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elanya at 03:05pm on 04/09/2002
elanya at 03:05pm on 04/09/2002I was allprepared to do a big write up on my trip, but since then, I've been busy catching up on other things and my time to do that today has been munched away at. So I'll do my best to summarize without getting carried away.
Left around 5:00am last Thursday in a Van with Ken and Fox. Ken is my neighbour, and Fox is our captain. Also in attendance from the Nevilles were Tim and Liz (Cat and Rat ;) and Matt. We drove to Holdenby, where we arrived at aroun 7 or 7:30, and then embarked on a long coach journey with other English reenactors (Other groups included the Tudors, the Oxfords, the Clarences the Falkenburgs... names which are pretty much meaningless to most of you, I realize.) We picked up a few more in Dover, where we caught the ferry to Calais (well, Dunkurke, which is near Calais). There were about 29 of us in total, I believe. We drove though France the first day. That night, we were suppoised to sleep in a Formula 1 hotel that wasn;t where it was supposed to be, but we had to stop somewhere because of the riving laws for Coach drivers, so we slept outside a service station on the coach, which sucked ass. The next morning, we drove through more france, he Switzerland (oooooh, the alps.... pictures to be developed) and Italy. We arrived that night and set up. I slept in a bit canvas tent with the rest of the Nevilles. There were Italian and German groups there too.
The castle was made of brick, built in the 15th century during the salt wars between Florence and Ferrara. Or Milan and Ferrara. Or something. The Italians fought about salt a lot in the 15th Century. Or with the pope. They just fought a lot, period. Anyway, our group was split up, because the continental reenactors are in sane and fight with actually sharp weapons. They don't hit each other with them, though, they just hit each other's blades. It looks very silly.
The morning of the event, we mostly sat around and did Living History stuff. Loafing around camp, weaving, being on guard duty, etc. The first fight was at 4 (after the hottest part of the day, though it was never *too* hot). It went okay, althought the Italians, who were supposed to avoid us like the plague, didn't. Grr. No one got hurt though. Not then. As usual, the first fight was a bit confused. It is supposed to be scripted, but the script always gets altered as things get on, and the language barrier didn't help much. I have now fought under the command of the son of the Doge of Venice, however. Yes, the current one (He is basically the mayor, only more noble. His father encourages him to tet involved in this sort of thing, and even came out to inspect the Italian groups). We were playing Venetian mercs, and lost the first two fight, on the first day. In the second fight, whcih was in the evening, and floodlit, the Italians thought it would be fun to try and fight us our style with their sharp bills. They were mostly encouraged, but one of our guys did wind up having to go to the hospital to get stitches where he got hit by one of them just above the eye. I have a picture of his bloody breastplate ^-^ (yes I'm sick).
That night, a lot of reenactors descended upon thne local cafe/bar. Some of them didn't get driven home by the friendly bar staff until 7:00am. We were quite popular, and are sure they made more money in the three says we were there than in the last three months.
The two highlights of the second day were taking a bath in a wooden bathtub, outside, with rose petals in it, with Liz, Matt and Fox, singing and being sever hypocrase (warm spiced wine, very yum) and beer (well, I didn't have any beer). We were all wearing shirts and braise or shifts though. It was incredibly relaxing, and fun. The Nevilles should get their own tub. Also, the fight on the second day was really ace. This time we won, and beat back the Milanese troops. Hurray! It was a good fight, even if Ken did stab me almost right in the armpit and managed to completely by-pass my armour. It's only a bruise ^-^
Next day: drove back. Passed through Italy, Switzerland, france. Actaully stayed in a Formula 1 hotel, near Strazbourg. Next day: drove through France, Luxumbourg, Belgium, and France again.
Other highlights: Got Italian pizza in Italy, Belgian waffles in Belgium, and Belgina chocolte in Luxumbourg whre it was amazingly cheap.
Got given a livery badge of one of the groups we were reenacting: a dragon eating a baby. wooh!
Got to hang out with a whole bunch of really cool people, and see lots of Europe.
Leanrned how to do tablet weaving and made myself what could become a short belt.
