Looking down from the fortress walls, in Castro Marim
In yesterday’s post I left you looking out from these walls to the border with Spain. Beneath the castle, tickets were going on sale for the Castro Marim Medieval Fair. 8 euros bought you an earthenware cup (to fill with your tipple of choice), a cardboard crown (one size fits all- or almost!) and entry to the castle. The streets were starting to fill up, and it seemed a good time to browse the stalls, before the entertainment began.
Click on any photo to view the gallery
Any fair maiden needing a headdress?
A skirling of pipes and the thunder of drums had me glancing over my shoulder. Look out- the excitement is just about to begin!
Here they come!
Such focus!
Just time to immerse myself in Arabia before the next group! Exotic teas, cakes, sweets, nuts and magic lanterns. A cornucopia of delights!
A little more music!
The stalls are full of enticements and exotica, and the hand-crafted furniture is enough to make a maiden swoon into a finely carved seat.
But despite all that dazzles, the lady in blue is my favourite
At this point it becomes impossible to focus on shopping. The parade has arrived- an amazement of stilt walkers, tumblers, weird and wonderful costumes and masks, and the most hypnotic and enigmatic of magicians. I am enthralled.
This guy stole the show for me
His skills defied the camera!
Food stalls tempt and wonderful aromas waft, but dusk is about to descend and the time has come to mount the steps to the castle. Yet more entertainment is planned for the evening. What else can there be?
The scene from the church steps
I won’t discourage you by showing the number of steps and the cobbles, shiny with age. But take it slowly, wear sensible shoes, and the excitement and momentum will carry you there. Once through the ancient gates, a Medieval world appears before your very eyes.
There’s always a Fool!
The scene is set
And the sinking sun adds to the spectacle
Up on the castle walls, I look down on the church
Then back at the setting splendour
The air is thick with the scent and smoke of barbecuing meat. More and more people throng into the castle. Small faces look up at me, aglow with the lamplight and the excitement, clutching tightly to a parents hand. Shadows flicker on the walls.
Beyond the wall the moon gently glows over the salt pans
There is courtly dancing, a banquet to eat (but the queue for tickets is long!) and later the promise of medieval combat and jousting, but it’s time for me to slip away, sated with the day. Down in the streets the party is in full throttle and people continue to arrive. I am seduced by the notion of sangria of figs. Just one small indulgence before I go.
And the dance goes on!
This is the second part of a post that I have linked to the Capturing History Challenge and I hope that you’ll take a look. I couldn’t help but smile, though, when I saw that the Daily Post challenge this week is entitled Happy Place, a place to escape to and ‘recharge your groove’. Most of you who know me are well aware that the Algarve is my happy place. For 51 weeks of the year the village of Castro Marim is an oasis of peace and calm. Perhaps you can use your imagination and make these people disappear.
Apologies to my Six Word Saturday friends. I won’t be taking part tomorrow. I hope you can join me on Monday for a walk instead.
restlessjo 
We do know so well that the Algarve is your happy place, Jo, and I’m sure you’re having a marvelous time there at this moment. The fair looks like great fun. You know I’d go right for the Arabian market. And the costumes of the parade participants – nothing less than amazing! 🙂
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It would have been right up your street, Cathy! Lots of scarves and trinkets 🙂
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Oh, you know how I would have loved that. I have all my scarves hung on my walls in my room, and Mike jokes that the room looks like a Middle Eastern bazaar!
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You never cease to surprise me , with your photos !
Beautiful post!
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I like surprises! 🙂 (usually 🙂 ) Many thanks, Anna, for your loyal support.
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Amazing outfits these Jo. I love a medieval fair, but never been to a Spanish one before 🙂
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Or even a Portuguese one, Sherri 🙂 🙂
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Ha…yes, ..since you mentioned the border, I wasn’t sure…so went with Spain lol 😀
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lovely and colorful festivities, Jo! i bet it was hard to focus on shopping with all those wonderful things going on. the town seems to glow with the sunset! great pictures as always! 🙂
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I’m not much of a shopper, LolaWi, but I do like a colourful market stall. And yes, it was a lovely place to watch the sunset. Thank you! 🙂
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What was the tipple of your choice? I love the red wines of Portugal so can imagine I’d plump for that if I made it to this festival.
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I’m a big fan of Dao, Stuart, but the Alentejan reds are very good too. Thanks for your company. 🙂
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Love this – so different to the Spanish fiestas!
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I’ve only been to the religious ones and they tend to be a little morbid. 🙂 Thank you!
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Looks wonderful Jo. So much going on. Do you think at 50 I;d be able to get away with one of those pretty headdresses?
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As old as you feel, Kat 🙂 Go for it!
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Anywhere between 6 and 60 depending on the day 😉
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The wonderful things you have seen Jo! These photos are great and I feel as though I’m there with you watching all the action and drama unfold 🙂
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It was lovely to have you there with me, Sam. 🙂 The atmosphere really did build and build through the day and it was a lot of fun.
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Sangria of figs does sound very enticing, Jo. Lovely photos of the festivities and the setting sun.
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I’m sure you would have approved, Ad! 🙂 Thanks, darlin’.
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That looks like fun Jo – I like the tiles of the birds very much!
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There were several stalls full of tiles, Meg. Hard to tear yourself away, but when the entertainment starts… 🙂 Lovely to have your company.
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You have captured all the fun of the fair with your photos and words I would love to be there in person with you, but I think I would be flagging by 7ish. Those pipes look very much like didgeridoos to me.
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I’ve never come face to face with a didgeridoo, Pauline, so I wouldn’t know, but you’re the second person to mention that so I guess they are. 🙂 Didn’t we have a good time? 🙂 🙂
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The only difference is that the didgeridoos have aborigine designs on them. It was a fantastic day…
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It’s wonderful to see so many young people enjoying these kinds of events, Jo (instead of sitting at home playing video games) 😉 I certainly would have bought the fair maiden head dress – the gypsy in my soul loves that kind of thing.
No wonder you ended up ‘slipping away’ after dark, you must have had a huge day!
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I got the timing wrong, Dianne. It was a 4 day event and I didn’t pay enough attention to the programme (in Portuguese of course). I had hoped to see the jousting but it closed the show that evening, at around midnight. Had I gone on the opening day it was 7.30pm. I was a bit disappointed but so tired, and Mick still had the drive home. 🙂
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I love the excitement and the colour of fairs. And the Europeans seem to do this so much better than we can.
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The setting is perfect, Judith! And a good time had by all 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
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What a fabulous affair – so colourful! The entertainment looks magical.
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There was so much going on, Elaine! And in that spectacular setting. I loved it 🙂
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Your photos are excellent and really give a taste of the spectacular-ness of the occasion. 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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Quite the adventure through time, Jo. Well done on capturing all the fun! Lovely photos!
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Hi Tahira! So nice to see you around 🙂 Castro Marim is a magnificent setting for an event such as this, and we had a thoroughly good time. Thanks for joining us. 🙂
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What a fun place, but I can see the people fade, and it would still be beautiful the rest of the year.
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Yes, it really is, Brenda. Thanks for your lovely company. 🙂
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XOXO
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What an adventure you took us one…a real step back in time. Thank you for sharing the event with us, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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It was a monumental effort to share, Karen, but how could I not? It was fabulous! 🙂 Thanks for coming along and for reading.
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