June 8
Dear Liza,
It just keeps getting warmer here in Southern France, but we are determined to get out and see the sights. Grandpa Nelson invited me along on his “Gotta See the Zoo” transit outing, so I went.
We made sure to take cold water and snacks, found the tram stop down by the triangular shaped Square Planchon, and headed off. The tram took us up to the University of Sciences and Letters, and from there we caught a bus up into the hills. The dry hills and low trees felt like Toro Park in Monterey, California.
When we had left housing developments behind, we found the Zoo. The first enclosure is a generous aviary housing Red Ibis, South American birds that are the color plastic flamingoes only dream of being.
After that, though, the paths and the enclosures felt more like a rough draft of a zoo. The paths were unpaved roads and the signs were vague about distances and actual zoo animals along the way. The enclosures were full of trees and high grass, making it nearly impossible to see many of the critters. We passed cheetahs, emus and gazelles enclosures,, with nary an animal in sight.
There were lots of families with small kids, and it was fun trying to eavesdrop on their conversations. By The Tower (which I can’t find any online info about), there was a cold water spigot and lots of shady benches and tables, which kept everyone rested and hydrated.
Luckily, there were Grandpa’s favorites, the giraffes. We visited with them and the rhinos for a bit, and then headed back out. Some cold Orangina and potato chips from the snack shop renewed our will to live, and we caught the bus, then tram, home.
It wasn’t the adventure we expected, but an adventure all the same.
Love,
Grandma Judy
Dear Liza 