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Published: June 18th 2005
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These penguins are studying the effects of living in a contained environment in a foreign ecosphere After the first few days of meteorological madness,
Berlin's skies seem to have settled down.
I'd been debating what to do with my days as I'd earmarked most nights for clubbing and bars. Everything looked too educational for me. Too historic, too cultural. Where could I go where I could essentially take a day off for sunbathing and yet not feel like I boated a whole day?
The Berlin Zoo (
Zoologischer Garten) is the largest in Europe, which is as good an excuse to visit as anything. Also, it was nearly 80 degrees out and utterly pleasant. As I entered the main gates and paid my 15 Euro for admission, I could feel my brain switching to stand-by.
WAIT.
15 EURO?? Are you kidding me? This place better have dinosaurs or snakebats or something comparably astounding. Admittedly, this includes admission to the Aquarium as well (more on that later), but where else on Earth outside of the Amazon, could there be such a wondrous collection of beasts to warrant such a steep admission?
The Zoologischer Garten has alot going for it. It has extremely deep collections of birds, marsupials and wild cats. It's got wolves! There's a absolutely ingenious penguin
display, where you begin inside, watching the birds stand rigid in some BioSphere prototype. Once you travel outside, there's a pool the penguins swim around in, which is at waist level. Penguin petting! I'm stealing this idea for my mansion.
What is up with that pollen? The entire time I've been here, I've encountered areas that are absolutely clogged with pollen alighting on the breeze. No real allergic reaction, but I am fairly tired of wiping it off my glasses and out of my hair. It was magical the first two days, now it's a mild nuisance. The fairy-forest effect is DONE, Berlin. How about replanting with some fruit trees. I recommend bananas, although I'm not sure if those will do well this far north. Just think of the tourism. The Bananas of East Berlin! Okay, I must just be hungry for a banana. Focus, Jason. Where did my ticket go? Did I throw it away with all of my ice-cream receipts? Voice on Left Shoulder: Losing your ticket is clearly an omen. They won't let you into the Aquarium now. You should go find a laundromat. Your clothes are soiled and out of fashion.
Baby Warthog!
For my rec room. Voice on Right Shoulder: Are you going to let the Germans win again? It can't be more than 10 more Euros. You've come this far, don't lose your stones now.
Voice in Head: "Hallo. Spreche sie Englisch? I have lost my ticket, but I have paid for the Aquarium. No, I do not have any proof."
Voice on Left Shoulder: You can't possibly think that will work.
Voice on Right Shoulder: I'd have to agree. Best just to suck it up and pay. You can make up for the budget by eating grass and living under a car for a few days.
It's no Monterey Bay, I'll say that much. However, it is clearly the highlight of the zoo, with extensive collections and exhibits of marine life, in addition to reptile and insect wings that also proved exciting. No Pacman frogs, though. Diverse and nicely presented, particularly the Reptile wing, with monster crocs, gila monsters and anacondas.
The Honeybee Exhibit This one really has lodged itself in my mind. I note to myself in my notebook (of all places): "It must suck being a honeybee."
There is a central honeycomb, along with several channels for
Pheasant
So hungry bee travel, all of which lead out to a larger environment of flowers and plants for the bees to pollinate. It's nicely put together. Until I look closely and notice that some of the beeways are dead-ends. Literally! At the end of each, there is a pileup of stupid bees, uncomprehending. The bee who made the biggest mistake - getting all the way to the dead-end - is so horribly contorted and compressed that you think it would be sending some bee-alert, warning the others away. Nope. They keep piling on. Soon, there is a beeblock.
On the plane flight from New York to Dublin, I had read some airlinemag drivel about the wonders of the honeybee. They keep 80% of the earth's food chain going. Their numbers are also ever-dwindling, threatening food supplies globally. I was feeling some minor desire to take up the bee cause and save this vital resource. Now it's clear that bees need saving from themselves. Well, Jason can't be saving no bees that can't turn around - I've got a mouth to feed. Mine.
I leave the exhibit actually feeling less charitable towards the animal than before. Leave it to the Germans.
Chameleon
For DNA sampling only. I took pictures of the animals I wanted to take with me.
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NinjaWadzi
non-member comment
Wow
Those photos are amazing Jason.