December 28, 1993: Busch Gardens

Went to Busch Gardens with mom, Grandma, and her friend, Edna.  Went on a river raft ride and two log rides and got wet.   Saw alligators, gorillas, giraffs, camels, elephants, birds, monkeys, and zebras.    Listened to Congo type music.   Learned that crocodiles and alligators are born in 2 months.   The sex is determined by the temperature.   The mother hatches eggs and then covers them with leaves, dirt, etc and then sucks up water and puts it over them.  This decomposes and heats up the eggs.   Eggs that are heated from 86 degrees or higher become male and below 86 degrees become female.   Up to 50 eggs are hatched and only 1 percent survive.    The reason so little survive is that some are eaten by other animals.  Saw an animal nursery.  Mom bought a Moroccan purse.   I bought a t-shirt.  Ate corned beef sandwiches and German potato salad and watched a Christmas program.  Today was so warm and gorgeous.   I found out later that today Busch Gardens set an all time record in attendance.  Just think, I was a part of that history.