Spring Break Part 3: Portland

After Smith Rock, we headed for Portland.  Stuart had a meeting to attend for work and the boys and I had a date with the zoo.  On the way we passed Mt. Hood.

 Now from my perspective, zoos pictures are always a little disappointing as most of these are.  Really they just document the fact that we really did spend the day walking around the zoo in the rain.  But the real treasures of the zoo were the moments and comments and awe that is inspired by seeing animals up close. 

Here are the salmon, on display just below the bald eagle habitat showing the connection between predator and prey. 

 See the two bald eagles sitting far away on that branch.... (I know, a terrible picture.)

 At the petting zoo, we there was nothing to pet but the boys got a good pony ride.

 Now the one good photo is not this one but the next one.  Yet, I do like this one because the boys really liked seeing how they compared with the size of the different types of bears.

Now this one, I really like.  That polar bear is just two feet from the boys.  It was soooooo big. 

There is a baby elephant in this photo but the real reason I posted this photo is the great image of the rain on Dakota's head.  It literally rained every minute that we were at the zoo.  And yet there was never a single complaint.  Just happy boys excited to be exploring the zoo.

 Dakota loves Penguins and even though this exhibit was "stinky" and he wanted to leave pretty much right away.  He chose to stay because he loves these creatures so much.

 Wren loved this next exhibit.  We got to go inside a aviary where you could feed these lorakeets.  They would just fly down and land on your hand and drink nectar out of these little cups.

All in all, a fun day.  We headed back to the hotel, met up with our friends, swam in the pool, and then went over to their house for a lovely dinner.