and we're back
We got back last night, but had a crazy evening full of well-napped (and therefore, staying up too late) children.
So, we all slept in on Saturday, thanks to everyone staying up too late and the blackout curtains on the hotel windows (I really need to make some of those for our house). We got breakfast at the Cup & Saucer cafe on Hawthorne (Otto's blueberry pancake was shaped like a bear, with fruit features!), and then Sean sold some buttons at Buffalo Exchange before we headed over to the zoo.
The zoo was great! Unfortunately we had to listen to a bunch of "radical cheerleaders" and animal liberation folks chanting about how "Portland says no more elephants at the zoo" (really? Portland says that?) while we were waiting to get in, but other than that, it was lovely. We saw lots of animals (favorites were the hippos and polar bears and zebras) and rode the wonderful Washington Park and Zoo Railway and saw more animals and more animals. We even got a wave from the elephants as the train went by! Also, the elephants seemed really happy to me, but what do I know about the secret inner-workings of the elephant mind? I really liked the layout of the zoo, but man, you are hiking! It's all up and down and really spread out. One of the very cool things is the larger enclosures have multiple viewing points, so when you first go by the black bear and you just have a view of its back while its sleeping, you loop back around to another point and then you can see its front! Also, underwater viewing for all the aquatic animals! It was the first time I'd ever seen the underwater view of a crocodile. And a beaver pooped right as it was swimming by Otto.
After the zoo, we headed back downtown so Sean could sell some more buttons (he very nearly paid for our trip with button sales!) and then hit the road for home. Cranky McCrankypants was a wailing PITA, but then finally fell asleep so we could just enjoy the ride.
A very fun adventure, but I am glad to be home! I'll post pics tomorrow.
So, we all slept in on Saturday, thanks to everyone staying up too late and the blackout curtains on the hotel windows (I really need to make some of those for our house). We got breakfast at the Cup & Saucer cafe on Hawthorne (Otto's blueberry pancake was shaped like a bear, with fruit features!), and then Sean sold some buttons at Buffalo Exchange before we headed over to the zoo.
The zoo was great! Unfortunately we had to listen to a bunch of "radical cheerleaders" and animal liberation folks chanting about how "Portland says no more elephants at the zoo" (really? Portland says that?) while we were waiting to get in, but other than that, it was lovely. We saw lots of animals (favorites were the hippos and polar bears and zebras) and rode the wonderful Washington Park and Zoo Railway and saw more animals and more animals. We even got a wave from the elephants as the train went by! Also, the elephants seemed really happy to me, but what do I know about the secret inner-workings of the elephant mind? I really liked the layout of the zoo, but man, you are hiking! It's all up and down and really spread out. One of the very cool things is the larger enclosures have multiple viewing points, so when you first go by the black bear and you just have a view of its back while its sleeping, you loop back around to another point and then you can see its front! Also, underwater viewing for all the aquatic animals! It was the first time I'd ever seen the underwater view of a crocodile. And a beaver pooped right as it was swimming by Otto.
After the zoo, we headed back downtown so Sean could sell some more buttons (he very nearly paid for our trip with button sales!) and then hit the road for home. Cranky McCrankypants was a wailing PITA, but then finally fell asleep so we could just enjoy the ride.
A very fun adventure, but I am glad to be home! I'll post pics tomorrow.