An Afternoon at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Fresno, California

Fresno is one of the places I had the opportunity to visit thanks to my husband traveling for his job. Luckily I could join him in some of the places where he worked. See my previous blogs on Monterey, Pacific Grove and Santa Cruz. 

In September of 2023 I was in Fresno for a long weekend and we visited the Fresno Zoo. It was a very hot day but enjoyable as we walked through the zoo and observed all the animals. We started out at the giant postcard. It makes a nice backdrop for your photo.

                                          

A native of Galapagos

**Be sure to look at my series of posts, Dream Trip - Galapagos Islands in 6 parts. Here is the link - 

Dream Trip - Galapagos Islands

Kingdoms of Asia

 
   

                                          Malayan Tiger  

Not very active on a hot day but still beautiful and one of my favorites.

Sloth Bear - 

With his head in his feeder, this was a crazy sight. 

<<This is what he looks like

 (not same bear)

Roo Walkabout

The kangaroos were pretty lazy but the emu was definitely showing off.

Kangaroos

                                                         

                                                                 Wallaby

                     Emu                                                       

        

  

Wolf Woods 

 

Red Wolf

This was quite a stately fellow. He sat very still, looking straight ahead.

Warthogs

What can you say about these guys? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

               Lemurs

Nice Tails!

                

         

Tropical Rain Forest & Birds of Prey Aviaries

This area had some water features and it was especially nice to walk through with the trees and the birds on the branches overhead. 

And the beautiful pink ones

Swingin' Monkeys

 (actually Siamang - a type of Gibbon)

There is also an orangutan hanging out in the lower left corner. 

They put on quite a show and were fun to watch.

Sea Lion Cove - California Sea Lion & Harbor Seal

This area has an outdoor "cove" and an underwater viewing area.

The African Adventure area was closed when we were there and I think we missed a few other areas. But it was a hot day so we took it easy without overdoing it in the heat. Overall, it was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. 

Czestochowa Poland - The Black Madonna

    Getting There

We started our journey to Czestochowa from the Wroclaw train station. Inside, the station was festively decorated for Christmas. The train was very comfortable with separate compartments for up to 6 people. We had the company of a Polish gentleman in our compartment. With the help of the cell phone for translation, he and my husband had a good conversation. The trip took about 2 hours. I love the trains in Europe. They are an efficient and usually a pleasant way to travel.

 

Our first destination in Czestochowa was Dom Pielgrzyma (Pilgrim's House) which is in the Jasna Gora Monastery Complex. Here, for a very reasonable rate, we got a room with twin beds, a table and chairs and a bathroom with a shower. It was very basic - no internet- but comfortable, clean and suitable for our needs.

Entrance

Lobby

Stairs leading to rooms

Beautiful Lobby Ceiling

Jasna Gora Monastery

Jasna Gora Monastery is the largest Pauline monastery and one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. There are currently over 100 monks living there. It is perched prominently on a hilltop overlooking the city, surrounded with fortified walls. The Basilica houses the Black Madonna icon and there are numerous other buildings in the complex including the 600th Anniversary Museum, Knights' Hall and the Treasury & Arsenal. If you are interested in the entire complex, it could take up a good portion of the day to see everything. There is great architecture, statues and views. Here are some of the highlights.

Exterior

Entrance leading to Basilica

                 

  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                            

         

Interior

Inside the basilica, it is an amazing site. The photos do not do it justice.  The beautiful ornate decorations and gold everywhere were overwhelming. And since we were there in December, there were some lovely decorated Christmas trees scattered throughout. There is a gigantic pipe organ above the entrance. 

Our Lady of Czestochowa

Jasna Gora Basilica is the home of Our Lady of Czestochowa, which is one of Poland's most sacred and cherished religious icons. The shrine is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Black Madonna, given that name because the painting was darkened by centuries of soot and candle smoke, has a long and eventful history. A history marked at times by conflict - it was struck with an arrow and slashed with a sword.

Twice daily, in the main chapel, there is a ritual of unveiling and veiling the icon. A silver shield, or veil, covers it and at the unveiling ceremony it is raised slowly to the sound of trumpet fanfares and hymns. It is quite something to experience. There are many pilgrims gathered to view the solemn ceremony and the image. What I found most moving was watching the faithful circling the altar on their knees.

          

This beautiful ornate gate is at the entrance to the chapel.

                        

In conclusion, this was a very special and unique place, rich in history and a testament to powerful traditions and deep devotion. More than just a sightseeing stop, it leaves a lasting impression that stays with you long after you've gone.

View from top of hill