Kangaroos at the Zoo - Passport Diaries

I talk about the awesome Virginia Zoo a lot…because we come here a lot. We were here three out of four days last week.

The Asia and Africa exhibits are really well done. But we often bypass the sad Australia exhibit. The path is fenced off like 10 feet back from the enclosure fence, with a row of crepe myrtles in between. The emus, kangaroos and wallabies were always on the far side of the area, so there wasn’t a huge draw. UNTIL construction bagan on a pathway THROUGH THE EXHIBIT.

“When will it open?” I’ve been asking whoever was around. For months. Finally, a date: it would open on the special evening opening for zoo members!

I had flashbacks to our 2009 portcall to Perth, where Chris made friends with this guy:

I didn’t expect the kangaroos to be THAT friendly, of course (YET), but I put a bag of popcorn in my purse just in case. Wallabies hopped close to the path. Kangaroos lounged in the dirt. I forgot to look for the emus. The enclosure is now open (on weekends at least), rocketing the Australia exhibit into the lead of favorite sections of the zoo. Wait, after the TRAIN, our non-negotiable all time favorite.

Evening at the zoo was fun. Usually it closes at 5pm, and the animals are fed. So that evening, the whole zoo reverberated with the lowing of the watusi cattle calling for their dinner. That alone changed the atmosphere quite a bit.

Then the lions paced as close to the viewing bridge as I’ve ever seen them. The male started sniffing the female from behind, then caught up to her…if you catch my drift. “OOOOH,” all the parents shoo-ed away the kids, but it was over as soon as it started. “That oughta make you feel better about me, eh?” said a guy to his wife. She walked off. Lots of entertainment at the zoo on member night!

We love the zoo so much that we went back again the very next morning with NewPenn Compound. We fed the kids dippin dots for lunch. A zookeeper confirmed that the Virginia Zoo elephants have to be relocated because of some new law saying elephants need to be in larger herds. She tried to spin it as a positive thing, saying they’re trading for a white rhino. SNORE. Huge loss. …literally. (But not for at least a year, she said).

Our third zoo visit in four days was with HANNAH! We were such buddies in college. It was over $1 margaritas one Monday that Hannah and I came up with a short list of suggestions for Chris to dress better. They I called him and asked him to join us. He loved the list.

I think he still keeps it in his wallet, because he said he knew that meant I wanted to fall in love with him or something. It must have been true. The list was pretty basic: don’t tuck t-shirts into jeans, let me help you buy a pair of jeans that actually fit (he’d worn a uniform for the past four years of college, so he just needed simple stuff). Shortly thereafter we went shopping together. “I think I just dressed the man of my dreams!” I said outside the fitting rooms. “I’LL TAKE IT ALL!” thought Chris.

Anyway, Hannah drove the three hours down from Northern Virginia and stayed the night. It was so fun meeting her sweet boy (who, of course, liked the zoo train), seeing her adorable baby bump, and catching up on the past four years since her wedding. Weekends can be the worst, since everyone focuses on family time and we are left to our own devices. So Hannah’s visit was especially well-timed and appreciated. Thanks for coming, Hannah! It was SO great to see you!

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