Les Médiévales de Provins 2022
Jun 25, 2022 18:45:26 GMT
Post by kerouac2 on Jun 25, 2022 18:45:26 GMT
Les Médiévales de Provins retains its title as the biggest medieval festival in France, and I definitely wanted to see it again after 2 years of cancellation for covid. I actually almost missed it because I was speculating about possible trips in July but I also thought "I want to see that thing in Provins. When is it?" Well, it is this weekend, whew! I bought my ticket online (cheaper!) and took the train to go there this morning. If you go in costume, it is even half price, but no, not for me. Actually, I could still make a killing if I wanted to, because you can buy a ticket for just one day or two days (no, the price is not double). I bought my ticket and printed it. And when I showed it at the entrance, they just let me in. The ticket says "25th OR 26th" so I could use it again and nobody would be the wiser. Or resell it or give it away if I knew anybody who wanted it. Unlikely, because even though Provins is in the Paris commuter zone and the standard passes are valid to go there, it is still 1h22 to get there, which might be the very longest ride in the commuter zone. And there is only one train an hour.
I ended up taking the train before 10:00 and arrived a little after 11:00. Normally, I am the sort of person who would have arrived earlier, but I think I am getting on in years. It certainly seemed that way climbing the mountain to the upper medieval city which seemed to me twice as high as last time. Not only was I totally out of breath, but I stumbled on the stone steps and skinned my knee. I was happy that I had chosen to wear jeans instead of shorts because it is not a pretty sight.
And finally I reached the gates. Although the train from Paris was completely full, all of the passengers seemed to be about 45 years younger than me, so they had rushed ahead. That was fine with me. I started entering the crowd soon enough.
I ended up taking the train before 10:00 and arrived a little after 11:00. Normally, I am the sort of person who would have arrived earlier, but I think I am getting on in years. It certainly seemed that way climbing the mountain to the upper medieval city which seemed to me twice as high as last time. Not only was I totally out of breath, but I stumbled on the stone steps and skinned my knee. I was happy that I had chosen to wear jeans instead of shorts because it is not a pretty sight.
And finally I reached the gates. Although the train from Paris was completely full, all of the passengers seemed to be about 45 years younger than me, so they had rushed ahead. That was fine with me. I started entering the crowd soon enough.
Many of the buildings of the medieval section are lovely.
There were already things for sale.
Last time I had noticed that the trash bins had been wrapped in burlap to hide their 21st century status. This time they added the traffic signs.
And of course the Tour de César loomed over the site.