Hola! This has been a good week. My cross-cultural psychology students reported on investigations they made of neighborhoods (barrios) in Valencia this week, and we took a walking tour of one of the oldest neighborhoods, Benimaclet. In the psychology of adjustment class, students turned in papers on culture shock/managing stress as a sojourner. Everyone is coming to class and coming through with assignments–muy bueno! Two of the students and I toured the Botanical Gardens and a photography exhibit from Madagascar, which was interesting.
By far, the highlight of the week was a group excursion to the Bioparc, the “anti-zoo” zoo. The park is based on the concept of zoo-immersion, or completely immersing the visitor in wild habitats, and leaving the animals in as natural a setting as possible. The main goal of the park is to protect the welfare of the animals. It’s a wonderful place…there were monkeys and lemurs over our heads in the tree tops, there were no cages, and we were able to get much closer to the animals than in the typical zoo. Muy divertido!
Typical wall decoration in the old neighborhood of Benimaclet
Lots of tile used in Benimaclet design
Students enjoying the nieghborhood tour
Two students, Rebecca and Cassandra, at the Jardines Botanical
Hard to believe that desert plants grow here.
Entrance to the Bioparc
The grounds are beautiful.
Ring-tailed lemur overhead
Many species roam the grounds.
Rebecca and friends
Natasha and Seline and friend.
More human animals.
What an incredible zoo! Are there any like that in the states? What a wonderful experience for both animals and humans!