Dublin Zoo pictures!
After some gentle nagging from my family, I am stirring myself to post the first bit of pictures from Arleynne's visit over reading week, which was so much fun! I am going to post them in order of what we did, so I'm starting with Dublin Zoo! Dublin Zoo is the fourth oldest in the world and is in the middle of Phoenix Park, which is the largest urban park in the world. We took the bus from my neighbourhood, number 68, which goes directly to Phoenix Park. It wasn't really cold but it was quite windy!
The bus dropped us outside the park so we had to walk about 10 minutes to get to the Zoo. On the way we passed the Phoenix Park obelisk, which is, I believe, a monument to Wellington (immensely popular in Dublin I'm sure).
Okay, so I tried to get one of us with the monument in the background but it just didn't quite work out.
Anyways, after a brief detour due to directions-related issues, we arrived at the Zoo, which opened in 1833.
It's original entrance was a replica thatched cottage, and I have to say I don't know how anyone ever got through it's so tiny. I'd have concussed myself trying to get in the door.
Like any proper zoo, there were meerkats, so we went there first. This was, I confess, at least partly because they were next to a cafe and we were both quite hungry.
Next, monkeys! Or, assorted primates I suppose. I don't remember what any of them are properly called though. One is a gibbon, but I don't remember what. Probably some spider monkeys, I dont' know. They're cute as heck though!
Bunneh! Okay, I know rabbits aren't really your typical Zoo animal, but there was a little petting farm and I like to cuddle unsuspecting animals. I'm lucky I haven't had my nose chewed off yet.
Also miniature horse or donkey of some kind. I never could figure out which sign went with this critter.
On to elephants then. The Dublin Zoo elephants are bizarrely fertile (or perhaps just normal. I don't know anything about elephants so I'm not actually sure) and there were three elephants born in the Zoo this year. The one was only just a week old and he was only little! I couldn't quite get a picture of him though, because the rest of the herd clusters around him in what I imagine is a protective gesture. If you peek through the legs of the elephant in the second picture, you can just see his wee self!
<
We visited the penguins then, but it has to be said, they were not exciting. Normally I love penguins to all hell and want to take one home in my handbag and feed it sardines and love it forever (or something), but there weren't very many and they weren't up to much. Dudley and London both had better penguins. That's my expert opinion.
The sea lions were awesome though (or is it seals? I always forget)! They are total divas and get up on the edge of their pool and groom themselves in the sun and have their photographs taken like they're J.Lo
Otters were, of course, cute as a button. I've always wondered about the cuddle feasibility of otter. I mean, they're little and cute and fuzzy, but they have sharp teeth and I don't know how closely they are related to mink, which will apparently attack unprovoked.
There were tigers, lions, snow leopards etc, but only the tigers look good in their photo and we never did see the jaguars. Should one be concerned about unseen jaguars?
The African animals are all in a themed area done up to look like the African plains or some such, but it loses something when it's cold as arse and threatening rain.
They are very particular about what you can do around the animals - but it doesn't say no cuddling!
More Africa animals! I don't remember what they're called.
Ahhh! I'm falling in!! *cough* SHUT UP I'M COOL!
Life can be really tiring, it turns out, when you're hanging around the chimp enclosure all day long.
Rhinoceri. They had a little row while we were there, and frankly are ugly as sin. But they're sort of ugly in the same way as bulldogs, where they're sort of cute because of it.
Okay, I have never seen a hippopotamus up close. I mean, I always knew they were large. Everyone knows that, laws yes, but geez. That thing was roughly the size of a Volvo.
It's Darwin's grab bag! (gold star if you know what movie that's from and you're not Karla)
They sell Tim Hortons doughnuts. There are a couple of places in Dublin that do. I don't really care cause I don't eat doughnuts, but it's still cool.
Red pandas! 9 on the cuddly scale.
Okay, I DON'T CARE FOR BIRDS. People who are with me on a regular basis know this. It used to be limited to pigeons and seagulls but has spread to all birds that are bigger than lets say a sparrow. Anything that will fly at your head, make an ugly noise or attack you for food or otherwise, I don't like it. That said, peacocks (weird noise and uncomfortably large) are really pretty, so I steeled myself for a picture. This is where my camera's zoom capability comes in handy.
Arleynne did not have similar qualms
I suppose these are some kind of duck, I don't know. But there was a kid stood nearby screaming "MONGOOSE, MONGOOSE!" I don't think they're mongoose, but what do I know?
Flamingos are just awesome. They are pink and gangly and have a super name.
Really smart looking monkey (chimp?). I am anthropomorphizing, of course.
Arleynne in a monkey suit!
Er.. monkey love? We were the only witnesses to it, so there were no children around to be scarred for life.
Our last stop was the shop, which invariably involved trying on silly hats.
So I put one on too, and it was a duck. Arleynne's was, as you see, a pig. She goes "Be a duck, be a duck!", to which I responded "Oink, oink! Wait!". Yeah. I know the difference. SERIOUSLY.
We had to leave the Zoo then because it was closing or possibly because we were acting crazy and would have been asked to go. Also the weather was getting less nice, which is as good a reason as any to flee the great outdoors!
We went to the pub on the next night. Since it was a rugby day it was pretty busy, but we managed to meet up with some of the local riffraff (and by local I mean Canadian).
Julia, Paul and Chadai:
Arleynne has her first Irish pint. It is not a Guinness, in the interests of taste.
Some fun people! Including Julia, Mandy and myself in the front, with Chadai and Arleynne in the back.
