We spent today at Sea World! We drove down from Anaheim in the morning and went straight to Sea World. We saw the dolphin show, the sea lion and otter show, the pets show, and the orca show. I was actually rather underwhelmed by the orca show…they make such a big deal out of it, and it’s cool that they fit four of them into one tank, but they didn’t even do very much. The dolphins, which we saw earlier in the day, were much more impressive. I couldn’t help feel a little unsettled during the marine mammal shows, though, because I know they are smart animals and keeping them in captivity isn’t the best thing for them. Neither is doing tricks over and over. But I really liked the pets show, which starred mostly dogs, several cats, two pigs, and a few ducks. Most of those animals - especially the dogs - are happy doing that kind of thing. They are domesticated anyway, and they live for the chance to play around. There was at least one cat who declined to do what it was supposed to, which was entertaining. They had the dogs come around at the end of the show, and because I asked for it, they brought out a cat as well! We wanted to go on the “Journey to Atlantis” roller coaster but it turned out to have a flume element, and it was too cool for that, so we ruled it out. We did end up on the “Wild Arctic” simulator, which was pretty lame and hokey, but it was still amusing for a few minutes.
Right now my network connection is not too good…again. It’s better than in Anaheim, where it didn’t work at all one night and then worked poorly the next night (and cost $10!), but it’s still really slow. I hope the HoJo in El Segundo will be better. I’m trying to upload pictures from today but I’m having a tough time of it…I may not get all of them up there tonight, we’ll see. Also, I am sunburned! Whoops…not enough shade at Sea World, and I forgot that it’s possibly to get a sunburn in January. Welcome to California, I guess! Tomorrow we are going to visit Old Town and take the trolley down to San Ysidro, then walk across the border into Mexico. I hope to have Mexican food for lunch…har har har!
There’s a Sea World in my hometown of San Antonio and one off-season day I went first thing in the morning. I and a friend of mine found ourselves at the penguin habitat with no one else around and one of the keepers asked if we would like to go in. No kidding! He had us put on slickers and rubber boots and we had to walk through this tray of disinfectant to keep anything bad off our feet, and then we were in there with the penguins.
Petting them is one of those things I’m happy to have done, because how many people can say they’ve petted a penguin? When I first reached out my hand, the penguin bit me — and how many people have been bitten by a penguin? — but I moved my hand more slowly the second time and got to stroke its back.
Because penguin feathers are like pins and hairlike, it was like petting a very cold, solid-bodied dog. Quite unlike touching a bird. And the best memory I have of Sea World.
Very overrated, overpriced,and overcrowded. Take these comments to heart please - - -
I almost went to San Diego this month - would have been a house swap - but it fell through, unfortunately.
What’s an orca?
I guess experience is in the eye of the beholder - everyone’s entitled to have their own experience. Sounds like some people will absolutely love Sea World, while others won’t. And that’s all fair enough.
take care…
There are few thrills and animal shows are somewhat predictable, but it’s still fun.