(no subject)

[camwyn]

Visited the New England Aquarium at lunch (thank you, Hubway), since I have a membership card that allows free admission. Stopped by the shark and ray touch tank, which I almost never get to do because there's swarms of kids in the area. The rays were, as always, lovely. Headed over to pay a visit to the broadclub cuttlefish after that and managed to get mistaken for an Aquarium volunteer. An older visitor saw me in my black jacket (Aquarium volunteers and employees wear dark blue fleeces or vests) and heard me answer a question about the cuttlefish when someone else walked up, so as I walked away she called me over to ask about the Aquarium's new octopus acquisition, which she was having trouble finding.

I didn't bother disabusing her of the idea. I just answered her questions- the new octopus wasn't on display yet and was probably at the facility in Quincy where the Aquarium quarantines new animals, but the Tentacles special exhibit opens on Friday, so she'd probably be able to see the new octopus then. She thanked me, and complimented the Aquarium's appearance, as she hadn't been to the Aquarium since before its renovations completed back in 2013. Said she'd come back later in the week to see the octopus.

I checked with the actual volunteers on the way out. The new octopus will in fact be going on display then. I hope the lady gets to see it. I know I plan to.

Comments

[autographedcat]

I visited the New England Aquarium on my first visit to Boston back in 2002. Had a lovely time there. I should try to go again next time I'm in that area.

[camwyn]

They've renovated the central giant tank since then. The viewing windows are a lot bigger, and with the new filtration system there's a lot more fish able to live comfortably in there. It's kind of amazing to see.

[ceitfianna]

I was there today too, Cam. I'm sorry that I didn't spot you. Its an amazing place and everyone's so nice.

[camwyn]

I wasn't there very long, I admit, and I only visited the touch tank and the cuttlefish. If we were there at the same time, there's a good chance you were out back with the sea lion and fur seal display- there were way more people out there when I arrived than there were indoors. It really is a lovely place, though, isn't it?

[ceitfianna]

I was there most of the afternoon but I didn't get to the touch tank until near the end of my trip. It is and one that I could happily revisit. Another time, I'd love to do one of the whalewatching trips, I haven't done one of those since New Zealand.

[wedic]

I often get mistaken for working in places, I know the feeling!

[camwyn]

It gets better. I forgot to mention that at one point she mentioned she'd seen a fish in the giant ocean tank with something on its cheek- she couldn't tell whether it was food or a growth or what- and asked if we knew about it. I asked if she could describe the fish; she said it was one of the big silvery ones. I told her that it sounded like it was probably one of the tarpons, and not to worry, the Aquarium's divers got into the GOT every day to feed the fish and took the opportunity to look over as many of them as possible for health conditions or issues. So whatever it was, they'd be keeping an eye on the fish in question.

About two days later I went back to the aquarium and walked all the way up the ramp to the upper level of the GOT. My guess based on her description was right. The fish with a growth sticking out of one of its cheeks was, in fact, one of the aquarium's tarpons. (The part about the divers checking on fish condition was never in question. They talk about that during various lectures and explanatory sessions.)