The Menagerie of Sadness

So this afternoon i went over to the Jardin des Plantes again, this time to visit the menagerie. This is France's oldest public zoo. It is a park like setting with many old charming pavilions that have obviously seen better days. The animals for the most part slept, except for a panther which paced its glassy enclosure back and forth, butting its head against the glass. Flamingos provided one bright spot of colour.  Even on a monday afternoon there were a fair number of children about who seemed excited about seeing the animals, but it left me feeling slightly sad, for the animals in their small areas and the slightly shabby state of the whole menagerie.