The Swiss love their dress up festivities, re-enactments, and history, so all year there are sundry events for which one can don his or her fancy bib and tuckerand accoutrements. Or top hat and cane as the case may be. Today we went to a Western themed one, American West. The eats were Swiss, but the costumes and armaments were very authentic.
The setting was a false front “town,” purpose built for the occasion. Venders sold goods, from cowboy hats to shaves, to Bandanas to fools gold. Characters paraded. A fife and drum corps boomed and tooted. And a marvelous coach, pulled by good Swiss Freibergers, gave rides for Fr. 2 a head.
And the rain held off until we left.
I was wondering who invited the French, but we heard from this fine gent that his uniform was Mexican! From the battle of the Alamo. Santa Ana’s army “borrowed” French uniforms and put their own insignias on them.
Very handsome coach horses.
This friendly fellow gave us full demonstration of his fife, weapons, and gear.
Including all the steps on how to load a black powder muzzle-loader. It isn’t quick, and has more steps than I remember, including blowing here, and biting off that, and tamping down this.
This gent got in the act and showed us his old rifle, and how to do ground loading (on one’s back), and shooting (roll over on one’s belly and draw up the leg for balance).
It helps to have a pretty girl in one’s company. The gents are eager to show and share with gusto.
The medical field kit. Notice the bone saw. You wouldn’t want that gangrene-filled leg to stay, would you?
Is he the undertaker?
Better Half got himself the smoothest shave of his life: hot towels, lather with badger hair brush, straight razor, more warm towel, and orange blossom after shave. And, yes, the barber is wearing a Colt revolver. And, yes, it is very real. And yes, gun laws here say you may carry what you will for re-enactments, even the barber.
I personally would revise this.
Prices: coffee, pork, flour, fish, rice, cheese, black tea, work boots, house rent/month.
Bringing the brass cannon back after firing three very expensive shots of black powder.
The fifer is the same fellow as above, but not helping the Mexicans this time.
And a good time was had by all.
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