The National Zoo Becomes The Happiest Spot In Washington As It Reopens …

In a city bruised by the fierce partisan battles of the last few weeks, happiness abounded Friday as the Smithsonian National Zoo in Northwest Washington, D.C., opened its doors for the first time since Sept. 30. The zoo, of course, was the site of what was by far the saddest photo of the 16-day government shutdown.

But there was no sadness today — in fact, the mood was anything but:

Here’s Tucker Purington, 3, of Ithaca, N.Y., and his six-year-old sister Kylah. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

National Zoo Director Dennis Kelly gets some help as he reopens the gate. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

High five! (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Megan Mahoney of Scottsdale, Ariz., smiles as she watches Tian Tian the panda. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Also on HuffPost:

Loading Slideshow

• Barack Obama

  President Barack Obama pauses while speaking in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, about the government shutdown. Congress plunged the nation into a partial government shutdown Tuesday as a protracted dispute over Obama’s signature health care law reached a boiling point, forcing some 800,000 federal workers

  Article source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/18/national-zoo-reopens_n_4123745.html?utm_hp_ref=green&ir=Green If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com