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Tuesday 27 May 2014

Chester Bank Holiday Monday

So after contemplating Chester or Blackpool, I decided upon Chester given that weather looked decent and Blackpool would be even more crowded.  First decision was to decide "Do I take the fast and more expensive train or the cheap and cheerful option?" Almost £5 difference in the price and only 25 minutes more travel time meant cheap and cheerful Northern Rail won.  Left my flat at 8.30am to allow as much time as possible to get to Chester Zoo as I'd not been there for more years than I care to remember.  Not too many punters on the train.

As usual, everything was planned out with maps and timetables. Which is why I ended up going the wrong way after we arrived in Chester when aiming for Grosvenor Park.  Turning the map through 180 degrees pointed me in the right direction.  There was only one problem with the park - a lot of the paths were fenced off so the "seasonal flower beds" couldn't be seen and the rose garden was even devoid of buds.


Picturesque rock garden with a solitary cloud



Going round the grounds, you get to Quarry Garden with some archways.  This is the panoramic view. Think I've done pretty well to not get that many people in shot.


Nearest the city centre within the park, lies the ruins of St Johns Church. Fair number of people milling around all snapping away. Wonder how many people are cursing the effects of the sunlight?  This is the best of the bunch of photos from that area.



So onwards I went going past the amphitheatre and through the Roman Garden and down to the River Dee quayside, following the city walls. Noticed one lady had enough of walking in her flip-flops. Boat trips were available but the time-cost equation meant it was a no go for me although a number people going on board, with couple of largish boats and a speedboat at the moorings.



Round past the university and the Little Roodee where there were plenty of coaches parked up alongside the hundreds cars, with a couple from Switzerland and France. I came to a bit of "Chester through the ages"....


Modern... university. Medieval... Castle ruins.  Roman.... City Walls. 

Time was moving on with a bus to catch so through to the shopping area and take what seems to be the bog standard photo of the Eastgate clock.  Here's my version of it.



Then it was round to bus station passing by Chester Cathedral. Lots of people within the grounds, perhaps taking advantage of the tours?


Onto the bus station, tucked away behind the town hall. Very basic with small shelters.  10 minute hop on the bus and into Chester Zoo.  Car park was rammed and long queue to get in.  £22 entrance fee. Get the map and then proceed to take no notice of it so I went round the zoo in a haphazard manner.

Monkey enclosure and a macaque was tucking in to his food


"It's alright, macaque, old bean, I've had my lunch already so you've no need to make with those eyes!" 

Next up were a pair of pelicans.  With all the fencing around, it was a bit of a task to try and hide it in all the photos. Still, this wasn't too bad.


 A nod to my heritage with this pair of viracunas. Found in Peru.



 Alexandr Orlov couldn't make a personal appearance so he sent his representatives...


Quite a number meerkats and their pups, with some that could only be described as weeks old going off the size of them. Lots of attention paid to them,


Through to an aviary with brightly coloured birds, some inside and some flying around. Managed to catch this resting on a branch.


 The primates were all split up with this chimpanzee looking as though he's saying "We're not worthy!".


The jaguars were playing hide and seek.  Going inside their building and nowhere to be found but the notice did say that if they were not there, try the pen.  Made for a much better photo.




 Numerous pink flamingos around.



The aquarium was nice with a number of species I've not seen before. The lighting played a bit of havoc trying to take some photos but this is the best of the bunch.  Couple of sea urchins included in this shot.



Tiger, tiger burning bright... just don't start growling at me and keep looking at what's happening in that direction. There was another one on the prowl around the perimeter with a couple of offspring sat in the grass.


Then it was home time but not before getting this photo of a grey owl.  Successful day trip with over 300 photos taken



The downside to the day was that my back started to get a bit painful halfway round the zoo. Need to plan another visit and use the map instead of working out if I had been round that bit before and what I needed to look out for. Back home at 9.30pm.

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