One of the most interesting parts of any conference are the field trips away from the actual talks. At the International Herpetological Symposium, I was left in hysterics over one of them. Really, how many other groups would go on a field trip to look at dead things in jars? But for reptile folks, it just seems normal.

Stopping by Carl Franklin's office at the University of Texas - Arlington to see the state's largest specimen collection was definitely interesting. There were a few species I saw that I dont believe I would have seen alive. Carl has a great sense of humor and I will deeply regret missing him speaking at the Chicago Herpetological Society in August. The collection is used nationwide by researchers to learn more about genetics, locality specific data, taxonomy and much more.

After our visit with Carl, it was time for lunch. Dead things, check. Food and drink, check. Live things? Those, too.

Lunch was a trip to the Dallas World Aquarium. After we ate, we headed to the third floor and worked our way down. The aquarium is set up as a descending spiral that brings you different regions as you go. Not just fish, there a selection of mammals, birds and reptiles. Knowing our group, we could not contain ourselves walking through and educating along the way.

I'm telling ya, the Aquarium should have paid us for that day. Every step of the way, all members of our group worked with the general public on reptiles primarily, but everything we knew about. Our little community of gypsies is kinda cool after all. As the day wound down, we headed back to the hotel for the ice breaker party and to prepare for a day of talks.

Photos after the bump.