Sorry for the mix-up but we hit the zoo earlier but there were too many photos to include with the other threads, so here they are, followed by some random shots):

 

Flamingo!

 

Native bird I believe:

 

Native tree - from a distance I thought someone had spraypainted those colors on:

 

Natve birds:

 

Pardon the blur, I had to shoot this through a tight cage, but this guy thought I might be hitting on his wife (pffft!!!)

 

But apparently my explanation that I thought HE was the hot one didn't go over so well  :roll:

 

The most drag-queenish flora I've ever seen (LOVED it!)

 

Ring-tailed Lemurs:

 

Fuzzy monkey-types - didn't have the time to get their names, sorry:

 

 

Turtles in dating season - didn't have time to see how that played out:

 

Flora!

 

 

Spiny-tailed fauna:

 

And probably my favorite animal in the zoo - a box turtle from Pakistan; I swear I thought it was either a stray Ukrainian easter egg or a decorative piece:

 

More of his scaly friends:

 

 

A flora interlude:

 

And back to the scaly folks:

 

 

 

Possibly the most fascinating creature - I've NEVER in my life seen a setup like this - the end was about the size of a paint can!!! I felt so inadequate:

 

 

Mind you, the owner was about as standoffish as this beast:

 

But the hippos were at their playful best (so said a lady next to me who had visited the zoo for the past 8 years and never saw them):

 

 

 

But there were other critters to visit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As well as other flora - this was a white cacti sorta plant - who knew?

 

And of course, the bird of paradise plant:

 

The peacocks/peahens are the descendants of the Hawaiian royals and are allowed to roam at will:

 

The zoo has an extraordinary bird exhibit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But as Nelly Furtado sang, all good things must come to an end - so I leave you with the parting shots:

 

Our last sunset -  mind you, this day was the most overcast, so we didn't expect any kind of sunset:

 

 

 

 

The next morning, one of the hotels was replacing an HVAC unit - here we thought they were filming an action film!

 

Ah well, at least I got a funky Escher-esque balcony shot!

 

Overhead shot of the Royal Hawaiian:

 

And the Marriott:

 

The DFS (Duty Free Shopping) Galleria tower:

 

St. Augustine's Church:

 

And people-watching from our balcony and the hotel bar:

 

 

 

 

Hey tourists in the Sebring convertible, you've earned your @sshat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And after 9 hours of flight and 2 colicky babies (one who was so bad I actually asked the attendant if there was a "special needs" baby on board) later, I was actually happy to see Cleveland in its snow-covered glory:

 

Southern "edge city" Independence:

 

Blurred view of University Circle:

 

But what brought a smile to my travel-weary face:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the west side neighborhoods:

 

 

 

 

 

Along with Lakewood:

 

 

 

And West Park:

 

 

 

And over I-480, last shot before we landed - hope you enjoyed :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what a lovely series!

 

 

Faaaab-youuu-luss! Thanks for sharing your beautiful vacation with us! A standing  :clap: :clap: :clap::clap:

I hate you.