Day Twenty Three (part 2): Snakes, Crocs & Bowling Balls

La Planete des Crocodiles is situated about 30 Km south-east of Poitiers.

First opening it’s doors to the public in early 2008, crocodile planet is set in a huge glass dome, which, from the outside is reminiscent of London’s Millenium Dome.

Once inside the 20 metre high, 5000 square metre building houses six large enclosures containing approximately 200 species of crocodiles, alligators, and caiman from five continents, along with a wide variety of exotic trees and plants.

Lush walkways connect the tanks...

Simon & Eric at the bar... where else?

We bumped into the film crew again

Feeding time for the crocs...

...And feeding time for us at the local Auberge :0)

Came across a huge ant hill, made from the needles of surrounding pine trees, on the way home.

Oh, I almost forgot Ten Pin Bowling after the crocs...

Yeh, I'm really good at this...

Final scores... Eric and Phil drew on 101 points. Who was last? Who d'you think? lol

Day Twenty Three (part 1): Snakes, Crocs & Bowling Balls

No storms last night, so caught up online.

Busy day today. All piled in the car at 8.45am for an hour's drive west of St. Sebastien to La Trimouille to visit L'ile aux Serpents - Snake Island.

Sidebar: Not all photos are taken by me, Phil's camera produced much better results indoors without flash - and my batteries ran out at the crocs :0(

Surrounding the building is a sort of moat filled with terrapin, coy carp and other fish.

Queuing... how very British!

Once inside, there's 60 species and 300 animals, including: monitor lizards, snakes, tortoises, lizards, chameleons, mongooses. meercats and otters from all over the world.

A camera crew were making a film while we were there... (You won't see us in the film, but you might hear us???)

More photos of Snake Island Here

Time to find somewhere to have lunch.We came across a Routier, well known for serving good home-cooked french cooking...

...And ate steak and chips. I'm really going to have to diet when I get home.

After coffee, next destination Planet of the Crocodiles.