05-24-22 Calgary zoo and home again
This morning we had some of the kids in the pool, some getting packed and eventually all of us at the breakfast buffet. Poor Will had a tough night with a bad cough, likely caught from his cousin he was hanging out with. He is such a doll, wearing his mask without question and taking cautions. Breakfast a was good and we had a lovely hostess/server who made our morning special. I recommend the Best Western Port O’Call especially with kids as the water park with dual water slides was just great. Once we got all checked out and loaded we headed to the zoo. It was supposed to be a cool stormy day so I dressed accordingly. Good old Calgary… I boiled
The lady at the booth gave me the seniors rate as I am only a year away from the 60 they call senior. I will take any perks, lol. The first and last stop of the day was the Penguin Plunge exhibit. Ashlée and I could have lived there. The black fluffy black bird in the back is 6 months old today!
After that we just worked our way round and kept trying to see the 32 day old gorilla baby. The timing was wonderful and Doxy (SP?) showed up with the baby girl on her back. The lone silverback is the papa and his father was the oldest recorded Silverback living to 62! At feeding time it was exciting to see all 7 gorillas. They have a huge indoor and outdoor pen and seem to relate well. I could have just sat and watched them for hours but after dinner mama headed out of sight again. We were so grateful to see them. It was hard to miss out on so much due to the Avian Flu and pandemic fear. Many places were fenced back or the animals were indoors
I am just going to share a bunch of pictures although I couldn’t get a picture of some of my favourite, the Meerkats. Their old man faces and frantic movements of seemingly endless curiosity cracked me up.
It is hard to explain exactly how I feel about a zoo. It is so incredible to see these animals in an environment trying to create their natural one, to have opportunity to learn about them, to see which are endangered, etc. I hope though, that most of them are rehabilitated or relocated from negative spaces rather than captured and caged. Most of the environments seemed positive, only a few seemed too small and I hope over time they will be expanded as it seems some have been along the way. There is a new polar bear habitat in the making. I will be following that progress.
We all had a bite together and then finished that last bit we’d missed before heading for the parking lot. A pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich is delicious btw.
It was odd for me to see Bill in a scooter. I am glad he had it or he wouldn’t have lasted long. My feet and knees were feeling it, he never could have done it all. The fact he was my first husband though sits with me as the age seems so much more than 6 years to me now. It was such a good time all together though, I am really glad I went. And I am glad for the fun Deanne and I had as well, even if my bad influence made her buy a designer fanny pack and drink peach crown royal.
Golan and Aymo travelled with me home and we had such fun, stopping to take pictures and singing Bruno Mars loudly. It was great to have long talks and learn more about their lives and home countries, hopes and dreams.
Once home again, I dropped them off, came home and unloaded, appreciating the bounty of travels, including the odd rabbit Golan gave me from his Kinder Egg.
This was such a full and fun experience, it really is important to enjoy your own backyard, only 5 hours away and so much greatness!
triumphgal 