A Boston Harbor Herring Gull...and a Barking Crab...

A Boston Harbor Herring Gull from Kelly Riccetti on Vimeo.

We came to Boston for history, staying in the North End and walking the Freedom Trail, but Matty loves seafood, so when he remembered Adam Richman (from Man v. Food) had eaten at the Barking Crab in Boston, we had to make it a destination.

The Barking Crab off Boston Harbor at Fort Point Landing--it hugs the water and has lots of personality. We had such a good time there--the waitress was fun, the people around us were fun...everything about it was a party.

...Matty standing outside the Crab. He loves old buildings, dives, and seafood...plus, of course, Adam Richman ate there, so this place was perfect!

...the Barking Crab was easy to get to by water taxi (we used Rowe's Water Taxis to and from the airport and around the harbor...very easy). After eating, we walked back to our hotel sticking to the harbor walk. Along the way we stopped at the Blues Barge to listen to live music (so cool). After that we saw the Herring Gull on the old piers and sat down next to him for a video..it was a perfect evening!

The Barking Crab in Boston from Kelly Riccetti on Vimeo.

...Matty tasting some of the fare at the Barking Crab. (I took this video with my iPhone...it's a great little camera too!)

A Boston Sparrow...and a Boston Freedom Trail Sampler

...on Sunday Matty and I planned a last-minute trip to Boston to walk the Freedom Trail. Rick had to work, but we really wanted to walk through history, so we went for it, and I'm so glad we did! Boston was amazing. We stayed in the North End and walked everywhere, burning up tons of calories so we could eat tons of incredible Italian food...

...of course, wherever we are, birds are part of it, and Matty and I loved all the Boston city birds. When we first arrived, we took a water taxi to our hotel, and as soon as we set out into the harbor cormorants flew by...up close and gorgeous. Lots of gulls and a few terns were along the docks...and among the city buildings and in the parks, sweet little English House Sparrows were everywhere. This little sparrow was just a few feet from me in the King's Chapel Burying Ground...

A Boston Sparrow from Kelly Riccetti on Vimeo.

We got home early this evening, so I thought I'd throw a Boston Freedom Trail "Sampler" up quickly. I didn't take my big camera with me, opting to travel light, so I used my little Panasonic Lumix and my iPhone. They both worked out well...

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.

Longfellow

...Matty walks towards Quincy's Market...across from...

...Faneuil Hall...

...where that very famous grasshopper has been perched for a very long time...

...tombstone art...always a favorite of mine.

...and there's lots to go around in Boston. This design is a little different from the norm...

The Paul Revere memorial in the Granary burying Ground...

For making such a large mark on history, Revere's tombstone is remarkably modest.

"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes..."

Bunker Hill Monument (...located on Breed's Hill where the battle was fought on June 17, 1775.)

...more to come.