Killer Baboons: Trip to the Zoo

We're home safe and sound! What an amazing trip we had. With the exception of Hazel's escape, it was non-stop fun!

There are a few things we did on the trip that I haven't blogged about yet--so here goes...

One of our Summer Vacation Traditions is a trip to the local zoo. This zoo is perfect because it's very small so you can see all the animals without getting totally bored. It's also slightly grungy, which I like in a zoo. There is very little in the way of barricades and/or fencing--the animals are pretty much right up in your face and they all seem slightly crazy--like they're looking for trouble. There are all kinds of signs telling you not to touch the animals because they will bite--but you could touch some of them if you wanted to--they're that close. So there's an element of danger which definitely perks up what could otherwise be a tedious schlep through the zoo. The closness of the animals also makes for great picture taking.

Pickle not only got her goat fix--she got to feed them too! Here she is surrounded by a starving pack of goats.

Here's Gooser posing by a mural. An elk? A caribou? I don't know... He looks nervous, like he thinks it might pounce!


This is a rhea. They have pretty eyes don't they? I was bitten by one of these at a petting zoo once. It was at the height of the Bird Flu panic--I had "symptoms" for weeks! This one looks like he wants a piece of me too!
"Look into my devil eyes..."

It's also a tradition that I get a pic called "Killer Ostrich." I have a whole collection of scary ostrich pics. This one isn't my best work, but it's not bad.

Look at how close I could get to this tiger!

He was swimming in this pic, but shortly after, he started pacing--which didn't bode well for us:

As soon as the kids read the sign they were like "I want to see him spray urine!" What is it with boys and urine?

Again--look how close we are to this bear:

The bear area is enclosed in some kind of (hopefully super-strong!) plastic--you could literally stare right into their eyes!

I saved the best for last! I'm very proud of this baboon pic--although Don is repulsed by it.

Get this guy to a monkey dentist! And, I'm no monkey doctor, but doesn't it look like s/he has a mean case of thrush?

I have a strange history with baboons--last year when we were visiting this zoo, I "walked in" on a baboon who was, um, having some special time with himself. It was awkward for me--but he didn't seem to mind! I'm ashamed to say that I also have a pic of that incident! Maybe I'll reveal it at an upcoming Friday Foto Fiesta?

OK, one more pic--group shot right after leaving the zoo.

Oh, and that thing Pickle is holding--it's a big frog, but she insists on calling it a monkey. When we say "It's a frog." She says "No. Monkey." Between frogs and those killer/perverted baboons--this girl is going to have some skewed views on monkeys (or apes or whatever...)!