Saturday after being locked at home on a rainy and windy first of May and a stomach flu, its time for a breath of fresh air. The weather seems ok today and oh-my-goshness! Genoa is full of people! The tourists have arrived! I've never seen this place so busy as today.
I went my way up to Piazza de Ferrari and I thought about the Natural History Museum mentioned to me by Roby a couple of days ago.
And so, I walked down via XX Settembre and right to via Brigata Liguria and found myself in the middle of venomous snakes (yeah we all do at some points in our lives).
What can snakes teach me this time? I wonder.
The moment i entered the exhibition area, I immediately had goosebumps - and to think that I have not seen any live one yet, just the pictures, and these skeletons:
Entering the main exhibition area, I was greeted by this enormous snake skin.
Yes my dears, its the skin that goes on that bag you lavishly paid so much for.
Photo Credits to the Owners.
The exhibit contained a collection of mostly deadly venomous snakes of different breeds from the different continents. There's even one of the deadliest coming from the Philippines, probably named after the place it was from. It's called Samar Cobra, it says there that when threatened and if molested, it spits venom (Of course you can't expect it to say thank you!).
Obviously, I was terrified by just being there!!! I know the snakes were safely secured inside tanks, but, what if these venomous reptiles suddenly escaped their enclosures? Waaaaaahhhh!!!! Look at them, there are cobras, rattle snakes, vipers, boas, etc. Sorry, I wont give you all the details of these reptiles (Mr. Google can sure help), I can't even look at the pictures for long, it makes me shiver!
It's creepy to think that in that place, i was inches away from an anaconda with her cousins and other relatives.
Despite my worry, its still a pity to see them there. Yes they are taken cared of, but they do deserve to be in their own habitats, not in these cages. Let's not forget the very important role they play in our ecosystem. Being both a predator and a prey, they contribute to the balance of life on earth.
So, what have the snakes taught me? They reminded me of things I already know. We can't judge them for what we generally know about them. It goes the same for us, humans. Despite the reputation of being fierce and dangerous, they are extraordinary creatures. And because of that, we should learn to see the good not only the bad side. Always take a lot of care. They are serious, very quiet and they won't bite unless attacked. And when they do, the option is to kill, nothing less. So don't mess around with them, or let's just say, respect their space as you would like to have yours respected too.
Looking on the other side, what is amazing in these kinds of exhibits is the reminder of the beauty of a family. It may seem nothing and you even take it for granted but let's see. They come to this kind of places together. The parents / grandparents take the kids and let them learn more about the world. Building an experience of a lifetime, contributing to shape a character, enriching the mind, an interesting moment that the children will share as soon as they step out of the museum door and will soon relay the story to their peers and to others until the time comes when they transfer it to their children in the future.
Still, this visit is the quickest time I ever stayed in a museum. The only thing that kept me there a few minutes more than 10 was when I was almost at the end and there was this 4-year old boy with his father.
Overhearing their conversation, (which was was in Italian), the father was reading the facts about the snake in each terrarium and explaining everything about it to his son. The boy was very interactive and very very curious that he was asking a lot of questions and excitedly pointing at the snakes as soon as he sees them move as he vocalized his observations, and he kept exclaiming "bello" (beautiful). And since he was very small, he had a stool with him to step upon so he could see the animals properly. It was really cute. It also makes you appreciate how thongs are perceived by the mind of a child.
The father was patiently feeding him with information and I was almost in tears as this reminds me of my father, and how it was growing up, we had a very nice childhood. I feel him everywhere with me.
Okay, let's do away with my nostalgia and look at the architectural structure of the room.
Subtle and nice, right?
Well, there goes my time with the wild right in the middle of the city. I had goosebumps all throughout my stay in that wing of the Natural History Museum. Despite the shivers, the visit was worth my while but I did not bother visiting the rest of it. Its enough for the day. Thanks to Roby for bringing this experience to my mind.
Now, I need a deviation!
I'm off to Palazzo Ducale for Kirchner and Nolde. 😊
02052015
