San Diego Trip - Day 4

Coronado Beach / San Diego Zoo

We started the day out driving around Coronado taking a few pictures for Angie, then she gave us directions to the beach. How appropriate that we parked by Aunt G Avenue! The sea was angry that day my friends. There was a bad undertow and tons of seaweed (see the pic of what was still in Rick’s swimsuit pocket when we got back to the hotel). Bradley had a blast playing in the waves, but Ella wasn’t quite sure about the sand. I don’t know what to think about the last pic – I guess this guy is trying to say USC one and LSU two. I can’t believe he actually spent money on that!

First stop at the zoo – guided bus tour. It’s about 45 minutes and so worth it! The guides are really knowledgeable and it’s a lot of fun. Since our tickets included rides on the Skyfari tram, we were determined to do it. The walk from the Hippo enclosure up to the west terminal was like hiking straight up a mountain! My heart was beating so fast I didn’t know if I was going to make it! We stopped and looked at some animals (I don’t even remember what they were) so I could catch my breath, and Rick said, “I bet these are the most looked at animals in the park!”

After the tram ride we headed down the mountain to the hippo feeding. While it was easier going down, it was still hard on our weary legs. The hippo feeding was awesome! I had never seen hippo teeth before. These two hippos are mother and daughter, Funani and Jazi. We came to the zoo about two weeks after Jazi was born – right before Madelyn was born. Their exhibit wasn’t open to the public, but we could stand on the side road and barely see little Jazi and her mom. Naturally Rick took this picture of the Sloth t-shirt. He’s kindred spirits with those animals, too.

After the hippo feeding we were debating on leaving the zoo. There was only one more thing to see – a show called The Jewel of the Rain Forest at 8:30. Bradley said he wanted to see it, so we headed over and waited in line. Before the show some of the characters were playing around and throwing beads and bracelets, and the kids each got one. Then the show started and all of a sudden this tiny little butterfly acrobat comes out, and then this huge cheetah acrobat. Yes, you guessed it, Realis again! We couldn’t believe it! So naturally after the show we waited in line for pictures. This time I told Shenea (on the right) that I couldn’t believe we were lucky enough to see Realis two nights in a row! When we walked over to get a picture with Arthur, he said he remembered Bradley from the day before at Sea World. Bradley was too excited!



On the way back to Shelter Island it was 9:46 and Bradley remembered that the Sea World fireworks are at 9:50 – that kid has such a good memory! So we headed right on Sea World drive and parked and got to watch the fireworks show. Not as massive as a Disney World show, but still good.

Introducing, Ella “Shiloh” Jackson! Check out how cute Ella is in this outfit I got her at the zoo. She’s a little African princess!