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@ Lost Umbrella
Chamaeleon begins her experience of Wind!
Lost Umbrella
Did you lose an umbrella? I know where they go. The wind calls out, the leaves are cavorting already in the air, and the umbrellas want to join them. Waiting for the perfect moment when the wind swoops down and up, the umbrellas catch this drift and sail into the air to play and dance with the leaves.

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@ Let's Go Fly A Kite!

Blue And Gold Egg
The first painted eggs came from Mesopotamia, and because eggs were forbidden food during Lent, people painted eggs while Lent was being observed—after Lent, they would eat the eggs on Easter Day.

Beautifully decorated eggs “pysanka” are associated with Ukraine, and the oldest painted egg that was unearthed in northern Ukraine is dated to the end of the 17th century.

Let's Go Fly A Kite!
You don’t need to carry a brush for cleaning chimneys or have a bottomless bag to enjoy flying a kite. All you need is a steady wind—not too fierce—and some bit of paper or cloth over a light frame, with a string attached.

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@ Grass Flags
“Let's just drink in this exhibit, shall we, Chamaeleon?” suggested Silky, sinking down on a convenient chair.
Chamaeleon agreed it was well worth spending some time there!
Grass Flags
Feathery fronds of grass, like little flags, wave in the breeze.

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@ Tilting at Windmills
Chamaeleon and Mikey had shaken paws and took some time to enjoy the exhibits in a companionable silence!
Tilting at Windmills
We are in Don Quixote territory here, in Spain's Castilla–La Mancha region. The area is dotted with numerous vineyards, castles and windmills—and mountain ranges!

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@ Drifting Around On The Water
The strongest winds in the solar system are on Saturn where they reach speeds of over 1,100mph.
Drifting Around On The Water
All the pets are clamouring to see their duck and geese pals. We gather up some bags of seeds and enjoy a leisurely walk to the pond. Spending time outdoors is always so relaxing.

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@ Turning Somersaults
"Wind direction is given by the direction from which the wind comes," said Chamaeleon.
"That makes sense!" replied Chester.
Turning Somersaults
Racing across the miles, dashing for the shore, tentacles of water, reaching forward, trying to grasp what is just out of reach.

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@ Touchdown
“What have you got in your rucksack, Moonabelle?” asked Chamaeleon. “It looks very full!”
“I’ve come prepared for anything, Chamaeleon,” responded Moonabelle. “There’s canvas deck shoes, tennis shoes, flip-flops, sandshoes, walking boots, sandals, loafers—you name it, I’ve got it!”
Touchdown
Sucking up and flinging out, the storm has unleashed its power and sends a column of twisting, churning air downward to rip across the landscape.

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@ Children Of The Dandelion
“If there's time at the end of the day when we get back to our accommodation, I might do some initial sketches for a watercolour painting from the postcard I bought in the gift shop," Peaksy said, offering Chamaeleon a toffee from the bag and then unwrapping one for himself.
“That sounds like a good plan, Peaksy!" said Chamaeleon. "Very relaxing, and your painting will be a great souvenir of our trip through the Elements!"
Children Of The Dandelion
Each seed has its own propeller that will allow the wind to carry it whirling and dancing across the land until the wind abates and the seed drops to find its new home.

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@ Flag, Great Britain
"Why do we get sea breezes, Chamaeleon?" queried Zoomer.
Chamaeleon looked baffled. "I don't know, Zoomer! We just do!"
Zoomer read out from the brochure: " 'Sea breezes occur because heat from the sun takes longer to warm the sea than the land, creating a difference in air pressure.' So—there it is."
Flag, Great Britain
A flag of Great Britain, fluttering in the breeze. Flags represent an idea or an ideal. Countries, businesses, sports, religions, railways, and clubs all use a flag to represent themselves. Flags are also used in semaphores to convey a message across a distance.

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@ The Power Of Water
“If there's time at the end of the day when we get back to our accommodation, I might do some initial sketches for a watercolour painting from the postcard I bought in the gift shop," Nutsy Mouse said, offering Chamaeleon a toffee from the bag and then unwrapping one for himself.
“That sounds like a good plan, Nutsy Mouse!" said Chamaeleon. "Very relaxing, and your painting will be a great souvenir of our trip through the Elements!"
The Power Of Water
The tide roars in, and tons of water will crash to the shore bringing sand, rocks, and treasures.

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@ Translucent Blue
"Depending on their strength, winds can be known as a breeze, gale, storm or hurricane. Wind is caused by differences in air pressure. Air rushes from high pressure areas to lower ones," remarked Chamaeleon.
"Mm-hmm?" responded Choose a name.
Translucent Blue
The sun is beaming down, the day is warm, and the water is crystal clear and looks so inviting. So let us jump right in and make some waves of our own.

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@ Swelling Seas
"This is an extremely varied set of exhibits, Chamaeleon!" remarked FLAPPY. "We're going from really cosy pictures of pets to amazing scenic landscapes!"
Swelling Seas
The ocean is always in motion—the water swells—then subsides. Let’s go for a boat ride, and the waves can toss us hither and yon—hope you don’t get seasick.

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@ Golden Evening
A natural gas vent in Iraq known as The Eternal Fire has been burning continuously for over 4000 years, and it has been mentioned by Herodotus, Plutarch and in the Old Testament Book of Daniel.
Golden Evening
At day's end, the wind gently pushes the grasses down as it sweeps across the field—as if to say— time for sleep.

