Dick Cheney Just Drank Blood From A Chicken's Neck (The Zoo!)
It turned out that we did not have such a bad room. I mean, I woke up with both kidneys inside of me so I have few complaints. On this trip, I am making an effort to stay in hotels with cheaper rates for at least two reasons. The first is that we're staying in more hotels and if each night we're spending ninety dollars on lodging, this will turn into a costly adventure. Also, the cost of a room usually translates into quality; we don't need to be coddled in the best hotels we can find.
There were no cars outside when we left. I didn't think we were that lazy but I guess that everyone else who stayed at the hotel, and there were quite a few, had places to go. Our next destination was the Brookfield Zoo outside of Chicago. There was a lot of road work and traffic so it took us some time before we arrived. There are a handful of zoos in the Chicago vicinity which shouldn't be too surprising, considering the size of and notoriety of the city. On every trip that we have taken, we have stopped at a zoo; what is interesting is that we have visited a day earlier each year. Two years ago, we went to the Bronx zoo on Friday and last year we went to the Columbia Zoo on a Thursday. What can we say except that zoos are awesome. Walking to the zoo entrance from the parking lot, we were instantly aware of the cicada invasion. Many children and adults were subjected to attacks by this deafening creatures. The response, which was usually repulsion, made me think that people only want nature in zoos only. I mean, we were all going to see animals in cages, putting our money down to see fake nature. If people could accept those cicadas, we wouldn't need zoos for their conservation efforts. Zoos show the best and worst of humanity. Like I already said, people seem unable to appreciate nature on its terms. Yet to know that there are people who dedicate their lives to these institutions, working against the swell of the majority to help all creatures, is reassuring.
The zoo had some quality exhibits; I shouldn't be so surprised that these other zoos feature such quality. James and I saw some baboons fight. It was pretty amazing. Those animals are frightening but terrificly interesting. It is so obvious to me that we evolved from primates. If you combined gorillas, chimpanzees and baboons, I think you would have many of the personality characteristics of human beings. No matter what, though, monkeys are really cool.
After leaving the zoo, we spent a long time in traffic. We decided to call ahead to get a hotel room. It took a few tries; many were full but we eventually found a room. We are going to the Mall of America tomorrow and I am excited. First we need to conquer a three hour drive to Wisconsin, something I am not looking forward to. Though I am kinda ready to come home, I am enjoying this time away from home.
-Paul
There were no cars outside when we left. I didn't think we were that lazy but I guess that everyone else who stayed at the hotel, and there were quite a few, had places to go. Our next destination was the Brookfield Zoo outside of Chicago. There was a lot of road work and traffic so it took us some time before we arrived. There are a handful of zoos in the Chicago vicinity which shouldn't be too surprising, considering the size of and notoriety of the city. On every trip that we have taken, we have stopped at a zoo; what is interesting is that we have visited a day earlier each year. Two years ago, we went to the Bronx zoo on Friday and last year we went to the Columbia Zoo on a Thursday. What can we say except that zoos are awesome. Walking to the zoo entrance from the parking lot, we were instantly aware of the cicada invasion. Many children and adults were subjected to attacks by this deafening creatures. The response, which was usually repulsion, made me think that people only want nature in zoos only. I mean, we were all going to see animals in cages, putting our money down to see fake nature. If people could accept those cicadas, we wouldn't need zoos for their conservation efforts. Zoos show the best and worst of humanity. Like I already said, people seem unable to appreciate nature on its terms. Yet to know that there are people who dedicate their lives to these institutions, working against the swell of the majority to help all creatures, is reassuring.
The zoo had some quality exhibits; I shouldn't be so surprised that these other zoos feature such quality. James and I saw some baboons fight. It was pretty amazing. Those animals are frightening but terrificly interesting. It is so obvious to me that we evolved from primates. If you combined gorillas, chimpanzees and baboons, I think you would have many of the personality characteristics of human beings. No matter what, though, monkeys are really cool.
After leaving the zoo, we spent a long time in traffic. We decided to call ahead to get a hotel room. It took a few tries; many were full but we eventually found a room. We are going to the Mall of America tomorrow and I am excited. First we need to conquer a three hour drive to Wisconsin, something I am not looking forward to. Though I am kinda ready to come home, I am enjoying this time away from home.
-Paul