Eat Your Heart Out....

..... butterfly lovers - Paladian et al.

Today we visited the Butterfly House in Sioux Falls.
800 to 1000 butterflies all loose in a not so large enclosure where we could walk amongst them and be sat upon with instructions to be careful where we stepped and to check for hitchhikers in the mirrored exit chamber. It was just lovely.

With a butterfly's short life span imagine the turnover! They import about 200 a week (still in cocoons) from all over the world.

I think these would have been the most common ones. They look a bit drab on the outside but when they open their wings they are the most stunning blue colour (see extra).

We are staying with Loren and Sheila whom we met at last year's Rotary Convention in Sydney.
Last night they took us to their granddaughter's high school volley ball game. The atmosphere was electric. Akin to a football grand final in Australia.
At lunch time we went to a Rotary meeting and heard a very interesting talk about the Compass organisation which provides free support for victims of rape and domestic violence.
The best part of travelling is talking with local people and doing local things.

Helen has left us now and flown to Michigan to visit a friend before heading home next week.
It was great having her along for the first half of the trip.