Wonders of Yorkshire: Puffin Watching

We had another magical Yorkshire moment that was unlike all of the other scenes filled with green fields, beautiful flowers, and livestock.  This past weekend, we drove to the coast to Bempton Cliffs where puffins nest between April and June.  The cliffs are filled with thousands of other seabirds, so it took some patience, careful watching, and binoculars to catch a glimpse of them.  We also enjoyed the dramatic scenery of the cliffs against the beautiful green grass and stunning blue ocean.  The diversity of Yorkshire never ceases to amaze me...we feel blessed to live in such an incredibly beautiful place.



Check out the landscape...and careful not to fall over the edge (note: for those with kids, the main areas are fenced, but we ventured beyond them to find some prime puffin habitat and get away from the crowds):

Nestled in the cliffs were little puffins...they are about the size of a pigeon and we only saw a handful of them in the thousands of birds there:

Here is one we were able to get a bit closer to (note that this photo is deceiving because it is taken from P's crazy tele lens...my camera didn't get close to catching these guys!)

Off he goes...it's amazing how high puffins can fly:

Alfie joined us for some bird watching, but he definitely had to be kept on a tight lead!

Here we are taking in the views:

Yorkshire in Bloom

Spring has finally arrived in Harrogate and it couldn't be more beautiful.  The weather has finally turned a sunny and temperatures are rising a bit.  There are flowers everywhere...from small squares, to public gardens to private gardens.  Here are a few of our favorite snaps from recent weeks:

Yesterday we visited Harlow Carr Gardens and it was stunning

Perfect setting for a photo:

The Stray is also in full bloom:

P took Alfie out for a photo shoot:

I also took Alfie out for a play date in Valley Gardens which was big fun and included a photo shoot:

Another stunning bed around town:

Tulips down town:

Elegant Florence

We had such a great time in Florence!  The architecture is stunning and there is beautiful art around every corner.  Here are a few of our favorite snaps from the trip.

Amazing street art:

Beautiful Tuscan countryside from Palazzo Pitti Gardens:

Amazing sculpture at every turn:

The best pizza of my life...incredible:

Husby enjoying the gardens:

Amazing street fountain:

We love Florence and are counting down the days until a longer trip to Tuscany:

If You Go: Florence

We had a magnificent weekend in Florence!  We had lovely May weather - beautiful flowers, easy strolling, and stunning views.  I had high expectations for the trip - I visited Florence when I was a kid and had the most wonderful memories.  This trip was just as magical as those!  A few recommendations:

Hotels

Hotel Hermitage: The most perfect location - at the base of the Ponte Vecchio.  The terrace is stunning - it has stunning views of the Duomo and the Uffizi.  The rooms are small and quaint - but it was fabulous.  We stayed here when I was a kid and it lived up to every memory.   Highly recommended - a quick view from the terrace:

Restaurants

La Bussola: Great, traditional Italian restaurant.  We had a beautiful caprese salad with the most milky, perfect mozzerella. We also both enjoy some fantastic pizza and wine.  Make sure to get a reservation.
Trattoria dei Gobbi 13: A lovely Florentine restaurant.  We enjoyed some delightful wine as well as a Florentine Steak (the most ginormous T bone you've seen...shared by two).  The service was fast and the price was pretty reasonable.  Another restaurant where you'll need reservations
L'Tuscani 2: This was a very small simple restaurant.  It had only ~5 items on the menu - meat, meat, and more meat.  Admittedly, we had been craving pasta, but when the huge dish of tenderloin arrived, it exceeded every expectation.  Every item on the wine comes with delicious house wine - bonus!  It is the #7 restaurant in Florence, so definitely make rezis.
Pizzeria Riva D'Arno: Best pizza of my life.  Wow. This is a very casual restaurant (share picnic benches on the sidewalk) - food is incredibly.  We had lunch here...no reservation required.  Run here!

Sites Itinerary

Day 1

• Palazzo Pitti: This is a huge old mansion / castle sort of build that had multiple art galleries.  We got tickets to the modern art gallery, renissance art gallery, and gardens.  We spent the morning at the art galleries and then ducked out for lunch before walking through all of the gardens.  This is a good alternative to Uffizzi - amazing art, but not the crowds 
• Plaza St. Michelangelo:  Take a cab or a bus to this plaza (or a steep climb) - this plaza has the most stunning views of the city.  It's a great spot for photos.  There is also a replica of the David here.  Just beautiful. 
• Shopping: We went to a few of the markets - there is a lot of fake leather so shop carefully.  I got a fun gold fashion belt :) 

A view from Plaza St. Michelangelo: 

Day 2 

• Uffizzi: This is a surprisingly small museum, but it has the most famous David sculpture as well as the prisoners (my mom's favorites!).  You can budget a little over an hour for a visit, but it's worth seeing some of the most famous art in the world.  There is a crazy line, so book tickets before you come.  
• Duomo: Another one to buy tickets ahead of time.  We did the walk to the top of the Duomo as well as the museum.  These both offered incredible views of the city.  Be prepared to walk steps, but the views are well worth it!
• Basilica di Santa Croce: This is a beautiful church with a stunning garden and impressive museum.  Some of the most famous Italians are buried here including Gilileo, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli.  It's a really neat building. 

A view of the Duomo from the Duomo Museum: