a day at dana point

rick's uncle and his family were camping out at dana point for the holiday weekend. we stopped by for the day and the kids had a blast by the ocean!

the rocks and feathers we collected...

and some of them, i used for decoration...

never forgetting the flora...

another thing i love about visiting places like zoos and amusement parks are all the lovely trees, plants, foliage and flowers. usually i take just as many photos of these things as the animal photos but here is what i collected this time around (some with natalie modeling along)...





the next few are caudiciforms found at the zoo. i love how bizarre and strangely wonderful these plants are...































and last, a slideshow of selected photos showcased in a very cool, black and white, vintage-y way...

so long and thanks for all the fish!

after a great day at the zoo, we headed to sea world the following day....


our dear friend the walrus. we always have to say hello.




more polar bears! we just adore them...


a graceful beluga whale.


baby shamu at the believe (shamu) show!


nattie gets a closer look thanks to her binoculars.






i can't help but to think of the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy anytime i see dolphins in a show :)


skeletal fish inside one of the aquariums.


rays and guitar fish. we got to touch several bat rays at the touching pool (one of my favorite moments)!


the lurching, mysterious and ugly eels that i love to see..




this pair were so still, they look like painted wood carved statues.


cranes above us in the trees.


and another closer to us.

day one, at the zoo

we've come back safe and sound (and maybe a little sunburned on our cheeks) from visiting the zoo and sea world in san diego. i've selected some photos to share but you are also more than welcome to see some of our older photos from our visit last year (here, there, everywhere).

a picture with her papa, er, orangutan.


my dad feels at home with the monkeys.


and she is completely monkey see, monkey do.


i found a little growling bear.


a panda bear munches on his favorite snack.


swamp monkeys at grooming time.


i was trying to photograph a bee. i still like the photo.


two polar bears walking about (and one hoping to get it on..actually, he does, later. at least they had the 'decency' to go somewhere a little less public) :)


and one cooling down in the water (and not at all interested in what the other two are doing).


beautiful brown colors on a few arctic ducks.


a stellar sea eagle (i only wish i got a better photo).


no laughs from this sleeping hyena.


another sleepy creature, the skull crushing jaguar.


the mighty elephant.


oh dear, i have forgotten what this cute little baby is, my apologies! :)


a pair of rhinos, lazing about (one looks like he has the sniffles).


amazing how tall even young giraffes are.


i tried my best to get good photos of these beautiful owls (i was so happy to see them!) so this is my proof that they were there.





the prettiest snakes (to me) at the reptile house, both pythons i believe.