Hippos

I received a phone call from Australia this morning.

An excited girl, leafing through a Lonely Planet Guide : France, came across numerous references to a "hippodrome".

In her joy, she rang me, asking whether this was, in fact, a reference to hippopotamuses (or hippopotami). Perhaps a special place for hippos, or something.

I replied that "hippodrome" actually referred to a racecourse.

For horses.

Not for hippopotamuses. Or hippopotami.

And that as far as I was aware, no hippo have ever been involved in hippodromes.

She was disappointed, to say the least.

I feel like such a bubble burster.