EVERYTHING I could have hoped for from a European zoo



Living outside of the good 'ol US of A you get used to things being a bit different.  Being able to climb around in really old castles.  Hang out windows without the guard rails.  Being responsible for your own safety and not relying on someone else to tell you that Hot chocolate might actually be Hot.  Many times in our travels we will say, "This would Never happen in America!"  or "Oh, you wouldn't be able to do this anywhere else."  That is the kind of stuff that I love.  The kind of stuff that will make the memories that I will never forget.  I was hoping that our European zoo experience would be like that.  I really wanted to tell my kids that they will never ________ at a zoo again. 

First stop Bird Show!! 

The birds were leashed up with open houses.  They had a chain that hooked around one of their feet and they were free to "go ahead and try to fly away."



The kinder in front of a huge vulture.

 Once the bird show started, I spent about 90% of the time laughing.  I just couldn't believe my eyes...yes I could, I had been hoping for it.  First of all, the "trainers" looked like shaggy kids that they'd found to help out for the day.  They had baby birds (chicks) that they were feeding and bribing the bigger birds of prey with.  They weren't sneaky about what they were feeding like they are in the States.  While standing about 5 feet from us, we watched the shaggy kid hold the chick by the feet whilst banging its head on a large stump in attempt to get the owls attention.  Repeatedly.  My little guys couldn't keep their mouths closed or their eyes from the "poor baby chick."  Repeatedly.

Next, they would walk through the crowd and toss chick parts (mostly legs) right next to where you were sitting so that this large falcon could jump right up on you and eat it.  No need to worry about your nice clothes, dead bird comes out in the wash.  This is how the main trainer would talk about and show off the bird...all in German, of course.

Jag, in the orange jacket, is watching the large bird eat a chick that was just tossed at the little girl.

Here is the bird parading in front of the kids.  The man would randomly toss bird parts at the kids so that the bird would hop up on them.

 The following picture is one that Christian took, while trying to take my picture.  This is the back of the shaggy teen that tosses chick legs.  I was standing about 2 seconds before the picture was taken.  While standing and watching, with Anya in the stroller, I start to notice that the main guy is talking about me.  Then the kid comes and walks right next to me.  Next thing I know, this kid is putting a bloody chick over my head (its feet were touching me) as a bald eagle comes screeching across the field towards my head.  I tried to hold still, but I tell you, the thought of a talon in the eye caused me to flinch and drop right as it swooped over Anya and went for my scalp!  I got lots of cheers and clapping.  I laughed and laughed.  That would never happen in America!   Anya spent the rest of the day talking about the bird on moms head.

The rest of the day was uneventful.  It was spent looking at and feeding goats and guinea pigs.  Watching elephants eat bare branches and killer ants run through tubes all around a small room.

One of the best things about going to the zoo was watching Anya's amazement as she saw the animals for the first time.  She hadn't been to a zoo and to watch her smile and hear her squeal as she recognized the animals from her books was priceless.

Elephants eating sticks. 

Baboon mountain