Don’t Go to the Zoo When it’s Hot

Posted on 06. Feb, 2012 by in Destinations, Photos, South America

We may have made a tactical error. While Buenos Aires is a beautiful city, Summer may be the least desirable time of year to visit. Not only is it brutally hot and rainy, it’s a ghost town.

Hmm, well maybe we can go outside on... thursday?

To escape the heat, Portenos (residents of BA) flee the city in January and February to vacation at the beach. Businesses totally shut down and the streets empty out. It’s a little bit eery, but understandable- we too have spent many of our days cooped up inside with the AC blasting (this is the reason travel bloggers don’t get tans).

We did venture out one day when the temperature crept above 90 degrees, to go to Temaikan Biopark with former Buenos Aires expat Rease from Travelated. Temaikan is a serious zoo on par with the fanciest in the United States and miles above the shabby downtown city zoo.

It was a cool place, but again our timing needs work. Even at the zoo the animals seemed to be on vacation, hidden from view to escape the heat. We walked around peering into enclosures, trying to find the dozing creatures:

Can you spot the tortoise?

What about the wallaby?

Sleepy bats

lazy bums

It stands to figure that the only animals that weren’t bothered by the heat were the birds. Here’s where I ran into a problem. And by problem I mean I just discovered my latent phobia of parrots.

I can’t really explain it. Maybe it stems from the brutal parrot attack I sustained in Australia last year  or maybe it’s just the fact that parrots are creepy and make really weird noises (don’t even get me started on the talking ones).

So I did not fare well in the parrot enclosure, which was set up with a giant net over the area so that nothing stands between you and the pretty monsters. One took off suddenly and I nearly tramples a young mother in an attempt to fend off the eye clawing attack that was sure to come.

We want to eat your face

I mean seriously, I’d rather run up against these guys:

I digress, the lesson is not actually “beware of terrifying rainbow death birds.” The lesson is “don’t go to the zoo when it’s hot.” In fact, don’t do anything when it’s hot, it’s just not worth it. I’m going to go take a nap with the AC blasting now.

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11 Responses to “Don’t Go to the Zoo When it’s Hot”

  1. Cori

    06. Feb, 2012

    When I was about 6 my family and I went to Disney World. On the hottest day of our vacation, about 99 degrees we went to Animal Kingdom Park. I remember everyone in my family being very hot and a bit cranky. I think it was then I realized high temperatures little shade, long lines and the smell of animal poop was just not my kind of fun.

    Also – I could not spot the Wallaby in your photo!

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  2. Nicole

    06. Feb, 2012

    As a DC resident, I can speak firsthand when I say zoos in the heat are the WORST. As I am sure you’ve experienced, the National Zoo is a nightmare in the summer months. I feel like you have the worst weather luck – either rainy or too hot. Hope you end up somewhere temperate soon!

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  3. Toni

    06. Feb, 2012

    I’ve definitely made this mistake before!
    Have to say though that I don’t think you went to the zoo…the last bird looks like something out of Jurassic Park! haha

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  4. dtravelsround

    06. Feb, 2012

    Ha ha! It’s like playing “Where’s Waldo?”!!

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  5. Katherine McKeon

    07. Feb, 2012

    Don’t go ANYWHERE when it’s hot! The beach is the only exception, and that’s if you plan to swim. I am the biggest heat baby I know (so it makes sense that I moved to Africa, right?). This past weekend while the rest of Cape Town laid out to get a tan I whined away the hours in whatever patch of shade I could find. I hope it cools off where you are. At least you are getting some good writing done in the air conditioning! Thanks for sharing your travel adventures!

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  6. Beverley | Pack Your Passport

    07. Feb, 2012

    But Steph the parrots are so pretty! I get what you’re saying though; when birds can talk it’s just plain weird.

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  7. Waegook Tom

    07. Feb, 2012

    Hahahaha I love this! But I totally agree – I was in Sydney’s Taronga Zoo a couple of years ago and it was brutally hot. All the animals were hiding. I’d hoped to see kangaroos hopping around but they were just lying in the shade…as were the lions, the tigers, the tapirs…the only activity was in the nocturnal house!

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  8. Patrick Hearn

    07. Feb, 2012

    Parrots can be creepy! If you take a look at one up close, it’s easy to imagine what those long, pointed talons could do to skin.

    I kind of miss the heat, as I’ve been itching to swim lately. I’m sure I’ll regret saying this once summer arrives, since our winter has had roughly a week of cold weather and has been mostly mild.

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  9. Andy Hayes

    08. Feb, 2012

    Well, the good thing is you weren’t mauled by any animals, so it wasn’t too bad, eh? :)

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  10. Ron | Active Planet Travels

    08. Feb, 2012

    Beautiful pics. I love the macaws! Such graceful creatures but you’re right….they will eat your face off if they choose to do so…

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