On the first Saturday of my first winter break in London, I found myself gaping at the mechanical clock with tiny moving birds at the entrance of the Zoo, with the other guests taking pictures of themselves and the mechanism. It was ten o’ clock, just in time for the opening.
“Fancy a picture?” Dmitri asked, his camera making a clicking sound the moment I looked.
“Hey, at least let me get ready first,” I said, watching the corner of his mouth lift as he viewed the shot. I probably looked funny there.
“Sorry.” He pursed his lips together, trying for a neutral expression. “Well, shall we?” he said, and gestured for us to go inside.
“Where do you want to go first?” he asked, handing me a brochure. I was told I might not be able to get a full experience of the zoo during winter because some animals were hibernating or in hiding, but it didn’t keep me from getting excited. It was the oldest zoo in London, after all. And it was my first time to see it.
