Sunday, August 22, 2010

Pass the honey mead!

Ahhhh. I am so tired.

I went from sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag for just a few hours on Friday, to sleeping in a tent on a floaty pool raft in a sleeping bag for just a few hours on Saturday, with incredible amounts of junkfood-eating, bodice-wearing, uncomfortable-shoe-walking, party-having, dusty, camping fun in between.

The Renaissance Faire was awesome, as always. We set up our tent in the middle of the camping grounds, put our canopy beside it, donned our medieval garb and headed over to the grounds mid Saturday afternoon. I am not ashamed to admit that I spent most of the first day shopping. I'm really not. The best part of the Faire, as I was telling Eia and Liz today, is that it's literally just like normal fairs (the vendors, the fried food, the drinking, the parties, etc.) only we do it all while simultaneously playing dress-up. So yes, world; all you prying and judgmental eyes: I DID spend $50 on a new black and gold patterned bodice. And I like it. Because it's form fitting. And my other ones were too big. So there.

And I did buy a new claddagh ring. And a lather satchel for my belt. And a pickle, from the pickle wench. And a turkey leg.


So, we had a blast. Serendipitous as it may be, a campful of boys pitched their tent right beside ours, and we had a great time hanging out with them after we'd come back from the grounds. We spent most of the night trying to remember exactly how many people in the group were named Tyler, finishing off the obscene amounts of honey mead everyone seemed to be purchasing, giving each other code names (examples being Harriet the Spy, Nighthawk, Agent Cody Banks, The Slayer, Iceman and Theodore Roosevelt) and wearing 3D sunglasses (in the dark) with all of our period appropriate outfits.

This was the first year I was actually over 21 while attending the Faire, so I got to see what all the fuss was about at the Tavern parties I've been hearing about for years -- it was pretty much like any other party, except we were closer to the source of the alcohol and there was a little wooden fence around us keeping out the minors. We still sang Disney songs at the top of our lungs (which actually attracted new friends rather than drove other tavern-goers away, surprisingly) and only half our group even remembered taking the shuttle back to our camp in the morning (I was among the remembering, for the record).

Highlights from today (the second day of Faire) included: eating a delicious crepe for breakfast that made me feel like I was back in Paris, witnessing a tiny little girl in a fairy costume wearing a helmet and totally taking down a grown Barbarian with a foam mace, seeing a cat with wings, seeing a dog in a masquerade mask, buying a wand holster, and seeing incredibly attractive equestrian men with long ponytails and no shirts do backflips while standing up on a moving horse.


The Renaissance Faire is one of my favorite times of the year. I had so much fun with all my friends that came with me, and I love how just going always ensures you'll make new friends. We left today about an hour before closing, and I can't even tell you how wonderful my hot shower felt after two straight days of dirt/dust. But I already can't wait until next year.


Now I am absolutely burnt out and plan to spend the rest of my evening on the couch watching Buffy.

Last google search: "shoulder cat"
Chipotle burritos: 17

20 comments:

yasmiona said...

that sounds like a great time! theres a RenFaire around my parts but it's not an overnight-camping type faire

yasmiona said...
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Anonymous said...

I love Renaissance Faires! I love the shopping too. Last time I went I bought a pretty purple and black bodice and my family brought 4 bottles of honeymead home with us. Did you watch knights joust? That's my second favorite part after shopping =)

By the way, what season of Buffy are you on? I just got into Buffy recently as well and I just started season 4 =)

Anonymous said...

They just started a renaissance faire this year in my town... and sadly i didn't get to attend. I'm looking forward to next year! although I'm pretty sure you don't actually camp out. hmmm.

comelygrace said...

That looks like a blast; I've never gone to a Renaissance Faire. When can you tell us about the Nashville business?! Also, are you and Luke okay? Is the future of ALL CAPS in jeopardy or anything?

The Vagabond said...

Hahaha! Pickle wench. I like that. I LOVE the Ren Fest! One time my friend had her birthday there and we had to dress up so I asked my mom to pick me up an elf costume at the store thinking of one of the cool Lord of the Rings elves. She obviously had something else in my mind because she picked up a Christmas elf costume. Red and Green tunic with a hat with a bell attached. And I wore it, proving there is nothing I wouldn't do for my friends. It was fun. And wool so it was nice and warm. : )

Victoria said...
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Victoria said...

No pictures of the incredibly attractive equestrian men? Kristina, you have failed us!
Anyway it sounds awesome. I've always wanted to go to a Renaissance Faire, but like many cool things, we just don't have them here :(

Unknown said...

That bodice is gorgeous. I always dress up but my bodice is green and a little too big. I also went this weekend in Minnesota, though I didn't camp there. I've been going since I was little but I had no idea you could camp out before this year. I still have no idea how you'd go about staying there.

In Minnesota we have pickle guys... they are always shirtless and wearing kilts... One of the best parts of the fair, even though I don't like pickles...

appletrain said...

i have always always wanted to go to a renaissance fair! i absolutely love your outfits and want one for my own. really, that's about one of the only reasons i want to go XD

Rosanna said...

The faire sounds amazing! I'd love to go to one. Reminds me of Gilmore Girls too :)

Lindseylizard said...

Gymnastics on a horse is called vaulting. I've been in the sport for 8 years =)

Freakish Lemon said...

Guh. Faire season is what I live for. To be honest, I barely remember summers before the faires. I was 11 when I went to my first one. They are my heaven on Earth.

I've already gone to my main Faire. The bigger one I go to every year and I already miss it. All the music I'm listening to is folk and pirate shanties.

And it's about a month until my secondary, local Faire starts up and it hurts to be apart from it. D:

Oh Jesus. Sorry. I really shouldn't gush on about it on your journal, but your photos made me home sick for it.

Caro said...

Wow! You do that to?! I mean, sing Disney songs really loudly in public?
Aww, Kristina, I didn't think I could like you any more as a person. But I was wrong.
Also, I really want to attend a Renfaire now.

Unknown said...

Lol shoulder cat. I had to google it.

El-Hrairah1 said...

I like the Ren Fest when it comes to Houston as it stays for about two months. I'm friends with some of the bands and shopkeepers and always enjoy going in costume and having a good time. I don't usually shop at the R. Fest though but rather get contact info (i.e. website or catalog info) from the crafters and shopkeepers as it's cheaper NOT to buy at the festival. The sword I bought for part of my costume would have cost me $300 at the festival but only $90 in the smith's off-season. But it's always a lot of fun, and best with a passel of friends.

Alex Dahlberry said...

I now have a new goal of going to a Renaissance Faire. I LOVE medieval costumes. Or Renaissance costumes. Whatever they are. The bodice you bought is gorgeous, if it's the one in the picture.
Sounds so funnn!

Caitlin said...

I'm pretty sure if my Mum read this blog post she would want to adopt you right about now. My Mum and her partner, Darryl, are very into Renaissance Faires. I've never been, not because I didn't want, just because our family is all distant and whatever. Either way, sounds like a lot fun. I must try it one day.

Krista Gibbard said...

This sounds absolutely stupendous. It reminds me of the fair I went to in Germany. It was about the size of three football fields...amazing food...amazing costumes. I was scarred by the sight of a giant, hairy, naked man standing up in a barrel at some sort of bathing hut, but other than that, it was amazing. Too bad we don't have more things like this up here in Canada.

Andi said...

I heard about your TRIPLE RAINBOW AWESOME tour, but I wish you had some shows further south, like in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama or Mississippi. Any possibility about that happening? Who should I talk to locally, and who could I ask that is involved with setting it all up?