Galapagos (there is an accent somewhere, but where?) Islands

[franceslievens]

P. had some work to do in Chicago (he was attending a conference) so on the first couple of days I was left to my own means. The ever reliable lijability sent me to The Field Museum. It's filled with stuffed animals and has a wickedly cool old-fashioned feel. P. didn't really like that, and thus I went on my own, while he sat in an air conditioned room and listened to talks fooled around on the wireless internets.
Thanks to being a teacher I got in for free and could afford some additional temporary exhibitions. I did the one on Darwin – a good, well-informed exhibition explaining Darwin's life, his work on his Theory of Evolution, and how this theory must be viewed next to creationistic beliefs (as in creationism and intelligent design aren't scientific, Darwin's theory is).
Most of the information wasn't new to me, but it was fun to see the actual instruments owned and used by Darwin (shipped over from a museum in London) and to look at his collection of beetles (some nice specimens he had there). There even was a real life lizard. They had to put a sticker on its terrarium that it truly was alive for it didn't bother to move about much. It did sneeze when I was looking at it, leaving the window grosely covered in snot. Lizards aren't the kind of animal that carries around a hanky just in case.
The biggest portion of an exhibition like this is of course reserved for Darwin's stay at the Galapagos islands and the animals he encountered there. There were pictures and descriptions of different beasts only to be found on specific islands. As much fun as it is, sometimes it's even more fun to view moving images. And look: what the museum doesn't provide I find of the internet. These 60 seconds out of the life of different animals on the Galapagos Islands come from Ironic Sans via Boing Boing. (Also check out the Galapagos photos.)

Comments

[lijability.livejournal.com]

Among my favorite part of the Fiel was its colleciton of Egyptian artifacts and mummies; and like I said before I saw the King Tut exhibit at the Field when it toured American in the early '70s. I still remember that we were in a long line next to a couple of cheerleaders from Oklahoma University and the docents came out counting people because only a set amount would be allowed to enter. Luckily we got in line really early in the morning. After seeing Tut we spent the rest of the day at the Field and I guess I got enamored by the gem display and the earth science part of it because as I remember it that was a big part of what got me into geology.

And happy birthday!

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the Egyptian artifacts, because I didn't have time for those. I saw a lot of stuffed animals, which was kinda cool, and did the early American societies (previously known as Indians). And of course the Darwin one and something about things under the ground (but that wasn't very good when you're a grown-up -- very fun for kids though).

Plus it was a Saturday, so kinda crowded. After a while all the people walking around became pretty tiresome.

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Hey, you've even got the fitting icon for this post!

I must be rather tired. My brain is not working properly. I read all about the stuffed animals about an hour ago and it slightly puzzled me, but not enough to question my assumption about what kind of stuffed animal you were talking about.

I've just realized that you aren't talking about children's toys. *headdesk*

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

Aren't those stuffed animals as well, then?

Yep, I found that icon some time ago. I think it was even my default once upon a time. I kept it in my icons, because I knew this is a recurring theme with me, so I dug Charles out of the icon-closet again. :-)

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Well, they are, especially in NAmE according to the OALD, but just from the context I should have thought of taxidermists not Steiff.

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

I like the fact you think I go to an exhibition of stuffed toys and dare to talk about it on the internets where you can point and mock me.

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

I didn't even think about it - I was exhausted. It registered somewhere on the Huh? scale and that was it.