Day 6: So Many Animals!

So you must forgive me for not regaling you with the story of yesterday's adventure before I went to bed. I was exhausted when I got back from dinner. I called my mom to check in and then I passed out.

So let's turn back time (*cue Cher music*) and take a look at yesterday's adventure.

Yesterday was ZOO DAY!! I got up early and "walked" down to to the Smithsonian Institute National Zoo.

I was able to get there a few minutes before the gates opened, so I was able to fill every second of my day with animal-y goodness.

My first stop was the Reptile House. Usually something like this would freak me out (I don't do well with scales and slimy skin and slithering), but I was excited to see things I'd not seen before. It turns out, Disney's animals and the couple of zoos I'd been to before did not expose me to much diversity. I was fascinated by the poisonous snakes, the terrapins, the crocodiles. But what caught my attention the most was this huge alligator snapping turtle. I don't know what his name was, but I called him Rex. He reminded me of a big ass dinosaur as he stalked his goldfish around his enclosure.

After I finished with the creepy crawlies/slitheries/swimmys, I headed to the Great Ape House. Sadly, I wasn't able to get any pictures of the orangutans hanging from the ropes that extend over the front of the zoo, but that's okay. I got some good pictures inside.

After the apes, it was off to the Small Mammal House. When I first got there, I made friends with the Goeldi's Monkey. First he wandered my way to watch two armadillos diddle each other in the public eye. (I don't know if they were really doing anything dirty, but it SURE looked that way!) After that ended, he became fascinated by my scooter... more specifically, the key to said scooter. I saw my first fennic fox and I need one (but not really because I don't deal in illegally imported animals). You'd think that I'd have seen some of these animals before, but I had not. My sheltered existence had not previously included the sight of a skunk... smell, yes... sight, no.

After the small mammals, it was off to the Asian Trek, but first, elephants!

The Asian Trek section of the zoo had more animals that I’d never seen before…

Pit stop at the gift shop!! This year, Micah's (my "nephew") Christmas will be sponsored by the National Zoo... except for the penguin... the penguin is mine.

A few stops at some side exhibits, and then it was time for PANDAS!!! I can’t believe I didn’t think to selfie with the pandas! I'm so ashamed.

After the pandas, I started making my way back out of the zoo, but I still had things to see! There were a bunch of side exhibits as I made my way to the front, as well as the American section.

So overall, the day was awesome. I got there at 8:00 AM and I didn't leave until almost 3:00 PM. Sadly, because of my late departure, I didn’t get to do Washington Monument lookout tour. That's okay though. I hadn't originally planned on doing it, so it was going to be a bonus visit. Maybe next time. Besides, I had to head back to the hotel to prep for dinner.

Dinner... ohhhhh dinner... Dinner this evening was at a place called Rooster & Owl. It. Was. Magnificent. It was a tasting course menu at a Michelin starred restaurant (bucket list, check!). I'll let you get a taste of the restaurant first.

Now on to the jealousy... and no gallery here because each course deserves its individual recognition...

The first course I chose for dinner was fresh burrata with a balsamic reduction, pickled cherries and a pickled cherry reduction with toasted and crushed pistachios.

Course two nearly had me nearly proposing to the chef... meet course two: Parisian Gnocchi fresh, handmade gnocchi with four types of mushrooms (including king trumpet, maitake and enoki) and a mushroom cream sauce...

Course 3 had me foodgasming at the restaurant. Course three was “tamalini”. This dish was house-made ravioli with a cotija cheese and sweet corn masa filling, topped with more cotija cheese, charred sweet corn, and a popcorn crema.

Then it was time for dessert and I was DONE! Dessert was a profiterole with a gianduja (dark chocolate) mousse, black currant jam, and fresh raspberries.

But we can't forget my other dinner items... a yummy watermelon cocktail and a finishing box that included a earl grey bonbon and a berry gel.

After dinner, it was back to the hotel because I was just about in a food coma. I called my mom to check in with her and then promptly passed out. Now we're here!

Day seven is going to be busy. I'm going to hit up the Smithsonian and try to do whatever museums are open today. I'm also going to try to get to the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam memorial, and the Korean memorial.

Day six in the books!

Day 6: So Many Animals!

Recent Posts

Commentaires