OK so Martha, Olivia, and I went to the PDX Zoo yesterday and had a great time. The weather was low 80's and at moments it was actually cool. It was our first trip and I loved it...especially loved being with the girls and loved the way the zoo is set up. As I walked around I kept thinking about George being there with Scott and his family and how much he loved it.
I enjoyed the fact that it was built in its natural location, I very much love the trees and everything that is natural. We arrived just before 11 and left at 5 and still didn't see everything. It was so very easy to get from the airport to the Zoo on Max that is was unbelievable. I discovered that Olivia is a people watcher and she doesn't miss much.
On the Max Liv didn't want to sit right next to us so on the way into town this "person" gets on and sits beside her. Visual he is rather large and smelled rather ripe and took up his and her seat. Needless to say she was sitting with us just as soon as she could. No other issues of not sitting together on the entire trip. On the return trip there was two very cute 16/17 year old boys who tried very hard to get her attention and she pretended she didn't notice. Bet she did... smart girl..our Lib. Martha is an excellent traveler and took joy in everything we did..including sitting by her granny. Olivia asked me at the airport if I would "act like a grandma." I told her that I didn't know how to do that....and teased her all day.
Back to the zoo...it was a delightfully long day with many strange and wonderful animals. We seen: crocodiles, rhinos, hippos, elephants, sturgeons, polar bears, sea lions, penguins, bats, snakes, bugs, a 7 point Elk, a green hummingbird and many other beautiful birds indigenous to the areas we were visiting. We visited the Laketta area where the birds stold the nectur right out of your hand, sat on Marthas head, mine and Olivias shoulders and pooped on us. We were there from 10:45am to 5:00pm and didn't see everything. We rode the train and went to the Rose Garden and could have gone to the Japanese gardens but time was growing short. We ate at a restaurant in the Zoo and the food was not badly priced and it was plentiful. Bought each of us a cup from the zoo and shocked the girls at what it cost(5.00). When I said it was OK because it was a one time thing..the response was uh uh we want to come back. We sat in on a demo where large birds responded to whistles and food, they swooped across our heads and strutted their stuff. We seen hawks, Eagles, Owls, vultures up close and personal, each of the girls gave a vulture a dollar bill and he dropped it into a jar.
On the way back we stopped for about 10 mins. at Pioneer Square and walked about and visited with a friend of the girls. He is a long time friend of their mom and he had gotten them each a gift.
I would strongly encourage you to take your family to the Portland Zoo and get in touch with your inner child. Pictures to come......
