Yesterday, we returned to the bodega. Moti had an avocado special with tomatoes, not for me. i had chicken with chips, potatoes, and sweet potatoes...
the sweet potatoes here are white, most odd, but they were well made. Amit had his vegetable medley.
well stuffed, Amit and i took a cab to Catillo san Miguel for this evening main attraction- a medieval show. as we walked in this semi ancient castle through the draw bridge we received a yellow poncho vest thing with a crest and put it on and a crown similar to the one burger king gives kids. after dressing up we had our photos taken with the king and queen and escorted by a little person garbed as a fool.
Amit had his poncho inside out on his royalty photon which was funny to me, in days of yore he would be beheaded for such insolence.
then we were taken to out sits in the main hall. this large hall is about 80 meters long, the center is filled with sand and on either side are rows for the spectators. The silver ware is almost authentic. silver goblets, silver plates next to a water bottle and a local orange soda. candles are everywhere and all around are various crests, weapons and armor.
the show begins with the king and queen entering the hall and all the knights behind on horse back.
the 1st act is a horse and trainer acting out, the trainer tries to saddle the horse and the horse keeps throwing the blanket off and they interact in a very comical way. next we see dancing horses, they ride straight, diagonally and side to side, 10 horses and riders and zigzag back and forth, very impressive.
half of the knights were on the yellow side (our side) and the other half black and when your knights raises their hands, you cheers and you boo the other side. the crowd quickly got into it.
they demonstrated jousting, actually hitting each others shields, spear chucking from horse back to straw targets way up in the air and also ground target. Lance demonstrates, on horseback, speared their lance through tiny rings, over and over without a miss and while riding fast.
the falcon came next. 2 guys, each calling the falcon in turn. each of the demonstrators were at either ends of the audience, and the falcon flew over people heads, most cool.
the fool had a fire dance, he rubbed lit torches all over himself and in his mouth, crazy fool.
the fool, also had a job of warming the audience to cheer, he was dancing a lot.
Now it was time for the final act, which was long and enjoyable.
knights were battling each other with swords, morning stars, flaming morning stars, tridents, pole-arms, shields and flaming torches. these were short bouts where one knight would be disarmed, then mock kicked around and then arrested in all sorts of ways. the block (your head between two big blocks of wood, in shackles, in chains, in a cage. they roped the trainer and the horse actually removed the rope out, horsediny that one.
in all this time, squires were handing them back swords, "helping" the fallen knights get back up, spilling some liquid on the sand and lighting it on fire. it was a well choreographed show.
later the knights would "kill" each other with swords in the gut, slicing of throat and other chivalrous ways till the Yellow knight won at the end and "won" a horse, to the cheer of our side.
during this even there was a food option which we didn't take they served a full small chicken per person, without utensils, medieval style along some bread, broth and ice cream.
i purchased my royalty photo. at the end we could meet the knights and have a photo shoot.
we took a cab back up the mountain with a crazy driver who rushed to return for the next departing tourists. sleep came quickly.
we rose with the crack of dawn at 8 am and went for breakfast and soon we hit the road. in the beginning a steep climb in San miguel, where moti tries to calculate the angle of the climb, then by trails with lovely coastal views behind and mountain in front. the pine forest began and got denser and we went up. it also got windier and colder. we made frequent stops for rest. we passed a field where 2 workers in full hazmat suits and gas masks were spraying something on the crops. that is probably organic food.
we tried to quickly get away since we carry no such masks, but the steep hill made it difficult. some part were flatter, but it was up all the way. 852 m elevation change in just under 10 k. 3.5 hours net walk and 5:30 hours or so including rest times.
it is not a killer walk, it was just difficult non stop.
we reached the village of Vila flor and the last 2+ k were in the town, first to the main square of San Pedro, then still up more to the hotel which is in the furthest end in town. this was a haven for well to do Europeans coming to relax and get well, now after an amazing shower, i am here at the hotel resting a bit.
we have two circular walks in the next two days, then we move on, expecting longer days ahead, cheers from Vila flor
p.s- i hope today will send pictures, internet is better here
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