A wonderful visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium!
So, I had a fabulous Saturday! It was the perfect combination of pleasant company, good food, animal observation and light exercise! The air was crisp and cool and as we looked out on the bay between the wharf and the cannery, we could see snow covered peaks in the distance!
I have no memory of the Monterey Bay Aquarium! I know I went as a young child. My mother has pictures! I just don't remember it!
I have discovered since I got home that the Aquarium has a wonderful website! I can even watch live camera feeds during the day! How amazing is that? Museums and aquariums have improved so much since I was a child!
Anyway, here is a quick run down of the nifty sea critters I saw and the ones I felt were the most interesting!
KELP FOREST EXHIBIT
Wolf-Eel
This "eel" was weird! I have always thought of eels as having long thing snots! This eel looked at first like a long tail had been cut from some other animal and was just lying on the floor of the tank until it moved! It had such a flat face!
California Sheephead
The picture really doesn't do it justice. From the gills forward, the males really DO look like sheep!
GIANT OCTOPUS EXHIBIT
Giant Octopus
He was not active when I came by to have a look at him. But he was in that nifty "old man" position Octopi can get in. With their eyes over their bulbous brain it reminds me of an old main with a big red nose from drinking. He was beautiful! I just didn't get to see him move. But that is okay! I think they have a cam that will let me watch him all day from home!
OUTER BAY EXHIBIT
Ocean Sunfish
This may be the WIERDEST fish I have every seen! It looks like someone cut the fish short and then, as an after thought, stuck dorsal fins on either side. So incredibly alien to look at!
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
I counted at least two of these in the tank. They weren't more then 5 feet long. I guess they must be pups?
White Shark
I counted at least three of these in the tank. They MUST HAVE BEEN pups! I wonder if I am totally off about this but I swear they had white shark pups in that tank!
SPLASH ZONE & PENGUIN EXHIBIT
Blackfooted Penguin
These critters are just entirely too cute!
SEA OTTER EXHIBIT
Southern Sea Otter
These things are cute and playful! Kurt pointed out that I wouldn’t be seeing them much more once we moved to Portland. Also that the sea lions I am so accustomed to probably won't be around at all in Portland. We might even see seals! Sadness! I know there must be interesting animal to look at up in Portland but after being able to observe sea lions and otters pretty much whenever I wanted for free by wandering down to the wharf, it will be odd not to have them around!
Anyway, I had a fantastic time! Thank you so much kion & hanashibeta for taking Kurt & I out on such a cool day! I will miss you both muchly after the move! I was just happy I got to visit the Aquarium BEFORE the move. After living in the area for over a year, it would have been sad to have to travel back to see the Aquarium!
I have no memory of the Monterey Bay Aquarium! I know I went as a young child. My mother has pictures! I just don't remember it!
I have discovered since I got home that the Aquarium has a wonderful website! I can even watch live camera feeds during the day! How amazing is that? Museums and aquariums have improved so much since I was a child!
Anyway, here is a quick run down of the nifty sea critters I saw and the ones I felt were the most interesting!
KELP FOREST EXHIBIT
Wolf-Eel
This "eel" was weird! I have always thought of eels as having long thing snots! This eel looked at first like a long tail had been cut from some other animal and was just lying on the floor of the tank until it moved! It had such a flat face!
California Sheephead
The picture really doesn't do it justice. From the gills forward, the males really DO look like sheep!
GIANT OCTOPUS EXHIBIT
Giant Octopus
He was not active when I came by to have a look at him. But he was in that nifty "old man" position Octopi can get in. With their eyes over their bulbous brain it reminds me of an old main with a big red nose from drinking. He was beautiful! I just didn't get to see him move. But that is okay! I think they have a cam that will let me watch him all day from home!
OUTER BAY EXHIBIT
Ocean Sunfish
This may be the WIERDEST fish I have every seen! It looks like someone cut the fish short and then, as an after thought, stuck dorsal fins on either side. So incredibly alien to look at!
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
I counted at least two of these in the tank. They weren't more then 5 feet long. I guess they must be pups?
White Shark
I counted at least three of these in the tank. They MUST HAVE BEEN pups! I wonder if I am totally off about this but I swear they had white shark pups in that tank!
SPLASH ZONE & PENGUIN EXHIBIT
Blackfooted Penguin
These critters are just entirely too cute!
SEA OTTER EXHIBIT
Southern Sea Otter
These things are cute and playful! Kurt pointed out that I wouldn’t be seeing them much more once we moved to Portland. Also that the sea lions I am so accustomed to probably won't be around at all in Portland. We might even see seals! Sadness! I know there must be interesting animal to look at up in Portland but after being able to observe sea lions and otters pretty much whenever I wanted for free by wandering down to the wharf, it will be odd not to have them around!
Anyway, I had a fantastic time! Thank you so much kion & hanashibeta for taking Kurt & I out on such a cool day! I will miss you both muchly after the move! I was just happy I got to visit the Aquarium BEFORE the move. After living in the area for over a year, it would have been sad to have to travel back to see the Aquarium!