When our teenage friend, Rebecka, came to stay with us in Germany for several weeks, we managed to tour her around to several places in that short time. One of the trips we took was over to the Alsace region of France. While there for just a night and a day, we had opportunity to go to Monkey Mountain. It is a wonderful, outdoor, open-air, animal sanctuary for Barbary Macaques Monkeys that was situated in a forested area atop a large hill in the region. We started following signs to get there but soon were relying on our trusty GPS as the way was not clearly marked.
Upon arrival, we parked and walked through a large cage-like gate after paying the admission fees. We were instantly greeted by a park ranger who spoke several languages and addressed each person in a known tongue. He admonished us to tie back long hair, stow away back packs, purses, fanny packs, camera bags, etc. into available compartments especially if they contained food or snacks. Or if we wanted to keep our belongings with us, we were instructed to zip them shut and hold them close to our body at all times. We were also warned not to feed the monkeys ANYTHING except the popcorn they were about to hand us. And finally, we were instructed to NOT put the popcorn in our pockets, bags or purses, but to keep it enclosed in our fists at all times. Then we filed past to another park ranger who was doling out the popcorn by the handfuls to each person.
After that we were mostly left alone to stroll along the pathway that twisted and turned along through the forest feeding monkeys by hand along the way. The Barbary Macaques are beautiful caramel-brown, medium-sized, tailless monkeys that live in groups. These were just hanging out sitting on the low, split-rail fence along the path or climbing in trees or sleeping in the sun on the grass at the base of the trees. Some were sitting alone and others reclined in groups and yet others were running along the ground. There were adults with babies on their backs; there were females, males, young and old. There was even one that looked like a drunk sleeping off his hang-over, with mouth askew and hanging open complete with dripping drool. It was simply a delightful place! The sanctuary grounds were clean, the atmosphere enjoyable and we happened to be there on a unseasonably warm Spring day. Thus, people were sitting and lounging on stumps, stones and benches everywhere throughout the park.
About half-way through the park, the pathway widened into a large, open area and a park ranger was giving what appeared to be an oral presentation on the park or the monkeys themselves but as it was completely in French with no offered translation, I cannot be sure. This is the humorous thing about the French; they insist that you speak their language when you enter their country. Every other country in Europe where we traveled was a little more accommodating about offering interpretation options other than French. The only exception was Euro Disney in Paris. They offered and spoke a multitude of languages. Otherwise, when in France, one must speak French!
The entire afternoon we spent on Monkey Mountain, I kept thinking that something like this could never be situated in America; Land of Litigation. There were too many risks, too much interaction, and too many unknowns to be adequately contained. I could envision one disaster or mishap after another. Not that the Monkey Park was a dangerous situation; it was not. It is just that there was the potential for danger if you disregarded the rules. This is the great irony about America that one begins to understand by leaving it; it is the Land of Freedom except in regards to stupidity. Freedoms must be curtailed where stupidity might prevail; this is our American mantra. In France and Germany, this was not the case. You were told of the risks in advance and then expected to take responsibility for you own actions; which, in turn, granted us all kinds of freedom and opportunities to experience steep inclines, crumbling stairs, ancient ruins, wild playgrounds, dangerous precipices, spectacular views and even, this Monkey Mountain! We got to experience all these wonderful things that would not be possible in modern-day-sue-happy America where your own stupidity or even just plain bad luck is often considered someone else’s fault.
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