travelogue: gotland / medieval times, part 2

the walled town of visby with its cobblestones and medieval architecture is the perfect backdrop for medieval week.  visby already feels like a trip to the medieval ages and medieval week made it all the more special.  

for a whole week in august a big grassy area is transformed into a medieval market place and you mingle with people dressed in medieval garb. browse the aritsan wares, smell the food prepared on open fire, and listen to street music where flutes and lutes were usually involved.  

kai thought the whole experience was pretty fantastic.  he tried his hand at archery and even bought himself bow and arrows that went everywhere with him.  

we spent an evening eating a "medieval" dinner in a courtyard turned medieval bar.  most everyone was dressed in costume playing medieval games, sewing, and drinking.  the meal was very good and very meat oriented.  when i asked for cutlery and napkins the waitress kindly reminded me that such things didn't exist in medieval times. so yes, we ate with our hands and used the paper laid out on the table as a napkin.  it was interesting!

we attended a jousting tournament which was pretty awesome, knights joust for honor and glory and jesters provide comedy relief.  the audience was lively, cheering and booing as they pleased.  of course, everything was in swedish but we got the gist of it. 

to be honest, at first i thought medieval week would be crazy busy but instead it really deepened the atmosphere and beauty of visby.  it was an experience i'd gladly repeat again.  

travelogue: gotland, part 3 tomorrow.