Summer hols cont..Chester Zoo, Chester and Hilbre Island

It's no exaggeration to say that Tanya asks on a weekly basis to go to Chester Zoo, so it's become a 'must' for every trip back to the UK. She's such an animal addict (just like Luca) and loves all creatures from insects to dinosaurs and everything in between!
We had another great day out in Chester, with a slightly damp picnic (due to the ever present rain), ride in a pedaloe (hard work for Uncle Andrew and Luca), lots of squirrel-feeding and some close encounters with several very colourful rhinos!

For the past few years, Manolo and I have wanted to walk out to Hilbre but never made it due to bad weather or unsuitable tides. This year, we finally managed it with all three kids and Aunty Helen, too!  It was a lovely sunny day, if a bit on the windy side. We saw loads of rather large lion's mane jellyfish which had been washed up, a huge beached tuna-type fish, and a sandbank full of grey seals (with the help of a telescope set up by the rangers).  And the kids finally got to play on the beach for a while!