La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE THE world is too much for me. I’m sure many, if not most of you, feel the same way. The feeling always passes, but sometimes it takes days. Yesterday was a pleasure with San Geraldo.
Bioparc Fuengirola (our zoo) wasn’t crowded, although our decision to have lunch there when we arrived was ill informed (mostly due to inefficiency). Had we known what a mess it would be to wait in line and place an order, we would have stopped at a pleasant-looking tapas bar across the street. But the walk around the zoo enabled us to quickly forget that. Besides, the food was good.
It’s better to visit the zoo early or late when there’s more activity. Those times are much better for photos, too, when the sun isn’t so high in the sky. We were there in the middle of the day. So we saw animals mostly lazing in the afternoon warmth. Of course, I’ve never seen the sloths do anything but that. So slothful.
Today, I woke up feeling overwhelmed by the world again. I forced myself out for a long walk after breakfast, but asked SG for a hug before I left. He’s always ready to comply. I had a siesta after lunch and woke up feeling worse. But I get to video chat with my friend Susan shortly and that will make us both (her and I) feel better.
SG and I are both working diligently on his book. There will be stories to tell about the process. I have a process; I haven’t quite figured out his. It’s entertaining. Click the images to feel the love.
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A VECES SIENTO QUE ES demasiado para mí. Estoy seguro de que muchos, si no la mayoría, sienten lo mismo. El sentimiento siempre pasa, pero a veces lleva días. Ayer fue un placer con San Geraldo.
Bioparc Fuengirola (nuestro zoológico) no estaba abarrotado, aunque nuestra decisión de almorzar allí cuando llegamos estuvo mal informada (principalmente debido a la ineficiencia). Si hubiéramos sabido el lío que sería esperar en la fila y hacer un pedido, nos habríamos detenido en un bar de tapas de aspecto agradable al otro lado de la calle. Pero el paseo por el zoológico nos permitió olvidarlo rápidamente. Además, la comida era buena.
Es mejor visitar el zoológico temprano o tarde cuando hay más actividad. Esos momentos también son mucho mejores para las fotos, cuando el sol no está tan alta en el cielo. Estuvimos allí a la mitad del día. Así que vimos animales en su mayoría holgazaneando en el calor de la tarde. Por supuesto, nunca he visto a los perezosos hacer nada más que eso. Tan perezoso.
Hoy me desperté sintiéndome abrumado por el mundo nuevamente. Me obligué a dar un largo paseo después del desayuno, pero le pedí un abrazo a SG antes de irme. Siempre está listo para cumplir. Tomé una siesta después del almuerzo y me desperté sintiéndome peor. Pero pronto puedo conversar por video con mi amiga Susan y eso nos hará sentir mejor a los dos (a ella y a mí).
SG y yo estamos trabajando diligentemente en su libro. Habrá historias que contar sobre el proceso. Tengo un proceso; no me he dado cuenta del suyo. Es entretenido. Haz clic en las imágenes para sentir el amor.
SG asked if it was real. / SG preguntó si era real. 
Being a sloth. / Siendo un perezoso. 
Pygmy hippo / Hipopótamo pigmeo 
Red River Hog / Cerdo del Río Rojo
Great pictures! I love those pigs, and the orangutans, and…well…actually all of those critters. Seeing animals happily snoozing is a good way to offset the wearying and terrifying news of the world.
Steve:
Thanks. I did what I could given the bright sun. The orangs are amazing. There’s also a new baby born just a few weeks ago. I used to walk over to the zoo whenever I needed a lift. I renewed my membership and will start doing that again.
The pigs are so cute! I’m sending you a hug, Scoot. It’s not the same as a hug from that big, ol’, grumpy bear ya got there, but it’s heartfelt and the best I can do under the circumstances. You, know, living in different countries and all.
Deedles:
Your cyber hugs always make my days better. I’ll bet your actual hugs are the best. Sending an enormous cyber hug back to you.
Given the state of the world lately, it should hardly surprise us when we feel overwhelmed and/or blue. All one can do at such times is to find a healthy outlet for that fear: clean out a closet, organize a donation of books to a library, box up some gently used items for the Sally Ann, go to the Red Cross and donate blood, or do something that’s fun for you that gets you out of your headspace. Swiss chocolate helps too! And you’re lucky to live in such a beautiful place with SG, Dudo and Moose as your fellow travellers!
Tundra Bunny:
I’ve run out of things to donate. But give me another week. The chocolate chips are great, but I think I need something a bit more potent (still chocolate). The zoo really helps!
I love that you started out with a picture of the Trump family. I have a love hate relationships with zoos. While the better ones might be a saving grace for some species, I sometimes feel sorry for them not being in their natural habitat. But with humans not caring for them with developing land and poaching, etc, what chance do they have? I donated to two wildlife preserves in Kenya. I hope to visit them one day if I can. It’s almost like a zoo is the less of two evils.
I know how you feel about the world too.
Mistress Borghese:
The Trump family?!? I’m now dealing with three seriously offended Red River Hogs. This is definitely one of those better zoos. Breeding programs, preservation, education. Beautiful natural environments and large spaces.
I’m feeling like that sloth today myself. Just lazing about.
Debra:
Yep. I AM that sloth today.
I’m lounging like the animals, too. It’s a good day for it.
Wilma:
That’s my day today. I’m trying to DO things, but sometimes just contentedly and comfortably lounging is OK.
Amazing critters! What’s up with that alligator/croc?
Sometimes I can’t stand to hear/see any news at all.
A break is always good.
Hugs DO help.
Jim:
I tried to NOT read the news today. I didn’t succeed, but I stopped quickly. Clearly there’s something wrong with that — I think it’s a gharial (gavial). Would have put it at a disadvantage in the wild.
I thought “real” in Spanish meant “royal.” Live and learn! I love the sloths. I now pronounce that word like David Attenborough, Rhymes with “both.” I used to say it rhyming with “cloth,” but Attenborough’s way sounds so klassy.
Walt the Fourth:
Real does mean both royal and real in Spanish. Someone might correct me for using real; while someone else might correct THEM. I’ve never heard David Attenborough say Sloth. The OED agrees with him. I’m sure, however, the minute I say it correctly, someone will laugh. I’ll avoid arguments by calling it a perezoso (Spanish). I DO like the sound of SLOTH (like BOTH)!
Hugs from afar, Neat zoo, the apes look like fun, I have never seen a crock or gator with a snout turned like that.
David:
I didn’t find anything written about that croc (a gharial or gavial), but I’ve never seen another one like that. Maybe they rescued it.
Sending good thoughts your way. Hard to find them these days.
Must say, that reptile has a hell of an overbite.
Mary:
Thanks for the good thoughts. Sending some back to you, too. That poor gharial probably wouldn’t fare well in the wild.
I liked the hogs too.
Urspo:
They made me laugh.