Seaworld

Wednesday 16th May

Nine years ago we went to California and passed up the opportunity to go to Seaworld in San Diego because we were too tired. Looking back, I can't believe we chose (another) day on the beach over the chance to swim with Flipper. These days, with middle age approaching, we make far more sensible decisions, only this time it's Seaworld Australia.

And we also know the real meaning of the word exhaustion.

You can say what you like about places like Seaworld, but they certainly know how to pull the crowds. Yes, there's the polar bears (and the underwater viewing platform so you can see them swimming if they're not too tired, which ours were) and the penguins and seals, the dugongs and the sharks and rays, but it's all about the dolphins.

The dolphin show is amazing. The trainers get to ride on their backs, as you can see. And the dolphins just seek more and more human attention. I can't think of many animals as obviously intelligent as these fellas.

Ella was more bothered about the ice cream and the fountains and the carousel, as you'd expect.