8.9 Another Castle, Another Show

(I'm so behind that I've missed some days. Trying to catch up a little. Will post anything else I have interesting from the previous week if I find it again.)

How did we function before the web? Just cruising around looking at local castles, I discovered that one about 12 miles from here, Castell-Arquato, is having a rivivio medioevale today, a sort of Medieval Life Demo. So we decided to go.

As usual, we asked the redoubtable Anna for directions, and she gave us the shortest there were. As usual, over mountains and along roads that goats would find sketchy. Some amazing views, and at one point we discovered the idea for the next hot reality show: Extreme Agriculture, Italy Edition. We passed a hillside that was not altogether straight down, but close – and it was completely covered in vineyard. I swear the posts for the vines were at a 140 degree angle to the ground. Completely insane.

The event was a pretty big one, on two terraces of a hillside plus an open field across the river, at the bottom of the hill from the eponymous Castello. Archery, falconry, flag tossing, music, a live steel fighting demo (I missed it but Elise got to see it and said it was pretty intense), and a bellydancer. Interestingly enough, the same bellydancer that we saw at the festa in Pellegrino back in August! So after her show we went up to talk to her and tell her we were already fans.

She was very pleased and then said some magic words: “I give private lessons, would you like to learn?” Elise and Aurora were thrilled at the prospect, then immediately horrified that I proposed to have a lesson too. I opined that it was my money and if I didn’t get a lesson, no one did. So we scheduled a lesson for Friday 21.10. Should be fascinating.

One of the vendors there made keychains with little bronze Roman legionary shields and gladiator helmets on them. I bought ten of the things for prezzies back home. BLS friends, don’t read this part :) He also made lovely earrings and charms. Since I bought so many keychains, plus a pair of earrings for Elise, he made Rose and me necklaces with the charms, for free. Very sweet.

We never did get up to the actual castle. The day was pleasant enough but on the warm side, and Mamma tired out quickly. Around 3pm there was a weaving demo for the kids, so we stayed for that but then loaded up to come home. Much to Mamma’s relief, I figured out a less twisty route home – about 30% longer, but mostly straight. She’s not a fan of the mountain shortcuts. Can’t say I am either, but I am perforce getting used to them!