A pattern is evolving -- relaxed mornings at the villa, time in the pool for the younger members of the family, lunch at home, nap time for La Principessa (almost 5 granddaughter), card games or movies on the portable DVDs for the boys, and then the urge to get out and do something.
On Saturday we heard there would be a Medieval Festival in the Park on Sunday, with sword fight demonstrations, artisans and more. And on Sunday, beginning at about 10 am we could hear the opening salvos from our terrace a mile or so away – cannons and rifles were being demonstrated, and the noise echoed off the steep hills on either side of the valley. But heat and inertia kept us from voyaging into town until about 3 pm, when we decided to see If anything was still going on. And it was.
It was a small event, but interesting for adults and kids alike. There were probably 50 participants in medieval garb (and I didn’t envy them in the heat); a gentleman from nearby Monte Carlo was demonstrating how to grind wheat, using an old stone grinder that he invited others to try. An artisan with a lathe operated with a foot pedal was making lovely pieces from olive wood (including the beautifully crafted sword my 13 year old grandson decided he couldn’t live without); and a group of young men were offering samples of spiced wine (very good, but potent), and had a large display of medieval weaponry, which they demonstrated and described in very creditable English. My son has always been fascinated with medieval weaponry, and was in his element, especially when they put a full helmet on him and handed him a broadsword. La Principessa then decided she, too, wanted to be a warrior, and with helmet and dagger, assumed a fearsome persona that had the young men grinning broadly.
While we were enjoying all of this, we would periodically look over to the area where the guns were being demonstrated – and as the cannons and shotguns were loaded with powder we would periodically cover our ears, because volleys of shots were frequent and loud!
As the afternoon wound down, all of the participants gathered together and marched off to the central piazza for a final parade, with drums drumming, flags waving and being tossed by young marchers, the contadine with their wooden pitchforks and brooms, bows and arrows defining their roles.
Ringing the park where the festival was taking place were tables offering all sorts of local products – and we were delighted to be able to buy fresh baked bread, two kinds of honey, and eggs from a local farm, sold by the egg – we bought all the 11 the farmer had!
It was fun to get a glimpse into the past.
