A Visit to the Aquarium

todaywetookalongbusridetothecityaquariumitisahugebuildingrightnexttothecoldoceanwewalkedthroughthebigglassdoorsanditfeltlikewewereinstantlyunderwaterthelightsweredimandthewallswereglowingwithsoftbluecolorsfromthegianttankseverywherewelookedtherewerefishofeverysizeandcolorswimmingincircleswesawtinyyellowfishthatdartedaroundlikelittleflashesoflightningandslowheavyturtlespaddlinggentlythroughthewatermyfavoritepartwasthelongglasstunnelwewalkedrightthroughthemiddleofamassivetankandsharksswamrightoverourheadstheirbellieswerewhiteandtheyhadrowsofsharpteethbuttheymovedsosmoothlyandquietlyitwasalmostpeacefulinanotherroomwewatchedtheplayfulpenguinsjumpingoffwetrocksanddivingdeepintotheiricypooltheylookedclumsywhentheywaddledonthelandbutinthewatertheyflewlikefastbirdschasingeachotherforfunweateourlunchsittingonawoodenbenchnearthetouchpoolwheretheguideletusgentlyfeeltheroughskinofaseastarandtheslipperybackofasmallstingraythestingrayfeltlikewetrubberandflappeditsedgestosayhellolearningabouttheoceanmakesmerealizehowmuchoftheworldishiddenbeneaththewavesfilledwithstrangeandbeautifulcreaturesthatwerarelygettoseeafterhoursofwalkingourfeetweretiredbutwedidnotwanttoleavewealsosawagiantoctopussleepinginthecornerofitsrockycaveitstentacleswerecoveredinhundredsofroundsuckersanditcouldchangeitscolortoblendinperfectlywiththedarkstonesitislikeamagictrickthathelpsithidefromdangertheguidetoldusthattheoctopusisoneofthesmartestanimalsinthewholeoceanabletosolvepuzzlesandopentightjarstogetfoodinsidewalkingthroughthejellyfishroomwaslikesteppingintoouterspacetheroomwascompletelydarkexceptfortheglowingpinkandpurplejellyfishfloatinggentlyupanddownintallcylindertankstheylookedlikealienspaceshipswithlongthinstringstrailingbehindthemwesatinthatquietroomforalongtimejustwatchingthemmoveupanddowntotheslowrhythmofthewaterdreamingaboutthedeepbluesea