All in all, a very cool experience.
Now, I'm going to try and call the strudent loan people and see if I can get all this bursary crap sorted out.
Left around 5:00am last Thursday in a Van with Ken and Fox. Ken is my neighbour, and Fox is our captain. Also in attendance from the Nevilles were Tim and Liz (Cat and Rat ;) and Matt. We drove to Holdenby, where we arrived at aroun 7 or 7:30, and then embarked on a long coach journey with other English reenactors (Other groups included the Tudors, the Oxfords, the Clarences the Falkenburgs... names which are pretty much meaningless to most of you, I realize.) We picked up a few more in Dover, where we caught the ferry to Calais (well, Dunkurke, which is near Calais). There were about 29 of us in total, I believe. We drove though France the first day. That night, we were suppoised to sleep in a Formula 1 hotel that wasn;t where it was supposed to be, but we had to stop somewhere because of the riving laws for Coach drivers, so we slept outside a service station on the coach, which sucked ass. The next morning, we drove through more france, he Switzerland (oooooh, the alps.... pictures to be developed) and Italy. We arrived that night and set up. I slept in a bit canvas tent with the rest of the Nevilles. There were Italian and German groups there too.
The castle was made of brick, built in the 15th century during the salt wars between Florence and Ferrara. Or Milan and Ferrara. Or something. The Italians fought about salt a lot in the 15th Century. Or with the pope. They just fought a lot, period. Anyway, our group was split up, because the continental reenactors are in sane and fight with actually sharp weapons. They don't hit each other with them, though, they just hit each other's blades. It looks very silly.
The morning of the event, we mostly sat around and did Living History stuff. Loafing around camp, weaving, being on guard duty, etc. The first fight was at 4 (after the hottest part of the day, though it was never *too* hot). It went okay, althought the Italians, who were supposed to avoid us like the plague, didn't. Grr. No one got hurt though. Not then. As usual, the first fight was a bit confused. It is supposed to be scripted, but the script always gets altered as things get on, and the language barrier didn't help much. I have now fought under the command of the son of the Doge of Venice, however. Yes, the current one (He is basically the mayor, only more noble. His father encourages him to tet involved in this sort of thing, and even came out to inspect the Italian groups). We were playing Venetian mercs, and lost the first two fight, on the first day. In the second fight, whcih was in the evening, and floodlit, the Italians thought it would be fun to try and fight us our style with their sharp bills. They were mostly encouraged, but one of our guys did wind up having to go to the hospital to get stitches where he got hit by one of them just above the eye. I have a picture of his bloody breastplate ^-^ (yes I'm sick).
That night, a lot of reenactors descended upon thne local cafe/bar. Some of them didn't get driven home by the friendly bar staff until 7:00am. We were quite popular, and are sure they made more money in the three says we were there than in the last three months.
The two highlights of the second day were taking a bath in a wooden bathtub, outside, with rose petals in it, with Liz, Matt and Fox, singing and being sever hypocrase (warm spiced wine, very yum) and beer (well, I didn't have any beer). We were all wearing shirts and braise or shifts though. It was incredibly relaxing, and fun. The Nevilles should get their own tub. Also, the fight on the second day was really ace. This time we won, and beat back the Milanese troops. Hurray! It was a good fight, even if Ken did stab me almost right in the armpit and managed to completely by-pass my armour. It's only a bruise ^-^
Next day: drove back. Passed through Italy, Switzerland, france. Actaully stayed in a Formula 1 hotel, near Strazbourg. Next day: drove through France, Luxumbourg, Belgium, and France again.
Other highlights: Got Italian pizza in Italy, Belgian waffles in Belgium, and Belgina chocolte in Luxumbourg whre it was amazingly cheap.
Got given a livery badge of one of the groups we were reenacting: a dragon eating a baby. wooh!
Got to hang out with a whole bunch of really cool people, and see lots of Europe.
Leanrned how to do tablet weaving and made myself what could become a short belt.
All in all, a very cool experience.
Now, I'm going to try and call the strudent loan people and see if I can get all this bursary crap sorted out.
pleased
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