Into the Past – Haibun – August 25, 2014

It’s not everyday that you can step into  humanity’s “glorious” past … which is what I did this weekend.  The beginnings of this brief vacation was not auspicious … surprise, it was raining and it rained until we reached Sulderno.

The mediaeval event … known as the Sudtiroler Ritterspeile, was laid out in a huge pasture. Groups in their allotted areas represented 11 countries and about that many centuries too!  The general festive air was fantastic.

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However it wasn’t until night fell that I truly felt the pull of the past.  There was little electric lighting (only around the perimeters) so as we walked along the straw strewn pathways illuminated by the cooking fires of the various groups, the torches on the thoroughfare and candle light in the various “shops” and taverns it really gave me the feeling of having walked through a time bubble.  The bagpipers and musical groups played their haunting tunes  whilst throughout the camp we could enjoy jugglers, jesters and flag fliers.

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My camera wasn’t up to the task of photographing the night scenes.  So, you’ll just have to imagine the magical feeling of walking through the middle ages on cool autumn evening.

life as it was
not so very long ago
not much has changed

(c) G.s.k. ’14  😉