For Happy Days feel to it. We had a handful of straws thrown at us when we were first seated, which flabbergasted True, who neatly picked up each one. She had a bowl of super creamy mac n cheese while we snacked on Spicy Fried Pickles.
If you ever get the chance, you totally have to try these, super good. My favorite part of dinner though was my drink. When we used to have to spend the days at the book store, we’d walk up a few blocks to the SuperJet market and I’d by a Green River in a bottle. Lime heaven. They had a soda fountain version here, with a million maraschino cherries in the bottom. Divine! It was a good time. We drove around the city a bit and headed home, wiped out! Another good day. Hope y’all are enjoying the freezing temperatures!
