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We're seeing Galveston
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Our first stop, after the hour plus drive to Galveston is Moody Gardens. I have an appointement to tour the Experience Music Pyramid, and look at some performance sites for our groups.
Well, the director thinks we should see a "little" bit of the complex. It looks interesting to us, so we say "lead on". Our first stop is Rainforest Pyramid. This 10 story pyramid is divided into three "zones" the Americans, The Asian and theAfrican. We start at an area that I swore I saw in Mexico, and was recreated here. The birds are amazing, notthing is "tied down" the plants from the rainforests of all three are unique to examine. Most are exotic, lots of colorful parrotts. We spotted (with help) a rare tiger bat.
Water is everwhere, from calming pools filled with plants and fish to huge waterfalls, their mist refreshing the ozone. What was really unusual, is some of the pools have plexiglass bottoms, so you can watch the fish as they swim under the water. Walked amost by a Two-toed sloth, without knowing what it was until it was pointed out to us.
The Asian Rainforest area was loaded with orchads and ferns. This was another area to take your time in.Call me dumb, but when I think of Africa, I think of dessert and sand, and maybe a camel or two. But a rainforest in Africa? Should have known, why else did we give the name African Violets to that flower.
There's also coffe and vanilla plants, along with ebony and mahogany trees. The problem is you need a LOT of time in here to truly see all the plant and wild life. We actually had more than I knew. One of the plants is used to cure lukemia. And we're told that this is more than an exhibit. Many scientists and botanists come here to study different plants in an enviroment similar to what they would have grown in in their own countries.
The American Rainforest was unique also. Again, many of the plants were medicinal based. Others ranged from cactus to exotic flowering plants.
We're off to the next pyramid, which we take the "private golf cart" ride. The complex is so large, that you would need it as an employee to get around.
Next is the Aquarium Pyramid. This is the most unusual aquarium I have been in. The Penguin exhibit is one you can stand at for hours. The King Penguins are "native Texans" Employees from Moody Gardens went down to Antartica to collect eggs, and brought them back here to hatch. It wasn't an easy project, from incubation to hatching. And what happens when you don't have any penguins to teach the youngens what to do? You act like a penguin and show them how to waddle off the "ice berg" and hit the water. Yeah, someone had to do it. Now, the newer hatchees have their parents instruct them.
The acrylic shark tunnell has the reincarnations of Jaws swimming right at you, and over you.The largest "tank" is the Caribbean sea area. The variety of colors, sizes, and shapes floating or resting on the "oceans floor" is amazing. The North Pacific has a kelp forest and tidal pool exhibits.Along with fur and harbor seals and sea lions. Color starfish and things I can't recognize. Even fish from Alaska.
The South Atlantic area has a two story viewing area. The top is what you would see above ground and the bottom area is below water.
The South Pacific is a quick visit to the Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef. Unique in its own. Again, we seem to be flying thru here. On the way back up to the top, for those like me who are looking to much and trying to see everything with out realizing the pattern of the building, we are told that this is the largest aquarium and the most unique.
The water follows a pattern, from warm (the Pacific Northwest) to cold, the Antartic. So you go downwards - following the water patterns of the world, as you see what climate changes mean to the verious fish and plant life. Dahh. I did miss that concept.
On to the Pyramid that we came to see (the others were a huge bonus). Experience Music. This is smaller than the other pyramids, but for music lovers, there is a lot to occupy your time. Various instruments, along with computerized equipment, sound boards, a large keyboard on the floor that you can jump from note to note, and a recording studio.
Unfortunely we did not have time to play in here. Outside of E.M is their riverboat for cruising up the waterway. We were asked if we wanted to see the hotel/conference rooms. Yep, another golf cart ride and in to one of the nicest hotels I've seen. Even stopped in the spa area to check out that facility. This would be a nice long weekend escape. All the entertainment, a beautiful pool, and a spa. And you can park your car and walk to everything. Hmm.
We're happy for the tour, and are asked if we want to get something to eat. What time is it? No, it can't be, is Texas on another time zone? It's already after 1. We've got to get moving.
Next on our list is Galveston Ocean Star Oil Rig. Never been on one before, and it's my only opportunity. This is cool. You walk a long ramp to enter the rig. We looked around the first floor, which was about donors and some too technical things for me. The second floor exhibits were about Seismic and Geology and drilling. The Sub Sea and ROV & diving were really interesting.
I liked the third foor best - the life aboard a rig. These displays and mock up's of a cafeteria and crew room. The little escape submarine is located on the outside deck. Pretty interesting to see the area inside the rig.
It's check in at the hotel (had I known about the Moody Gardens hotel, it would have been there). And then something to eat. We opted for Willi G's, on the harborfront. There was a 45 minute wait, so we walked up to the Galveston Hurricane Museum. They have a silent movie film of the flood. You read about the devistation , especially after the one we just had, but to see a majority of a town washed away just grabs at your heart. What amazed me is what we learnt. Since there was no place on the island to bury the 6,000 plus bodies, men and women were "drafted" to pick up bodies and throw them back into the sea. Unfortunately, they washed back up again. Then it was decided to prevent any epedimics, the bodies would be burnt. If you were drafted to do this and didn't, you were shot on the spot. How many of the burners lived with these memories until their death? This movie is worth seeing. The seats aren't that comfortable, but you shouldn't be in an easy chair while you watch the effects of over 6,000 people dieing in such a short time period.
I'm trying to shake off the memories of the film before and during dinner, but some of the scenes come back to haunt me repeatedly.
It's late when we ge to the hotel. And a little tired. We've got a packed day again tomorrow. 
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