Writing today with someone about traveling in Spain brought back some memories of Snowflake, the Albino Gorilla at the zoo in Barcelona. The Zoo itself was not much, very old-fashioned and small, but charming for a city like Barcelona. I always describe Barcelona as similar to San Francisco, set into a hillside overlooking a bay, very sophisticated and artistic, full of Gaudi architecture. A man who was brilliant and creative but clearly partaking of the recreational drugs of his day. I had the pleasure of climbing the temple de la segrada familia - his neo-gothic cathedral that was never finished. Somewhat unfortunately, the city is now trying to finish the structure, but it is fairly controversial as to whether it is faithful to Gaudi's plans as he had several different ones in process before his too early death.
As for Snowflake, I will have to find my photos and upload them as they are pre-digital. He was quite majestic and striking, as an albino gorilla is quite rare. In Africa they would suffer in the sun, and even with the shade he was provided in the zoo, Snowflake still became ill with skin cancer at the end in 2008. But he left a legacy of many people who cared for him, and visitors drawn to the zoo, his offspring, and his genetic legacy giving scientists the ability to study the genetic basis for his condition.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/snowflake-the-white-gorilla/snowflakes-legacy/278/
A Snowflake who was left a legacy, not fleeting and gone in seconds.
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