Woke up with a bit of a headache, I think that sun was too strong yesterday, so I gave breakfast a miss. We’d heard Memphis has a super zoo, including pandas, so today we decided to spend the day at the zoo and visit some of my relatives.
The first part we headed for was the Northwest Passage, a new area with polar bears, seals, eagles etc. We only saw one of the bears, apparently one was laid up with a broken leg (a result of some rough play) and one was hidden away dozing, but the one we saw was beautifull, his fur looked thick and silky and he was a superb swimmer. Perhaps I should take swimming lessons.
The weather was pretty good for going around the zoo, fairly cloudy but warm. When the sun came out it was too hot. We think there is some rain coming as the humidity has gone right up.
Memphis is one of only 4 zoos in the USA to have pandas, so I was pretty keen to meet them. A nice looking pair but with strange eating habits. Why would someone living in Memphis insist on eating only bamboo shoots, BBQ is much nicer and much easier to get.
Of course pandas are not really bears and red pandas are even further away from bears, but pretty nice to look at.
We had lunch at the cafe where I made friends with some white faced baboons. They were a brother and sister, very friendly and wanted to know all about me. Apparently they don’t meet many bears from England.
After the zoo we went back to the hotel to call Claire and Robert, this time zone difference makes keeping in touch awkward, Maria thinks they wouldn’t appreciate being phoned when we get in in the evening. I think they should be happy we call them at all.
We then headed over to Peabody for another one of those lovely dacquiries. While we were there the ducks retired for the night. You should have seen the fuss, red carpet, music, cameras flashing… Honestly at the end of the day they’re only a bunch of ducks. We move over to the Peabody tomorrow, I hope the ducks won’t be for ever showing off.
We then headed off to Beale Street to grab something to eat. We headed for B. B. Kings. Great atmosphere, good music and superb food. Some of the best BBQ ribs and baked beans, and their deep fried pickles were something else. Great. We left with Maria clutching a Big Red, a rather potent mix of crushed ice, strawberries and alcohol (rubbing alcohol I think. Whatever it was, it was 180 proof). I bet she won’t be so chipper in the morning. She should learn to show restraint like me.
