Last Sunday, I told my children that we were going to England for the day. Of course, they did not believe me. But when I told to them that we were staying in California but going back in time to a little village in England named Wellington where we would meet Queen Elizabeth, I finally got their attention. All dressed up in our not so Renaissance clothes, we headed south to Hollister (1 hour and a half drive from San Francisco). Our 7 year old decided to wear the T-Shirt she bought in London two years ago and brought with her her Corgi and Beefeater plush animals. At least, we were bringing British citizens with us! (Made in China but that’s a different story, at least, they were bought in London)

Thais in character

An hour and a half later, we were not in California anymore! We were in Wellington and we felt like Jacqouille la Fripouille in Les Visiteurs (a famous French movie where Renaissance characters are sent in the future).

We could not believe our eyes as we walked our way to the Joust tournament, surrounded by Renaissance men and women with ‘uplifted’ torso. This was the beginning of a fun day.

What we liked

Almost everybody is dressed up in Renaissance outfits, it is marvellous. We felt a little bit silly at first in our jeans and people pointing out at our cameras asking what it was but it did not last long. You can rent Renaissance costumes for $15, it is just in front of you when you arrive in the village.

Everybody plays a role and plays it fully. And that makes it so much fun! We were stopped by two lads who were looking for someone to hire them. It took us a minute to realize that we had to play the game: they made me read a letter of recommendation that they could not read themselves as they did not know how to read. The letter did not flatter the lads and the P.S. stated: RUN RUN NOW. So, we ran away laughing.

My daughter Thais who is a big fan on London and history wanted to talk to the Queen and take a picture with her. We had to ask 5 persons of her suite and none of them would ask the Queen directly. Eventually,one asked and her Majesty was gracious enough to listen to my daughter telling her about her Beefeater and Corgy story.

Click here to read more.