There is something quite magical about streaming into an arena along with a few hundred other eager visitors, sitting on makeshift benches and waiting for the show to begin. The eager anticipation is palpable. Particularly when you have no idea what to expect. We took our seats in section 2 and watched as the crowds followed us in.
Obviously, the show couldn’t start before the royals arrived.
It’s amazing how many medieval people wear glasses. We’ve noticed a lot of bespectacled people wandering around.
Anyway, the royals took their place on the small stage, surrounded by musicians and courtly announcers. And, while the band members played their hearts out, a troupe of performers practised ahead of the kick-off.
Then, as the sun started dipping low in the sky, a bunch of jesters entered the arena to get us all in the mood. They divided us into one side and the other. The other was called Visby. I’m not sure who we were but it sounded like London so that’s what I’m going with.
It’s important to note that everything was in Swedish and impossible to understand. But, given it was very similar to being in the East Bank at an Aldershot game, it wasn’t hard to work out as we bellowed at them and they returned the favour with whoops and boos.
When the horses entered the arena, the crowd went crazy.
There were six of them. Three for us and three for the Visby side. They were going to compete for the sword that would be presented by the royals at the end of the tournament.
The early competitions were about hitting small targets and picking up flammable squares with flaming lances. Actually, there was a lot of fire involved. From burning rings to flaming torches, the smell of lighter fluid was strong and wafting.
Actually, I did wonder how often the flame spitters swallowed their fuel. They would take great mouthfuls and spit it across their fiery poles. It all looked amazing but I wondered. It must be like syphoning petrol; a bit always ends up going down your throat.
Between the horse bouts, there were some displays of archery. Again, the competitors were divided between the Visby crowd and us. We’d cheer when our arrows struck home and booed when theirs did. Or laughed and yelled something that sounded like ‘LOSERS’ when they missed.
It was very loud.
When we entered the arena, there were people handing out ear defenders. I realised later that this was to protect the ears of any babies who were attending. Like a football game, a lot of what was yelled was not for delicate ears.
Possibly, the most amazing display was when two archers fired lit arrows at two women standing holding wooden bats in their outstretched hands. The crowd was almost hushed at this. As the arrows struck their targets, the cheers were almost deafening.
The horse riders completed their competition with a full lance charge at each other, just like a real joust. It was a great display of riding skills. The clash of lance on shield was almost thunderous. Such great fun. I could almost imagine I was back in the Middle Ages.
(We had an American family sat around us and the young son was very concerned with the lack of health and safety, which we thought was very sad. Surely a child should be entranced and excited rather than worrying about what might happen. Is this what Americans think is a childhood? I despair sometimes. And if parents think this is how to keep their children safe, maybe they should amend their gun laws first.
They could also be a bit friendlier. A young Swedish lad wanted to sit next to the American boy so he could slap the hands of the performers, but when he asked the boy if he could sit next to him, the boy was not very accommodating. The Swedish lad shrugged and sat next to him anyway. I thought that was a bit mean.)
Anyway, no-one was hurt and the evening’s entertainment was exciting and full of fun. We enjoyed it very much. Okay, sadly, our side didn’t win but, still, it was close and our riders and archers tried their best. That’s really all you can ask for.
After the excitement was over, we took a stroll down by the sea, along with many others. The dying rays of an almost extinguished sun, gave the horizon a pleasing glow.
The perfect end to an excellent night’s entertainment.
