I love alpacas!
Loyal readers of The PM Sagas will remember that in Book IV, Purple Monster met her beloved, Alabaster Eggshell, in the San Diego Zoo, where he was held in an enclosure labeled “ALPACA?” And although Alabaster and PM will vehemently disagree, their Chronicler does see a resemblance, and tries to see as many alpacas as she can.
Alpaca (Vicugna pacos), Queens County Farm Museum, December 17, 2021
Alabaster Eggshell and Purple Monster, from A Christmas Love Story, the PM Saga, Book IV
The Prospect Park Zoo has alpacas, but they are hard to see, often being out in back and not very photographable. So imagine my delight when I heard that a hidden gem in New York City, the Queens County Farm Museum, has two alpacas (Huacaya breed), and that I can see them for free!
I visited the farm on December 17, 2021, and was so excited to see not only the two alpacas, but goats, sheep, chickens, steer, and crops, as well as a Winter Lantern Festival installation called Illuminate the Farm. Although I could buy $3 bags of food for the goats and sheep, I was not allowed to feed the alpacas (something about their spitting).
Yes, the alpacas did spit. But not at me. And more important, at one point we were able to hear the alpacas trill their pleasure after being fed (listen at minute 7.00 in the video to hear their song). Purple Monster would have to admit that they do have interesting voices!
The Queens County Farm Museum can be visited at 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy Queens, NY 11004. Check the Web site for times and requirements.