Predators

On Saturday a new exhibit opened at the Portland Zoo.

"Predators" had been under construction ever since our first zoo trip,
and each time we walked past the promotional sign,
our anticipation mounted.
Orin was particularly excited about petting the lions
(I haven't bothered to break the news to him yet)
So on Monday (the first day we figured the crowds would be bearable),
we set off for the zoo with our neighbor Jon and his son Dakota.
Instead of rushing straight for Predators, we instead paced ourselves
first working through the Northwest
where we saw birds, fish, bears, wolves, and mountain goats;
the Amazon, where we saw snakes, turtles
and (Dakota's favorite) alligators;
the Antarctic where the boys got
up close and personal with two sea lions;

and the Arctic,
where the got to hang out with some polar bear cubs.
Finally, after are long trek around the world,
we arrived at the Predators.
On the way in, there was a lion statue that begged for a photo-op.
As it turned out, it was the only photograph of a lion
that we would get to take that day.
Apparently, we missed the real beasts by about a half an hour...
they were down for an afternoon snooze,
sprawled out behind a hill at the back of the exhibit.
Much of the rest of the exhibit was still under construction,
so it looks like we will be making another trip to the zoo pretty soon.
The only bonus to missing the predators was that
it looks like I will be able to delay my "petting lions" speech
a little bit longer.
I am anticipating heartbreak.