Pop's Day At The Zoo
A week after visiting New York's fabulously priced (ie "suggested donations") American Museum of Natural History and seeing the stuffed animals, my siblings and I decided to make it a Father's Day outing at The Oakland Zoo.
To be sure, the real deal is much better.
Situated above the Oakland Hills, the zoo is a constant reminder that there are animals beyond the usual domesticated fares of—the house canines and the feisty felines. While nothing impressive as compared to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, the Oakland Zoo is what it is...a small affair that is family friendly.
The Oakland Zoo is the smaller and more awkward sister to the SF Zoo. There are the usual (unstuffed) african elephants, the elands, gazelles, condors, lions (in a place appropriately named Simba), giraffes, tigers, gorillas, chimps, etc...For a full list of animals at the Oakland Zoo, please visit here.
My favorites were the giraffes. The zebras were also fascinating although they looked more like donkeys with stripes, upon which I had a conversation with Sandy about talking "arses"—you know Sands of the Balaam's talking donkey. Bible fans will also want to visit the camels as well as the aforementioned lions, both animals popular in the Old Testaments.
Aside from the animals there adjacent to the zoo is a small fun attraction for kids, with carousels, train ride, a kiddie roller coaster, to name a few. They offered respite for the parents who either carried or pushed kids on the various strollers throughout the hilly zoo terrain.
Well just wanted to make that update about a fun-filled Father's Day at the oakland zoo. Thanks to my bro for organizing this and dare I say perhaps the making of a grand standing Langs Father's Day tradition, eh Henry??? Happy Father's Day dad and you guys (you know who you are if you are reading this).
