Going to the Zoo!

I finally went to the Zoo today!!I have lived here for 5 years and this is my first time to visit here, can you believe? I think I had seen some zoos in the past that just seemed to be caged animals and a bit cruel, so it didn't seem to be anything I would want to do - and they are not a cheap day out, either, are they?
Those are my excuses.
My reasons for going are that I have learned that this zoo is one of, if not the best zoo and high on conservation of animals.
I also learned that I can become a member!
No, not a resident!
An annual membership fee and I can go as often as I wish.
I thought about it last year, but my friend Rachel said I needed to get better first as it is quite a trek round and therefore not a good mix with post viral fatigue!
Over the last few months I have been building up my walking and now I have a job too, funding my membership made this a viable option.
So, today was my first trip to this zoo.
I have been looking forward to it all week.
Well for months really, since Rachel first started telling me about it.
As the snow started falling in quite big flakes this morning, I wondered at the wisdom of going. It soon turned to rain.
Yippee.
Off I went.
I didn't need to follow the signs or the map though, as I was personally escorted around by my friend Rachel and baby Daniel. This family go very regularly, so I just chose the animals I wanted to see today and off we went as they knew the way.
The luxury of it all.
I was like a child in a sweet shop.
We saw monkeys, red pandas, okapis, butterflies, giraffe, elephant, tigers to name a few.
Oh and lunch and coffee and cake too! (No surprise there!)
The photos of the animals aren't the best as it has been snowing and raining today, here! In the UK that combination makes photos a bit grey and dull or too dark.
I loved the tigers but it was hard to get a good picture through the wires but as Rachel said, better the wires be there! That's for sure!

The elephants braved the outdoors whilst the giraffes made a run for it from the snow!The rhino were already safe inside.
Thank you Rachel, for a lovely day.
I will go again soon.
Who will come too?