Going Tourista: Yeah, it's a Zoo.

When you're in San Diego, there's a legal requirement to visit the Zoo. Since the Astrals are totally law-abiding, we had no choice but to fulfill that requirement. And, in order to go whole hog, we dragged Colin and Jenn along with us. It is a fantastic zoo and ginormous too. After 5 hours on our feet, my quads were barking and Astral Wendy's groovy new converse sneakers had worn a couple of righteous blisters into her heels. We were ready for Old Town and some Mexican food. 

Yeah, ya gotta pay. It always amazes me how some people can complicate

a simple transaction. The person in line a few ahead of us must have been 

at the ticket window for 15 minutes. How hard is it to say 

'Give me x tickets', pay the money,take the tickets and move on?

It's been cool in San Diego but at least there was some sun for

this iguana to do some basking and day-dream of the Galapagos.

There was a huge assortment of tortoises but they all look alike to me.

Free-range peacocks are always a crowd pleaser. This guy was

on top of a snack bar.

Not only does the zoo have a wide range of animals, it's also planted

with an incredible array of plant life. Astral Wendy was in her glory.

Now here's a turtle you don't see every day.

Yo, Meerkat!

Two racing pigeons and a ....oh never mind.

Two Touristicus Boydicus and one Foleus Massachusettiana

Not sure why these guys don't just fly away. I guess the food's good here.

Ya gotta love the Mandrill. The name cries virility and the face is awesome.

Why so sad? You've got the funk!

Doh!

Not sure how old this baby hippo was but the mother was holding it

underwater for what seemed to me an irresponsibly long time.

Zebra stripes are as individual as human finger-prints.

Mmmm...that's good sun. 

They didn't have any Javelinas but they did have this other kind of peccary.

This was a recreation of a tar pit. Take that giant sloth.

Astral Wendy has groovy new sneakers.

A couple of local natives.

Capybara mother and child.

All hail Ganesh, mover of obstacles.

The zoo is in Balboa Park, where there are over a dozen museums

and where the Astrals will be exploring all week.

I love giraffes. They have to be one of the strangest

animals on earth. In my opinion, only the platypus is stranger.

Cute overload: this giraffe was only 4 days old.

This guy would make a great interior lineman.

Two humps please.

I don't get no respect I tell ya.

Ready to tuck into some Mexican food at the Coyote Cafe in Old Town.

Super touristy but the food was good and it was great to hang out with

Colin and Jenn.

It's Margarita time!

I believe I'll try these carnitas.

Astral Wendy is beautiful and hungry.

I believe the tequila is working.

Egads!

As far as I could tell from our brief visit, Old Town seems to be

comprised of Mexican restaurants and souvenir shops. More later

if we go back this week.

What, no blue Washburn Rover?

There was another cool sunset when we got back to Ocean Beach.