Jim goes went to the zoo!

Let it be known that I don't see the point in taking pictures of animals that countless wildlife photographers have already taken better pictures of, but there are a couple.


Monkey-thing that Jim liked.


Jim liking monkey-thing.


My favorite animal.

Noah and Jim were actually not nearly as interested in the animals as I was. Ostensibly the trip was for Jim (zoos are for kids, yes?), but mostly it was me oohing and aahing and the gentlemen humoring me. Jim was interested in a few animals, though. It was always unexpected ones, like some ordinary-looking bird. Sparrow eating breadcrumbs by vendor? COOL! Ostrich? Meh. Stupid ostrich. Let's find more sparrows.


Noah and Jim ignoring cool birds.


Cool birds being ignored.


Some kind of terrifyingly invisible viper.


Jim looking hilarious while getting a drink in the reptile house.

Said reptile house was, by the way, HORRIBLE. The reptiles themselves were awesome and interesting, but the place was hot and claustrophobic and PACKED with shrieking shoving rude children. Is it normal to hate other peoples' kids? Because I totally do.

So we left the reptile house and went over to the botanical gardens, and they were WAY nicer. Apparently all the kids wanted to stay and howl at the animals, so the plant-only side was quiet and lovely. Jim liked it too.


Peace and honeysuckle.


Looks nice, yes?


Random and empty cotton mill museum. We let Jim charge around on the floor since there was absolutely nobody there except us.