Kocen 2003 Summer Vacation
On our way from Hot Springs to Memphis we ran across a lot of semi-trucks. We figured that things are bigger in Texas but we thought everyone used the same size heavy equipment. Can you image how long it must take them to dig a hole with this thing.
Our first stop was the Memphis Zoo which has 2 panda bears. The entire front of the zoo looks like ancient Egypt
There is even a tower with inscriptions all over it.
The pandas are surrounded by Chinese motif.
While we waited in the really large crowd (all 10 of us), Andrew decided that he was not sweating enough so off he went doing laps
Here Michele is trying to convince me that 12:45 does not really mean 12:45 on my watch. The "show" was supposed to but they were running a little late.
OK, you win.
Each panda has their own glass cage. It is very bright and seems nice, but then again, I am not a panda
They are very beautiful animals but seems bored big time
As you can tell, it was sunny and hot. We are such air conditioned wimpy southerners
This guy looked at us as if we were totally crazy. You want me to move around to you can take some pictures, it is way to hot out here for that
Some lady kept yelling at this lion - 'Fred, Fred, Fred'. Maybe her husband was named Fred and the lion just finished him for lunch.
More cute animals - Meerkat.
Belinda's favorite animal - a Kimono Dragon - I still won't let her get one as a pet no matter how cute they are
Our next stop was the Pink Palace. This is a museum that was built from pink tinted granite. The guy who built the house went broke and give it to the city
The exhibits are pretty nice. Getting the kids to sit still was something else. The best part of the museum is that it is air conditioned
There are a lot of hands on activities. This one has you use sound like a bat to determine how to fly. I kept crashing but Belinda did just fine
Just hanging out with the boys
Next to our hotel is this really cool courtyard with this interesting stuff
The other end of the courtyard has a bell tower
The bridge crosses the Mississippi and the state line between Arkansas and Tennessee is right in the middle of the bridge
Downtown looking from the water front.
More downtown. The foreground is part of the Mud Island River Park. They hold concerts and other events down here. They also have a scale model of the entire Mississippi river from head waters to the Gulf of Mexico, shown here.
This entire river model probably runs about 1/2 mile all together. Water also flow through the river model which is shown in contour with 5ft increments for each contour.
Near the Gulf of Mexico was duck with its duckling.
Belinda and Andrew took a cruise around the Gulf in their paddle boat.
Of course, the birds live in a river boat too
We took a tram from downtown over the little water way to the park's island
The crowds were non-existant which is good since there was no AC on the monorail.
OK, now for the trivia question of the day, what was Belinda taking a picture of? Please remember that she is 13 years old and takes pictures accordingly and this has nothing to do with a plumber.
Memphis
TN
Atlanta
GA