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@ Pink and White Tulips
"When was silver identified as an element?"
"Eek—no idea, Tuppence!"
"Don't worry, Chamaeleon! It was as far back as 4000 BCE!"
Pink and White Tulips
These tulips, swaying in the breeze, make a fine display in the Netherlands.

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@ So Much Snow
Oh look ... you won a pet!
So Much Snow
A snowy ribbon of road—snowy fields on either side—if walked will lead straight to the source, the snow clouds.

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@ Dutch Weathervane
A gale is officially defined as a wind of between 32 and 63 miles per hour. A wind blowing from 4 to 31mph is a breeze.
Dutch Weathervane
This ornate weathervane in the Netherlands features a splendid full masted ship, and depending on wind direction, will point to noord, zuid, oost or west!

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@ Dancing Dandelion Fluff
"A trivia question for you, Tommy!" announced Chamaeleon. "Who is the largest consumer of fireworks in the United States?"
Tommy pondered. "I don't know, Chamaeleon, who is it?"
"It's Walt Disney World. The park launches the fireworks with compressed air instead of gunpowder to reduce fumes and gain better height and timing."
Dancing Dandelion Fluff
Oh, to be a dandelion seed swept along on currents of air sailing along on a journey that will end at an unknown destination.

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@ Breezy Fields
"Today's trivia question, frisky!" announced Chamaeleon. "When were the first ever windmills built?"
"Oh, goodness! I've no idea, Chamaeleon, but I imagine they're pretty old!" responded frisky.
Chamaeleon grinned. "Windmills have been in use since 200 BCE. They were first developed in Persia and China."
Breezy Fields
Let’s run through the field as the grasses bend to the wind and the clouds race each other across the sky.

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@ Swirling Snow
"After the Great Fire of London in 1666, businessmen started house insurance companies. They had to be careful because if another fire started they could lose a lot of money. To get around this, they ended up hiring their own fire brigade just in case a fire did start! This is when the first brigade started."
"It sounds a bit hit-and-miss, Chamaeleon!" remarked Maggie Moo.
"It was, yes. Any of the insurance companies' fire brigades weren't allowed to put out a fire of a house which was insured with a different company!"
"They'd just watch it burn, then, Chamaeleon?"
"Well—I guess that was how it went, Maggie Moo, yes!"
Swirling Snow
The wind kicks up the snow, swirling and twirling around until—not only the land but—the very air is saturated—with white mist.

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@ Poppies, Red and Cornflowers, Blue
"Did you know that kite flying and fire fighting featured at the 1900 Olympics in Paris, Sam?"
"That's amazing, Chamaeleon!"

Poppies, Red and Cornflowers, Blue
These meadow flowers make a colourful sight as they are blown by the passing wind!

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@ Hot Air Balloon Flight
"What unit of measure is used for wind speed, Chamaeleon?" asked Rainy.
"Um—I don't know—miles per hour?" hazarded Chamaeleon.
"No. The knot."
"Oh, Rainy, I thought that was to do with sailing?"
Rainy consulted the tour guide. " 'A knot is a unit of speed equivalent to one nautical mile per hour, used especially of ships, aircraft, or winds.' There you go."
Hot Air Balloon Flight
Take off at dawn and glide gracefully through the countryside in a colourful hot air balloon as the sun rises over rolling hills, chocolate box villages and a patchwork of fields. Enjoy the perfect 360-degree view from 2000 feet in the air in the early morning, the perfect time to soak up spectacular landscapes for as far as the eye can see. It's an experience that will be remembered for a lifetime. It is truly the best way to see the countryside—from the sky!

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@ Ruffled Waters
"Did you know you can start a fire with ice, Chamaeleon?" asked Esmerelda.
"How on earth do you do that?" queried Chamaeleon.
"Well, you need a disc of clear ice shaped into a lens, then use it as you would a magnifying glass to shine the sun's rays onto flammable material, such as dry grass."
Ruffled Waters
The blue, ruffled waters of this outdoor swimming pool look very inviting! Who's for a dip before breakfast?

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@ Rural Windmills
Chamaeleon and POLINA were entranced on reaching this exhibit and eagerly posed for a picture standing on either side!
Rural Windmills
What a peaceful early morning scene in the misty dawn, with the dew still on the silver grass.

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@ The Star Spangled Banner
"At the time of the Great Fire of London in 1666 there was no fire brigade such as we have today. Men from the Navy used gunpowder to blow up houses in the path of the fire to halt its spread!"
"Goodness me, Sir Precious McPrance! Drastic, or what? Did it work?" queried Chamaeleon.
"It sort of worked—eventually! But it took some days, during which time a large part of London had been destroyed."
The Star Spangled Banner
... what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.

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@ Florida Storm
As Chamaeleon's experience of "Wind" comes to an end, she receives a wonderful gift!
Short Tree, Violet
Gorgeous violet-leafed tree. Perhaps it grows in the fairy forest, or maybe the wizard worked some magic. If you can get seeds from this tree, you may have luck growing it in your garden.

Florida Storm
This is no mere wind! This is a hurricane! Stay safe indoors, all pets, you don't want to risk getting blown out to sea!
Chamaeleon has completed her exploration of "Wind"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also explore the Elements!