Monday, September 29, 2008

Topeka Zoo, Rainforest & Park

We spent a 2nd day in Topeka visiting the zoo, their rainforest exhibit (which is part of the zoo) and the "animal" themed park which is next to the zoo. We'd intended on eating lunch there, but it is a small zoo and their only small restaurant was closed! So, we ended up at McDonald's, which was just fine as we've been collecting the Madam Alexander Wizard of Oz figures.

a cute porcupine

As we entered the rainforest exhibit, we were greeted by some flamingos just walking around!

A fruit bat - they're so big!!! I had to ask one of the workers where I might find the bats...

...and this sloth! He's just hanging around in the exhibit. We'd actually walked past the hippos earlier in the day and when we came back, this big guy (or gal?) had actually gotten out of the water and was sunning himself! I sure wish we would have been around for that. I'd loved to have seen him walk that big ole body and then plop down. :-)


This photo has 5 Monarchs! They are beginning to migrate and I couldn't believe how many of them I saw as I drove down the highway.


After McDonald's, we headed across from the zoo to the park. I found this lovely "thing" - Alexandra pointed out that it was probably a gall. I believe she's right! I didn't see anything else on the whole tree. And, this was pretty big - a little bigger than a walnut.


With her baby cousin (4 1/2 month old), Baby H.


We were so happy to have found this elephant! I had been singing "We went to the animal fair" to Baby H all day long. In it, the song says "You should have seen the monk... it sat on the elephant's trunk... the elephant sneezed, and fell on his knees (like this one)... and that was the end of the monk." I guess it was a sad ending for the monk, but Baby H was just fine.


That evening, we went out with my sister-in-law to have some Greek food. Now, I'm not a very adventurous eater and I've never had Greek food. She ordered us some humus and flaming cheese for an appetizer, and even Alexandra loved them both! Alexandra ate American food for her meal, but I had grilled chicken & pork. I don't eat very much pork, but this was delicious! And, I tried some of my mother-in-law's lamb and "OH!!!" it was incredible. So, I'm sold on Greek food. :-)

We walked through the old town that evening and even stopped at a toy store and a book store and bought a little something at each. We just cracked up when we saw this (real) cat relaxing in a store window. Now, that's relaxing!!!

5 comments:

  1. Oh, that cat cracks me up!!
    What a great day! I love going to the zoo. And I think it's cool that you got to try the Greek food. I've always wanted to try, but never been that adventurous when people said, "Hey, where do you want to go eat?"
    Maybe I'll pick up some hummus at the grocery store and give it a try. If GB likes it, we could add something in to his vegetarian diet. Now that's incentive!

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  2. What a FUN day! Love that big ol' hippo, and I've always thought fruit bats were cute, but I've never seen one in person.

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  3. Oh yeah welcome to the love of Greek food!http://www.nikonikos.com/
    go here!!!!!!!!!!!! It is the best!

    That hippo pic was awesome!

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  4. Okay, that hippo picture needs to be hanging on the wall with some witty little saying under it. You should have a contest and have people write captions for it, I think it would be hilarious.

    Thanks for the great entry showing your zoo experience.

    Barb-Harmony Art Mom
    PS Can I steal your hippo photo for my computer desktop?

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  5. Love that cat! The Topeka Zoo looks like fun, I have to add that to my zoo wish list.

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