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Museum of Natural History, NYC

Yesterday I went to the Bronx zoo (I haven't developed the film yet, so I'm posting an older photo taken at the Museum of Natural History; at least it shows animals :p). It seems that the zoo just keeps getting better. The gorilla forest was as amazing as I had remembered, and the new Madagascar! exhibit thrilled with its seemingly endless rooms of lemurs.

We arrived around one; the lines were just starting to extend beyond the gate. As we waited the lines grew. Adults with swarms of children in tow pushed or dragged their children forward. A woman stood by the entrance selling water. "It's one dollar here, but three dollars in the zoo," she cautioned. We bought a bottle.

En route from the train station we had already shared a coconut ice, but the water was a welcome addition to our provisions. The line moved slowly forward. Each seller seemed to have to explain the difference between general admisison and the "total package" to everyone who stepped up to the window. We knew what we wanted. We were past the seller in the time it took to run the credit card through and sign the slip.

The zoo was busy, but not too crowded. We began our tour with the peacocks, watching as the males spread their feathers. They cried out to each other. Children mimicked their cries, crying out to them. We watched and then moved on, making our way deeper into the park.

At the Gorilla Forest, we paid the extra entrance fee and wandered the paths past various smaller species before entering a theater to watch a short film about gorilla and rainforest conservation. As the film ended, the screen ascended, and the curtains behind parted to reveal the zoo's sanctuary. A gorilla sat impassive at the top of a hill. The audience gasped.

Baby gorillas played by the window, beating their chests to the thrill of the crowd. They tusseled with each other. One would come by and beat against the window, causing the children to try to give him high fives. We must have spent an hour at the exhibit, watching the babies play, watching the adults sit and then slowly move on, before sitting again. In the corner, however, one adult sat with its back to the window, shielded by rocks. A foot was grasped in one hand; he barely moved.

We ate a late lunch by the flamingos, sharing some snacks in the shade of a large pavillion. I felt like i could go back to the zoo repeatedly to walk its trails and catch glimpses of animals you'd never expect to find minutes from Manhattan. I felt that the zoo would never cease to fascinate. It was an amazing way to spend what proved to be a beautiful day; summer seemed just around the corner.

I'll post what photos I can of the zoo after I develop my film; my light meter decided to fail just as I got there, so I'm uncertain of the exposures . . .