Jurassic Park

This is the third and last part of my recent trip to the Berlin Aquarium (click here for parts 1 and 2) where we´re going to have a look at the reptiles and lizards. If you happen to know more about any of these, please feel free to share!

As we leave the first floor of the Aquarium, we had for the stairs to the second one where we´re greeted by more beautiful stained glass windows. It almost felt like being in a cathedral, an underwater cathedral.

Stained glass windows Aquarium Berlin (Oct. 2018)

Red snapper, detail stained glass window (Oct 2018)

What draws most eyes first when you reach this floor are the big tortoises…

Tortoise (Oct 2018)

… not this guy though, he had only eyes for his tiny new born baby.

Whereas this lizard was either admiring his/her reflection and had only eyes for himself/herself… or was simply looking for a way out!

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?” (Oct 2018)

And I´m pretty sure that this poor Bornean Giant Turtle was most definitely looking for a way out!

“Ah, what a lovely resting place!” (Oct 2018)

“Help!” (Oct 2018)

This guy doesn’t need to fear being confused with a pillow, as he´s cleverly using the rocks as camouflage.

Can you see me? (Oct 2018)

This one also perfected the art of hiding in plain sight…

Green lizard hiding (Oct. 2018)

Two green lizards playing “I´m just another green leaf” (Oct. 2018)

And who says that only models have perfect curves…

Perfect curves (Oct 2018)

Did you know that Germans associate emotions like envy and jealousy with the color yellow? So for us it would be the “yellow-eyed monster” instead of the “green-eyed” one when we want to refer to jealousy.

By the way, did you know that the phrase “green-eyed jealousy” was probably coined by The Bard himself? Portia uses this phrase in one of my favorite plays, The Merchant of Venice:

Portia:
How all the other passions fleet to air,
As doubtful thoughts, and rash-embraced despair,
And shuddering fear, and green-eyed jealousy! O love,
Be moderate; allay thy ecstasy,
In measure rein thy joy; scant this excess.
I feel too much thy blessing: make it less,
For fear I surfeit.

In Othello, Shakespeare refers explicitly to the ‘green-eyed monster’ as jealousy.

Iago:
O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o’er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!

So here, I give you the yellow-eyed “monster”:

“Am I giving you the stink eye? Perhaps, perhaps not.” (Oct 2018)

And I really liked this one´s attidude… eh, attitude. 😉

“Take it easy, dude.” (Oct 2018)

“I know, I know, I´m cute. Can you please shut it now?” (Oct 2018)

Not wanting to be rude, that´s exactly what I did after taking this last picture. 😉

Hope you enjoyed our trip to the Berlin Aquarium!