Today we ventured into Amsterdam for the first time to see the Artis Zoo. Our double-decker train was pretty crowded, so the boys sat in one seat and I sat across the quad. Miles demanded, by pointing at Eliot's seat, to sit with Eliot. So off we went on our hour-long ride to Amsterdam Centraal Station (CS). Once we arrived at CS, we took Tram #9 to the entrance of the zoo. Amsterdam is a big city. We passed great sights on our way to the zoo: Koninklijk Paleis, Muntplein, Rembrandt Plein, and the Amstel River. It is an oasis of peace and quiet admist the hustle and bustle of the city. It really is in the middle of the city. We got to one edge of the park and there's a huge canal with apartments and boats and buildings. Pretty amazing. We saw this drawbridge just outside the gates across from the African Savannah exhibit.
Artis, the Royal Zoological Society 'Natura Artis Magistra', was founded on 1 May 1838, at the initiative of the book dealer G.F.Westerman. Its purpose was: 'to promote the knowledge of Natural History, in a clear and agreeable way; both by assembling an extensive collection of living animals and by displaying mounted exhibits from the animal kingdom.' This gate looks like it did in 1854. The zoo is the oldest in the Netherlands and by some accounts mainland Europe.
Eliot stands between a wonderful art display in the aquarium. I have the wingspan of a Egyptian vulture - how about you?
posted by Whitney @ 3:03 AM
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