We had to have an early night because of plans for the next day, but fun was had by all! Soon, pictures from Kilmainham Gaol, Belfast, Derry, Blarney, Cork and so on! I am afraid I'm running out of places to go in Ireland.. Must wait for warmer weather, then it's off to the ring of Kerry!
The bus dropped us outside the park so we had to walk about 10 minutes to get to the Zoo. On the way we passed the Phoenix Park obelisk, which is, I believe, a monument to Wellington (immensely popular in Dublin I'm sure).
Okay, so I tried to get one of us with the monument in the background but it just didn't quite work out.
Anyways, after a brief detour due to directions-related issues, we arrived at the Zoo, which opened in 1833.
It's original entrance was a replica thatched cottage, and I have to say I don't know how anyone ever got through it's so tiny. I'd have concussed myself trying to get in the door.
Like any proper zoo, there were meerkats, so we went there first. This was, I confess, at least partly because they were next to a cafe and we were both quite hungry.
Next, monkeys! Or, assorted primates I suppose. I don't remember what any of them are properly called though. One is a gibbon, but I don't remember what. Probably some spider monkeys, I dont' know. They're cute as heck though!
Bunneh! Okay, I know rabbits aren't really your typical Zoo animal, but there was a little petting farm and I like to cuddle unsuspecting animals. I'm lucky I haven't had my nose chewed off yet.
Also miniature horse or donkey of some kind. I never could figure out which sign went with this critter.
On to elephants then. The Dublin Zoo elephants are bizarrely fertile (or perhaps just normal. I don't know anything about elephants so I'm not actually sure) and there were three elephants born in the Zoo this year. The one was only just a week old and he was only little! I couldn't quite get a picture of him though, because the rest of the herd clusters around him in what I imagine is a protective gesture. If you peek through the legs of the elephant in the second picture, you can just see his wee self!
<
We visited the penguins then, but it has to be said, they were not exciting. Normally I love penguins to all hell and want to take one home in my handbag and feed it sardines and love it forever (or something), but there weren't very many and they weren't up to much. Dudley and London both had better penguins. That's my expert opinion.
The sea lions were awesome though (or is it seals? I always forget)! They are total divas and get up on the edge of their pool and groom themselves in the sun and have their photographs taken like they're J.Lo
Otters were, of course, cute as a button. I've always wondered about the cuddle feasibility of otter. I mean, they're little and cute and fuzzy, but they have sharp teeth and I don't know how closely they are related to mink, which will apparently attack unprovoked.
There were tigers, lions, snow leopards etc, but only the tigers look good in their photo and we never did see the jaguars. Should one be concerned about unseen jaguars?
The African animals are all in a themed area done up to look like the African plains or some such, but it loses something when it's cold as arse and threatening rain.
They are very particular about what you can do around the animals - but it doesn't say no cuddling!
More Africa animals! I don't remember what they're called.
Ahhh! I'm falling in!! *cough* SHUT UP I'M COOL!
Life can be really tiring, it turns out, when you're hanging around the chimp enclosure all day long.
Rhinoceri. They had a little row while we were there, and frankly are ugly as sin. But they're sort of ugly in the same way as bulldogs, where they're sort of cute because of it.
Okay, I have never seen a hippopotamus up close. I mean, I always knew they were large. Everyone knows that, laws yes, but geez. That thing was roughly the size of a Volvo.
It's Darwin's grab bag! (gold star if you know what movie that's from and you're not Karla)
They sell Tim Hortons doughnuts. There are a couple of places in Dublin that do. I don't really care cause I don't eat doughnuts, but it's still cool.
Red pandas! 9 on the cuddly scale.
Okay, I DON'T CARE FOR BIRDS. People who are with me on a regular basis know this. It used to be limited to pigeons and seagulls but has spread to all birds that are bigger than lets say a sparrow. Anything that will fly at your head, make an ugly noise or attack you for food or otherwise, I don't like it. That said, peacocks (weird noise and uncomfortably large) are really pretty, so I steeled myself for a picture. This is where my camera's zoom capability comes in handy.
Arleynne did not have similar qualms
I suppose these are some kind of duck, I don't know. But there was a kid stood nearby screaming "MONGOOSE, MONGOOSE!" I don't think they're mongoose, but what do I know?
Flamingos are just awesome. They are pink and gangly and have a super name.
Really smart looking monkey (chimp?). I am anthropomorphizing, of course.
Arleynne in a monkey suit!
Er.. monkey love? We were the only witnesses to it, so there were no children around to be scarred for life.
Our last stop was the shop, which invariably involved trying on silly hats.
So I put one on too, and it was a duck. Arleynne's was, as you see, a pig. She goes "Be a duck, be a duck!", to which I responded "Oink, oink! Wait!". Yeah. I know the difference. SERIOUSLY.
We had to leave the Zoo then because it was closing or possibly because we were acting crazy and would have been asked to go. Also the weather was getting less nice, which is as good a reason as any to flee the great outdoors!
We went to the pub on the next night. Since it was a rugby day it was pretty busy, but we managed to meet up with some of the local riffraff (and by local I mean Canadian).
Julia, Paul and Chadai:
Arleynne has her first Irish pint. It is not a Guinness, in the interests of taste.
Some fun people! Including Julia, Mandy and myself in the front, with Chadai and Arleynne in the back.
We had to have an early night because of plans for the next day, but fun was had by all! Soon, pictures from Kilmainham Gaol, Belfast, Derry, Blarney, Cork and so on! I am afraid I'm running out of places to go in Ireland.. Must wait for warmer weather, then it's off to the ring of Kerry!