Wow! New year, new season, new vibe! It's been about four months since I last posted. Cincinnati weather is very bipolar this time of year, but thankfully, yesterday was in the low 50s and mostly cloudy, and I had been staying home for most weekends as of late, so I had to make myself get out of the house at least one day this weekend.
I have been walking better since my knee injury in 2020, and I need to do more walking on weekends. I could not think of a better way to spend the afternoon than visiting the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
The second oldest zoo in the United States, the zoo was founded in 1873 and officially opened in 1875 and houses about 500 animals & about 3,000 plant species.
For about three years, USA Today has ranked the zoo the top zoo in the country.
The entrance alone was all welcoming with flora and fauna from around the world, and the zoo itself was decorated with a plethora of flora & fauna. With all the grayness & negativity we all have had in the past two years, this was a more than welcome sight.
Now, to the animals! I immediately made a B Line to Cat Canyon
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| The undisputed champion of the animal kingdom, the cheetah |
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| Snow leopard |
Now, my pick of the zoo....
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| Green-leaf cockroach-who said that all roaches had to be brown & ugly? |
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| Domino roach |
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| Peppered roach |
Despite popular belief, of the 4,000 breeds of cockroaches in the world, only 20 are considered human pests.
Boss..
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| Antilles Treespider |
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| My weight in insects-not telling ya how much I weigh IRL :) |
Big Boss...
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| Brazilian White Knee Tarantula |
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| Thorny Devil |
A pint-sized predator...
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| Fire bellied newt |
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| Emerald Beetle-Take me to China already! |
Next, it was off to the Reptile House, the boldest zoo building in the United States!
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| Quince Monitor |
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| Emerald Tree Boa |
There's a very special surprise coming, but first, the rich African American history with this zoo.
In 1920, the Cincinnati Zoo unveiled a groundbreaking new attraction. Along with the Zoo's many animal species, it also featured human species, one that can truly sing: the Cincinnati Zoo Opera was born. Among the many performers who performed there was American operatic soprano Martina Arroyo.
Born to a Puerto Rican father and an African American mother, Arroyo made here Cincinnati debut on June 24 & 27 1964 at the Zoo as Aida, becoming the first African American, and perhaps, the first Latine, to sing a major role with the Cincinnati Opera.
Arroyo recalled, in an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer, as she sang, a hyena laughed at the end of her Aria!
Now, back to the critters....
There are also a plethora of eateries to choose from, but I stuck to a Cincinnati classic...
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| Zoo shop |
Of course, I had to add something to my wardrobe...
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| The awesome thing about this is purchases made at the shop goes right back to the Zoo. |
Now, I wouldn't dare finish this post without a little something special...
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| The Royal Family, Tucker, Bibi, & Fiona! |
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| The princess herself, Fiona! |
It's been decades since I have been to the Zoo. Things have really evolved, especially in the past two years. With all that's been happening, it's refreshing to take time out to appreciate God's amazing creatures!
This has really put into perspective for me personally and for us as humans. If we don't learn anything else, we can learn from the animals the power of unconditional love. It's what we have to have now.
Sources:
Sampson, Carol & Tjepkema, Thea "The Presence of Latine and Hispanic Performers on the Cincinnati Music Hall Stage". the Friends of Music Hall, 17 Sept 2021
"The Zoo Opera Days". The Cincinnati Opera 9 April 2021
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