Aurora Park Zoo (Parque Zoologico la Aurora) – Guatemala City
Posted by KimSep 23
After two fairly intense days in the jungle, and with a volcano climb ahead of us tomorrow, we decided to make today a light one. We relaxed at the hotel most of the day, then headed downtown to the Aurora Park Zoo, Guatemala’s national zoo and the most attractively set-up one Fred and I have ever seen.
Guess it helps not to have a Fall and Winter like we do at home. Everything is especially lush since it’s the rainy season right now. But even aside from that, the zoo is meant to look like a natural habitat and does a remarkably good job, tucked right up against the international airport like it is!
Today’s Animal Highlights
THERE’S our jaguar! Minus a chunk of tail??
Bet you never knew you cared about how an ostrich sits… we didn’t till today… but how funny!
The lions may have their own opinion of the place but this scene reminded me of the Garden of Eden or something akin.
We mentioned waking up to Howler Monkeys at Tikal. But there, they were all up in the trees. Here’s one up-close. And watch the video for a little sample of how he sounds up close. Multiply that by about a dozen and you get the idea of the jungle noise in Petén.
Our Favorite Signs of the Day
Based on the looks we were getting today, this is probably where we’re thought to belong: Hotel Gringo Perdido – “the lost Gringo hotel.”
It took us a minute to realize that “Inseparable” is Spanish for “Lovebirds” – which were in the cage above the sign. For a bit there, it looked like the zoo was taking a firm stance on the tight physical link between butterflies, Pepsi, and birds’ nests. Yeah, yeah… we know… “back to the aforementioned hotel with us!”
Then and Now – 2007/2010 Parque Zoologico La Aurora Family Trips
And, as usual, I grabbed a few more shots today that paralleled those from our last time here.
Bear – I knew the boys had grown, but his total height then is just above waist height now! (Thank you, The Fence, for giving me a measure!)
José – was nicely contained in a stroller last time. Not so this time; he was all over the place. Nary a single face shot!
Monkey-watching with Papá
La Familia
3 comments
Comment by AK on September 24, 2010 at 5:00 am
Kim, I’m so amazed at your blogging while vacationing – I always think I’m doing well to go through the pics within a month of getting home
but I’m so glad you are – its like a virtual vacation 
thanks and enjoy the rest 
Comment by Aimee on September 24, 2010 at 6:12 am
Oh thankk you for posting your time in GT! Wow….what an experience!! We didn’t get to go to the zoo since Mayna was sick and I would love to go back and travel! What a beautiful country!
I was wondering……..has the trip drum up any emotions from the boys? Fear, sadness, pride, etc? Just wondering. At this point, I have been fearful of much talk of going back for a visit as I am afraid it would cause her to fear “going back” to the orphanage, etc. Just wondered if that was playing out at all with teh boys.
Comment by Kim on September 24, 2010 at 12:44 pm
@Ali – well, after the boys go to bed, we’re kinda stuck in the hotel room with time on our hands, so it’s not really that I’m such a faithful blogger as it is that there’s little else to do!
@Aimee – Oh, yes, definitely Pride! They’ve been telling everyone for weeks ahead of the trip that we’re going and that this is where they’re from. And the same now that we’re here.
BUT when I started talking about “taking them back” to Guatemala about a year and a half ago (when they were Mayna’s age), Jose REALLY didn’t want to go. Took some questioning and time before I realized he thought we were RETURNING them, like when I “take back” a shirt to the store that doesn’t fit. They’d also overheard people talk about how dogs run wild here (rather than live indoors like in the States), and they are scared of them, so I think they were thinking there were dogs everywhere! Once we clarified those matters, they’ve been really excited about coming “to their real country” as Bear put it more than once. (He claims the U.S. as their real country, too, and thinks it’s cool that they have two when most people just have one… competitive much?)