Woodland Park

Saturday morning began with an iced soy latte.. I know it sounds snobbish, but in the United Stated soy milk is much more common and is not reserved to yuppies. Well, maybe it is a little…:) In Poland we call this group lemmings.

About nine o'clock I was already at the Bellevue College. During the interesting Introduction to Employment Law class, we discussed the issues related to the non-exempt and exempt employees. The first employer is required to pay for overtime, while others are excluded from this obligation. After a pause, revision of the  medical leave. Did you know that in the U.S. there is no law guaranteeing a paid maternity leave?

After the class, it was finally time to relax. We decided to get to know our atypical neighbors, the inhabitants of Woodland Park Zoo. We arrived after lunchtime, which is probably why bears, lions, jaguars and kangaroos were not willing to show their charms, but rather preferred to sleep in the distant shade.

However we saw a lot of amazing animals and birds from all around the world. A beautiful, huge,  and I assume a well fed elephant strolled past on his quite spacious area. Interestingly, Woodland Zoo, as well as the administration of President Obama, supports the initiative 96 Elephants, which calls for an end to  the killing of elephants and trade on the ivory. Unfortunately, the U.S.  has one of the biggest ivory markets..

In one of the hideaways we ran into a large collection of venomous snakes. I get goose bumps just when I recall these thin, little tongues...

After two hours we reached our close relatives ... gorillas. A charming view.  They even approached the glassed division and came closer to visitors. I think they understand how important it is today to post attractive photos on social media.

This coming Wednesday we are checking off another item from our summer bucket list. We are going to witness the madness of American pop culture at the concert of the Queen Bee Beyonce and Jay-Z . #soexited!

                                         

    H.xx                        

                                      More Zoo photos!