San Diego: Part Three

I didn't used to hate the beach. Quite the contrary, actually. As a teen I spent many summer days there, tanning (burning) in the sun and playing in the ocean. But then my innocence began to dwindle away and I became an adult who started to view the beach as messy, cumbersome and just so...so...sandy. I no longer found it fun or endearing to have sand in my hot dogs or all my crevices. Perhaps if there was a way to remove the sand and grow grass? Or better yet, pave it! And now with Charlie in the picture, I am convinced that the beach is a even more evil place full of sand tunnels that will collapse and suffocate my baby and an undertow that will suck my boy out to sea.

Nevertheless, we were going to San Diego and I was feeling a pull toward the beach that I just couldn't seem to fight. While I believe it is okay for Charlie to have a healthy fear of the ocean (and water in general) I want it to be more like a "respect" for the water kind of fear and not "the-monsters-under-your-bed-are-going-to-eat-your-feet-at-night" kind of fear.

So we put on our swimsuits, grabbed our beach towels and headed down to the beach. The kids had fun, digging for sand crabs and getting pummeled by the crashing waves. I even ventured into the water up to my knees and I can honestly say that I did not have a terrible time. This is progress. Charlie loved the water as well and would point to it and say, "Watey?" He even got mad when we tried to take him back up to the blankets to warm up when we noticed his lips we turning blue. He lasted a few minutes more until a particularly strong wave knocked him right down despite the fact that Grant was hanging on to his hands. Grant stood him up and Charlie reached up for him and said through his sniffles, "Daddy? Night-Night." Translation: "Get me the hell out of this water."

The next day was the world famous San Diego Zoo and do you know who was the most excited to go?

ME!!!

Do you know why? Because there are pandas at this zoo! PANDAS!! I loved pandas as a kid and I collected them. I had glass, ceramic, porcelain, plush, you name it. I remember the one Christmas my parents got me a stuffed, life-size panda. That was a good Christmas.

The San Diego zoo is roughly the size of Rhode Island so a plan of attack is a must upon entering the park. We were going to start with a bus ride around the zoo and then lunch where they...wait for it...served booze!

Zoo: 1, Legoland: 0.

Margaritas and beer to be exact. We opted for Margaritas. Did you know that Margaritas come in a can? Because they do. And they are carbonated and they taste just about as good as you would expect them too. Hmmmmm....

Zoo: 0, Legoland: 1

The San Diego Zoo is beautiful. Charlie was in love with any of the animals that could be seen swimming in the water through the glass like the hippos and the turtles. In fact, when it was time to leave the turtles he threw a fit that was so aggressive it almost made me say to the other parents admiring the turtles, "I know that blond little boy who is screaming and kicking looks nothing like the man who is picking him up and dragging him out of here, but I swear he is not being kidnapped. He is just really into turtles." It was clear that Charlie was truly enjoying the zoo and this was better than any park out there, free or otherwise.

Zoo: 1, Legoland: 0

By this time of the day, I have said this about 14,000 times: "So, seriously guys, when are we going to see the pandas?" And the time had come. I was so excited for this moment. San Diego is one of the two places in the country that you can see pandas. It was a childhood dream finally coming true. There was a line to get into the panda enclosure. As we approached the entrance we could hear a zookeeper telling guests fun facts about the pandas using a microphone. We walked into the enclosure and the zookeeper says, "Again, I need to ask that you please be QUIET. If you don't Gao Gao will go back inside and you will not be able to see him AT ALL!"

Be quiet? Says the woman over the PA system. And there was the panda, curled up in a ball in the corner. I am also 99% sure that he had his paws in his ears, what with all the yelling at zoo guests that was going on. His face was completely hidden and his black and white fur barely peaking out from behind the bush he was cowering behind. Next to the series finale of "Six Feet Under" it was probably the most anti-climactic moment of my life. I'm still not totally convinced that it was not a stuffed one from the gift shop.

Zoo: 0, Legoland: 1

To ease the pain from the lame panda viewing, there was only one option. Ice-cream for all! I think based on the following picture Charlie would agree, the Zoo won.


Nom Nom Nom


Turtles


Koala, or as Charlie called it "Wall-ah!" I wanted to take him home so I could use him as a pillow every night. Grant said no.


Two of the cutest little monkeys I saw that day.

Oh, where is the picture of the panda you ask? We didn't get one because instead of coming out to play Gao Gao decided to CRUSH MY CHILDHOOD DREAM!

I blame Legoland.